1) Request for ADR proceedings filed at the ICC ADR Secretariat (Article 2)

• If no clause: ICC invites Respondent to inform ICC whether it wishes to participate within 15 days (Article 2 B)

• If ICC ADR clause: Respondent is invited to file Answer to Request

If not defined in ADR clause, ICC invites parties to agree on settlement technique, language and place of proceeding

2) Selection of the Neutral: Jointly designated by parties or appointed by ICC (Article 3)

3) Parties pay a provisional deposit: covers costs of proceeding until parties have first meeting with Neutral to discuss procedure

4) Transfer of the file to the Neutral

5) First meeting between the Neutral and the parties (Article 5(1))

If not already done so: parties and Neutral shall decide on the settlement technique to be used in the proceedings

If no agreement -> mediation shall be used (Article 5(2))

If no agreement by the parties: Neutral shall decide on the language and the place of the proceedings (Article 5(4))

6) Proceedings (usually exchange of submissions and 1-2 meetings) (Article 5)

7) Settlement Agreement

In 2008 in average 89 days after file has been transferred to Neutral.