On 15 May 2025, the SCC Arbitration Institute (SCC) in Stockholm took a historic step forward in international legal collaboration with the official launch in Sofia of the Bulgarian translation of the SCC Arbitration Rules. This milestone marks the first time an international arbitral institution has made its rules available in the Bulgarian language – an important move toward greater accessibility, inclusivity, and deeper engagement between the SCC and the local legal and business communities. The translations are an integral part of the SCC’s commitment to providing clear and accessible guidelines for international arbitration and demonstrate its ongoing efforts to support diverse linguistic communities and enhance global arbitration practices.
The event drew a diverse audience of legal professionals, academics, business leaders, and arbitration practitioners.
 
Velislava Hristova, the translator of the SCC Rules, opened the event by emphasising the broader significance of the occasion. She noted that the event was more than a celebration of a translation – it was a strategic step toward strengthening the presence of international arbitration in Bulgaria.

H.E. Ms. Katarina Rangnitt, Ambassador of Sweden to Bulgaria, and Zhana Kisyova, President of the Sofia Bar Association, delivered welcome remarks. They both underscored the importance of international cooperation and commended the SCC for its commitment to inclusion and transparency.

Officially launching the translation of the SCC’s arbitration rules, Jake Lowther, Specialist Counsel at the SCC, offered an in-depth presentation on the SCC’s internal procedures and statistical data relevant to the audience. His analysis highlighted the SCC’s unwavering dedication to efficiency and transparency, demonstrating how the institution’s streamlined systems meet the evolving demands of modern commercial dispute resolution.

At the heart of the event was a dynamic panel discussion on expedited arbitration procedures, featuring a distinguished group of speakers. The session was designed to simulate a practical setting, allowing an in-house counsel to pose questions on expedited arbitration to a representative of the institution, as well as a counsel and an arbitrator. The panel included:

• Jake Lowther – Specialist Counsel, SCC
• Dr. Crina Baltag, FCIArb – Associate Professor, Stockholm University; SCC Board Member
• Dr. hab. Beata Gessel-Kalinowska vel Kalisz – Senior Partner, GESSEL Attorneys at Law; Member, SCC Arbitrators’ Council
• Stanislav Cherkezov – Legal Counsel, Huvepharma nv; CEO, Advance Green Energy

The event underscored the growing momentum of international arbitration in Bulgaria.The availability of the SCC Rules in Bulgarian represents not just a linguistic achievement but a symbol of deeper institutional integration and increased accessibility for the Bulgarian legal community.

In her concluding remarks, Velislava Hristova reflected on the long-term significance of the initiative: “By making the SCC Rules available in Bulgarian, we are helping to create a legal environment that is more inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the needs of Bulgarian practitioners and companies and promoting trade and commerce.”

Submitted by ArbitralWomen member Velislava Hristova and Klimentina Maleevska