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The Supreme People's Court of China issued new judicial provisions establishing a distinct regulatory framework for recognizing and enforcing Taiwanese civil judgments and arbitral awards in mainland China. Author Helena Chen analyzes how these regulations separate judicial judgments from arbitral awards, align refusal grounds with New York Convention standards, and enforce statutory deadlines for mainland courts. The post highlights key procedural changes that increase clarity and efficiency in cross-strait dispute resolution.

To enforce a Taiwan’s award or civil judgment in the mainland China, a party has to refer to PRC’s regulations, which were released by the Supreme People’s Court (“SPC”) and have recently been amended. The new SPC’s “Provisions on Recognition and Enforcement of Taiwan Courts’ Civil Judgments” and “Provisions on…

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Author Cherine Foty traces the historical development of international arbitration in the Arab World from traditional Islamic dispute resolution mechanisms like tahkeem to modern institutional frameworks. The article examines the transition from early skepticism regarding Western bias in mid-twentieth-century oil concessions to the adoption of UNCITRAL-based national laws, regional arbitration centers, and bilateral investment treaties. This historical context highlights the region's evolving role in global commercial and treaty arbitration.

Arbitration in the Arab World is a hot topic these days. Over the past few decades the Arab World has become a region at the forefront of international arbitration expansion. With increasing numbers of commercial actors coming out of the Arab World and with regional arbitration centers being established in…

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A roundtable organized by ArbitralWomen in Paris titled Les femmes dans l arbitrage, est-ce si different addressed systemic challenges, implicit bias, and career advancement for female practitioners in international arbitration. The article reports on panel discussions exploring concrete strategies to increase female arbitrator appointments, expand leadership roles in arbitral institutions, and foster mentorship. The event highlights actionable pathways to achieve gender parity across international commercial and treaty arbitration.

The article explores some of the issues that were the focus of a recent roundtable on women in arbitration organized on 5 May 2015 by the Université de Versailles and its Master Arbitrage et Commerce International in cooperation with the ICC and ArbitralWomen. Taking place at the ICC, more than…

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Author Ileana M. Smeureanu reports on Wendy Miles' keynote speech at the YAF/YAPP conference in Vienna regarding the essential role of young arbitrators in upholding the rule of law. The analysis explores Lord Bingham's eight strands of the rule of law applied to international arbitration, focusing on procedural predictability, cost efficiency, and ethical integrity. It underscores the responsibility of young practitioners to maintain public trust and safeguard dispute resolution standards globally.

This year, Wendy Miles delivered the keynote speech at the YAF/YAPP Annual Conference on the second day of the Vis Moot. Attuned to the audience, the speech began with a note of encouragement and ended on a counterpoint of responsibility: though the future belongs to the young arbitrators, they are…

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The New Dutch Arbitration Act entered into force on 1 January 2015, modernizing Netherlands arbitration law within Articles 1020–1076 of the Dutch Code of Civil Procedure. Authors Bo Ra Hoebeke and Barbara Rumora-Scheltema review the key statutory updates, including expanded party autonomy, streamlined setting-aside procedures, and enhanced institutional support. The commentary outlines how these legislative changes strengthen the Netherlands as a neutral seat for international arbitrations.

The New Act entered into force on 1 January 2015 in relation to arbitrations commenced on or after 1 January 2015. The New Act is an amendment to the former Dutch Arbitration Act, which dates back to 1986, many aspects of which remain unchanged in the New Act. Although the…

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Author Cristina Elena Cândea examines structural reforms and procedural updates in Romanian international commercial arbitration designed to overcome past institutional distrust and legal uncertainty. The article analyzes legislative changes within the Civil Procedure Code and local arbitral institutional rules aimed at aligning Romanian practices with international standards. These developments seek to restore party confidence, modernize procedural flexibility, and enhance Romania's standing as a reliable seat.

In August 2014, the Court of Arbitration attached to the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry amended its arbitration rules and returned to the long-standing principle of party autonomy in the constitution of tribunals. Prior to that, for a period of roughly two years, the Court promoted an appointment mechanism…

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Author Lorraine M. Brennan analyzes a decision by a U.S. district court enforcing an ICC arbitral award in the Pemex case despite its annulment by Mexican courts. The article compares this ruling to the seminal 1996 Chromalloy decision, examining public policy grounds and fundamental fairness when state courts set aside awards retroactively. Brennan highlights how the court protected the award against retroactive legal changes while noting that enforcement of vacated awards remains a rare exception.

The author recalls that the international arbitration community sat up and took notice when a recent decision issued by Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein from the Southern District of New York in the Pemex case ordered that an arbitration award that had been set aside by the Mexican courts could be…

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Authors Kirstin Dodge, Simon Vorburger, and Gabrielle Nater-Bass examine Switzerland's extensive network of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and its legal framework for protecting outbound foreign investment. The article highlights key substantive protections in Swiss BITs, including broad definitions of covered investors and assets, fair and equitable treatment, and protections against expropriation. It also addresses procedural mechanisms, such as options for ICSID or UNCITRAL arbitration.

The authors recall that historically Switzerland has been an attractive location for international corporate headquarters. Switzerland was the first State after Germany to enter into bilateral investment treaties (“BITs”) beginning in 1961. To date, after having signed more than 130 BITs, Switzerland is clearly committed to the availability of investor-state…

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Authors Eleonora Coelho and Ana Carolina Weber examine female participation in domestic and international arbitration in Brazil. The article analyzes statistical trends from major Brazilian arbitral institutions, identifying a persistent gender disparity in tribunal appointments despite the growing presence of qualified female practitioners and counsel. The analysis highlights institutional initiatives, awareness efforts, and targeted strategies required to achieve greater diversity and equal representation across arbitral tribunals in Brazil.

The authors analyzed the present situation regarding women in arbitration in Brazil. Despite the encouraging developments in arbitration in Brazil, the authors found the current panorama not as promising as desired. Local statistics show that the percentage of female arbitrators listed with the most prominent Brazilian chambers is low. Lack…

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Author Michael McIlwrath reviews the ICC Commission's guide on effective arbitration management tailored for in-house counsel and party representatives. The article outlines practical strategies for corporate legal teams to control time and costs, select suitable arbitrators, and actively structure procedural timetables with the tribunal. McIlwrath emphasizes that proactive early case assessment and close cooperation between internal counsel and external advocates are essential to maximize procedural efficiency.

In this blog, the launch of the Guide for In-House Counsel and Other Party Representatives on Effective Management of Arbitration Guide (‘Guide’) is reported. Time and costs in arbitration is a debate that started several years ago and remains a concern for the business and for the dispute resolution practitioners…

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