By virtue of the principle of autonomy of the arbitration clause vis-a-vis the transaction to which it refers, the nullity of the contract does not invalidate the arbitration clause contained therein, the determination of the alleged invalidity remaining within the arbitrators' jurisdiction.
The arbitration clause contained in a professional appointment agreement entered into with a public authority, which provides for the referral to an arbitral tribunal of disputes concerning the settlement of fees not resolved by administrative procedure, is operative provided that the administrative procedure for the resolution of the dispute has been concluded by a formal decision notified to the party, from whose communication the mandatory time limit for commencing arbitral proceedings runs.