Advantages of Swiss Arbitration
Neutral – Accessible – Predictable – Balanced

Switzerland is a popular choice tested in many international contracts and disputes

100+ years of history

For more than a hundred years, Switzerland has been one of the preferred venues for hosting international arbitrations. Switzerland has invariably been ranked among the three top venues for ICC arbitration proceedings worldwide. Two out of three international commercial arbitrations seated in Switzerland are between non-Swiss parties.

Politically neutral

Switzerland is politically neutral and hosts dozens of public international organisations, such as the United Nations, World Trade Organisation and World Intellectual Property Organisation, as well as dozens of international sports federations, such as the International Olympic Committee and FIFA, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It stays true to its history of providing a neutral and stable framework for resolving even the most sensitive disputes.

Cosmopolitan by tradition

Switzerland is a country at the heart of Europe, but not part of the European Union and not subject to EU law. It is cosmopolitan by tradition, a crossroads of languages and cultures, with a world-class economy and an internationally trained legal community to serve the needs of global as well as domestic users.

Liberal international arbitration law

Switzerland’s liberal international arbitration law (Chapter 12 of the Swiss Private International Law Act), which was adopted in 1987 and was subject to a light revision in 2020, is one of the world’s most modern arbitration laws, with its unrivalled focus on party autonomy, and reflects Switzerland’s long-standing strong support for international arbitration. It also represents Switzerland’s cosmopolitan tradition, as it allows users to file challenges against Swiss international arbitral awards in English, directly to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. In combination with the arbitration-friendly and time-efficient jurisprudence of the Swiss Federal Supreme  Court, Swiss international arbitration law provides the ideal framework for international dispute resolution.

Swiss contract law

Arbitration in Switzerland is often combined with Swiss contract law, a liberal, neutral and predictable law that is easily accessible in multiple languages and understandable for lawyers or non-lawyers alike. That being said, users are of course free to choose any other law to govern their contracts.

 

Diversity Mission Statement

As a global platform for arbitration and mediation, Swiss Arbitration is committed to promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in all aspects of our operations. We believe that diversity and inclusivity are essential for creating a fair and just system of dispute resolution.
We recognize that diversity encompasses many dimensions, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, disability, and socio-economic status. Swiss Arbitration is committed to creating an inclusive environment that respects and values the unique perspectives and experiences of all individuals.

 

The most frequently used
commercial arbitration rules

The Swiss Rules of International Arbitration (Swiss Rules) of the Swiss Arbitration Centre (formerly known as the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution SCAI) www.swissarbitration.org

The Rules of the ICC International Court of Arbitration (ICC Rules) www.iccwbo.org

The WIPO Arbitration Rules www.wipo.int/amc/en

The UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules for ad hoc proceedings uncitral.un.org

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Swiss Rules 2021
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Access the revised Arbitration Swiss Rules 2021

Swiss Rules 2021