ICC Dispute Resolution Services in 2024 – year in review

“ICC’s achievements in 2024 reflect our commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and excellence in dispute resolution and prevention. With 2025 on the horizon, we remain dedicated to supporting the evolving needs of the global business and legal communities, and continuing to shape the future of international dispute resolution”.

Alexander G. Fessas, Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and Director of ICC Dispute Resolution Services

1. We held Advanced Arbitration Academies in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America. After successful launches in 2023, several Advanced Arbitration Academies came to an end in 2024. Workshops in Asia wrapped up in June in Singapore; students in Eastern Europe had their last classes in October in Bucharest; and Miami was the host city for the last training days for our Latin American and North American cohorts in November and December. Two new Advanced Arbitration Academies were also inaugurated. The programme in Africa kicked off in May in Nairobi and the one in the Middle East started in September in Doha.

2. We received recognition for advancing inclusion in arbitration – for the second time. ICC was awarded the Equal Representation in Arbitration (ERA) Pledge Award for exceptional contributions to promoting diversity and inclusion, marking the second time ICC has been recognised in this category. ICC’s Commission on Arbitration and ADR was honoured for its groundbreaking work in advancing disability inclusion in arbitration and ADR through the launch of the ICC Guide for Disability Inclusion in International Arbitration and ADR.

3. We saw a notable increase in case filings and celebrated an important milestone. The 2023 ICC Dispute Resolution Statistical report showed a significant uptick in case filings in 2023 compared to 2022 and gave insight into the evolving dispute resolution landscape worldwide. The ICC International Court of Arbitration also marked a significant milestone when it registered its 29,000th case under the ICC Arbitration Rules.

4. We helped develop the skills of the next generation of dispute resolution professionals. In February, the 19th ICC Mediation Competition, ICC’s largest educational event, welcomed 46 university teams from 31 countries who were guided by professional mediators in 75 mock mediation sessions held over a week in Paris. Two months later, the oral rounds of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot were held in Hong Kong and Vienna. The Moot problem was arbitrated under the ICC Arbitration Rules of Arbitration, equipping students with essential skills for navigating the complexities of international dispute resolution.

5. We elected the leadership and renewed the membership of ICC bodies. Claudia Salomon was re-elected as ICC Court President while a new ICC Court composition was announced, with appointments focused on ensuring generational, gender, and geographical diversity. Mohamed Salah Abdel Wahab became Chair of the Governing Body for Dispute Resolution Services. Victoria Orlowksi’s mandate as President  of the Standing Committee of the ICC International Centre for ADR was renewed and five new members were appointed, including Funke Agbor as a new vice-president. Melanie van Leeuwen was renewed as chair of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR for a second term, while the membership of the Commission was partly renewed as well – now comprising 1,400 members from over 100 countries, with a significant increase in representation from corporate counsel representatives. The ICC Institute of World Business Law appointed five new members to its Council, bringing the total number of Council members to 47, while our announcement of new Co-Chairs for ICC YAAF was followed by new regional representatives.

6. We built a fit-for-purpose ICC Hearing Centre in Paris. In line with ICC’s ongoing commitment to providing a dedicated hearing facility in Paris that exceeds the expectations of arbitration and ADR professionals and parties worldwide, a new ICC Hearing Centre will open this week in central Paris. The facilities reaffirm Paris’ position as a global dispute resolution hub and home of international arbitration.

7. We pledged to sustain Ukraine’s economic reconstruction and development process. By offering ICC’s trusted case management services at reduced rates for reconstruction-related disputes, ICC aims to enhance access to justice and provide the certainty that investors and businesses need as they contribute to Ukraine’s rebuilding.

8. We joined forces with Jus Connect and McCann Worldgroup to shed light on cross-cultural B2B relationships. In collaboration with Jus Connect and McCann Worldgroup, ICC conducted a study to identify the role of emotion, culture and behavioural tendencies and their impact on international business interactions and legal services. Published in a series of six whitepapers, the report re-maps the world on the basis of business culture and practice rather than geography, and delivers a new cross-cultural playbook. The first five parts “Emotion in business”, “Culture reduces friction”, “Contracts or people?”, “Win-win vs. win-lose” and “Siloed departments limit business success” are free to download.

9. We hosted ICC flagship conferences in Asia, Africa, Europe, MENA and the Americas. ICC’s regional arbitration and ADR gatherings brought together the global dispute resolution community to discuss contemporary issues in practice and law, build capacity and network.Over 3,000 participants from all over the world attended our flagship conferences, underlining the unique character of these events.

10. We drove thought leadership through the ICC Bulletin. The ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin is widely regarded as one of the most important sources of news and commentary on international commercial arbitration and dispute resolution practice. In line with our core pledge to provide thought leadership, our 2024 editions included updates on developments in China, France, Germany, India, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, information on case decisions in Emergency Arbitrator Proceedings under the ICC Rules, reports from the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR on corruption, an overview of ICC DRS events, and more.

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