Provision Language
AbbVie – MPP Agreement
9. Miscellaneous
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9.6 Dispute resolution. The parties agree that in the event of a dispute they shall first attempt in good faith to resolve such dispute. In the event that such dispute is not resolved on an informal basis, either Party may refer the dispute to the Executive Director of the MPP, and to Perry Siatis, Vice President, AbbVie (together, the Designated Officers). If such dispute is not resolved by the Designated Officers within 30 days, the Parties will follow the provisions provided for in the Alternative Dispute Resolution attached hereto as Exhibit E.
Exhibit E: Alternative Dispute Resolution
The Parties recognize that from time to time a dispute may arise relating to either Party’s rights or obligations under this Agreement. The Parties agree that any such dispute shall be resolved by the Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) provisions set forth in this Exhibit, the result of which shall be binding upon the Parties.
To begin the ADR process, a Party first must send written notice of the dispute to the other Party for attempted resolution by good faith negotiations between their respective presidents (or their designees) of the affected subsidiaries, divisions, or business units within twenty-eight (28) days after such notice is received (all references to “days” in this ADR provision are to calendar days). If the matter has not been resolved within twenty-eight (28) days after the notice of dispute, or if the Parties fail to meet within such twenty-eight (28) days, either Party may initiate an ADR proceeding as provided herein.
The Parties shall have the right to be represented by counsel in such a proceeding.
1. To begin an ADR proceeding, a Party shall provide written notice to the other Party of the issues to be resolved by ADR. Within fourteen (14) days after its receipt of such notice, the other Party may, by written notice to the Party initiating the ADR, add additional issues to be resolved within the same ADR.
2. Within twenty-one (21) days following the initiation of the ADR proceeding, the Parties shall select a mutually acceptable independent, impartial and conflicts-free neutral to preside in the resolution of any disputes in this ADR proceeding. If the Parties are unable to agree on a mutually acceptable neutral within such period, each Party will select one independent, impartial and conflicts-free neutral and those two neutrals will select a third independent, impartial and conflicts-free neutral within ten (10) days thereafter. None of the neutrals selected may be current or former employees, officers or directors of either Party, its subsidiaries or affiliates.
3. No earlier than twenty-eight (28) days or later than fifty-six (56) days after selection, the neutral(s) shall hold a hearing to resolve each of the issues identified by the Parties. The ADR proceeding shall take place at a location agreed upon by the Parties. If the Parties cannot agree, the neutral(s) shall designate a location other than the principal place of business of either Party or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates.
4. At least seven (7) days prior to the hearing, each Party shall submit the following to the other Party and the neutral(s):
(a) a copy of all exhibits on which such Party intends to rely in any oral or written presentation to the neutral;
(b) a list of any witnesses such Party intends to call at the hearing, and a short summary of the anticipated testimony of each witness;
(c) a proposed ruling on each issue to be resolved, together with a request for a specific damage award or other remedy for each issue. The proposed rulings and remedies shall not contain any recitation of the facts or any legal arguments and shall not exceed one (1) page per issue. The Parties agree that neither side shall seek as part of its remedy any punitive damages.
(d) a brief in support of such Party’s proposed rulings and remedies, provided that the brief shall not exceed twenty (20) pages. This page limitation shall apply regardless of the number of issues raised in the ADR proceeding.
Except as expressly set forth in subparagraphs 4(a) – 4(d), no discovery shall be required or permitted by any means, including depositions, interrogatories, requests for admissions, or production of documents.
5. The hearing shall be conducted on two (2) consecutive days and shall be governed by the following rules:
(a) Each Party shall be entitled to five (5) hours of hearing time to present its case. The neutral shall determine whether each Party has had the five (5) hours to which it is entitled.
(b) Each Party shall be entitled, but not required, to make an opening statement, to present regular and rebuttal testimony, documents or other evidence, to cross-examine witnesses, and to make a closing argument. Cross-examination of witnesses shall occur immediately after their direct testimony, and cross-examination time shall be charged against the Party conducting the cross-examination.
(c) The Party initiating the ADR shall begin the hearing and, if it chooses to make an opening statement, shall address not only issues it raised but also any issues raised by the responding Party. The responding Party, if it chooses to make an opening statement, also shall address all issues raised in the ADR. Thereafter, the presentation of regular and rebuttal testimony and documents, other evidence, and closing arguments shall proceed in the same sequence.
(d) Except when testifying, witnesses shall be excluded from the hearing until closing arguments.
(e) Settlement negotiations, including any statements made therein, shall not be admissible under any circumstances. Affidavits prepared for purposes of the ADR hearing also shall not be admissible. As to all other matters, the neutral(s) shall have sole discretion regarding the admissibility of any evidence.
6. Within seven (7) days following completion of the hearing, each Party may submit to the other Party and the neutral(s) a post-hearing brief in support of its proposed rulings and remedies, provided that such brief shall not contain or discuss any new evidence and shall not exceed ten (10) pages. This page limitation shall apply regardless of the number of issues raised in the ADR proceeding.
7. The neutral(s) shall rule on each disputed issue within fourteen (14) days following completion of the hearing. Such ruling shall adopt in its entirety the proposed ruling and remedy of one of the Parties on each disputed issue but may adopt one Party’s proposed rulings and remedies on some issues and the other Party’s proposed rulings and remedies on other issues. The neutral(s) shall not issue any written opinion or otherwise explain the basis of the ruling.
8. The neutral(s) shall be paid a reasonable fee plus expenses. These fees and expenses, along with the reasonable legal fees and expenses of the prevailing Party (including all expert witness fees and expenses), the fees and expenses of a court reporter, and any expenses for a hearing room, shall be paid as follows:
(a) If the neutral(s) rule(s) in favor of one Party on all disputed issues in the ADR, the losing Party shall pay 100% of such fees and expenses.
(b) If the neutral(s) rule(s) in favor of one Party on some issues and the other Party on other issues, the neutral(s) shall issue with the rulings a written determination as to how such fees and expenses shall be allocated between the Parties. The neutral(s) shall allocate fees and expenses in a way that bears a reasonable relationship to the outcome of the ADR, with the Party prevailing on more issues, or on issues of greater value or gravity, recovering a relatively larger share of its legal fees and expenses.
9. The rulings of the neutral(s) and the allocation of fees and expenses shall be binding, non-reviewable, and non-appealable, and may be entered as a final judgment in any court having jurisdiction.
10. Except as provided in paragraph 9 or as required by law, the existence of the dispute, any settlement negotiations, the ADR hearing, any submissions (including exhibits, testimony, proposed rulings, and briefs), and the rulings shall be deemed Confidential Information. The neutral(s) shall have the authority to impose sanctions for unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information.
11. All ADR hearings shall be conducted in the English language.
Form of Sublicense
13. Miscellaneous
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13.7 Dispute Resolution. The parties agree that in the event of a dispute they shall first attempt in good faith to resolve such dispute. In the event that such dispute is not resolved on an informal basis, either Party may refer the dispute to the Executive Director of the MPP, and to [Licensee DO] (together, the Designated Officers). If such dispute is not resolved by the Designated Officers within 30 days, the Parties shall submit such dispute to mediation in accordance with the WIPO Mediation Rules. In the event that the dispute remains outstanding after 60 days from the date when it was first discussed (in any manner) between the parties, either party may commence court proceedings. The foregoing however shall not prevent any person from seeking and obtaining injunctive relief at any time.