Challenge Procedure

(a)The parties are free to agree on a procedure for challenging an arbitrator, and the decision reached pursuant to that procedure shall be final.

(b)Failing such agreement, a party who intends to challenge an arbitrator shall, within fifteen days after becoming aware of his or her appointment as an arbitrator or within fifteen days after becoming aware of any circumstance referred to in Section 42A303(b), send a written statement of the reasons for the challenge to the arbitral tribunal. Unless the challenged arbitrator withdraws from his or her office or the other party agrees to the challenge, the arbitral tribunal shall decide on the challenge. If such a challenge is not successful, the challenging party may request, within thirty days after having received notice of the decision rejecting the challenge, the Court or other authority specified in Section 42A106 to decide on the challenge, which decision shall be subject to no appeal; while such a request is pending, the arbitral tribunal, including the challenged arbitrator, may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award.