Arbitration today

The ICC International Court of Arbitration is the world’s leading institution for resolving international commercial and business disputes.

The total number of cases handled by the Court since it was founded is more than 17,000. In 2010, 793 cases were filed, involving 2,145 parties from 140 countries. 

The proliferation of international commercial disputes, many of them involving several parties, is an inevitable by-product of the global economy. Today’s business and operating conditions underscore arbitration’s advantages over litigation, especially in cross-border disputes.

Often the parties are from markedly different national, cultural and legal backgrounds.

They want to avoid litigation because they fear bias by national courts, are unfamiliar with national court procedures and want to be spared damaging publicity. ICC arbitration is an attractive alternative because it is international and confidential. Usually, it is less time-consuming and less expensive than litigation.