A lot of dispute resolution business comes to the UK. Between 6,000 and 8,000 cases find their way here each year for arbitration or other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), such as mediation. At least half of this is related to shipping industry disputes, processed in the UK on behalf of Lloyd’s of London, but there is a significant amount of commercial dispute resolution too.
In many of these disputes, the opposing parties may have very little to do with the UK. Alan Connarty, director of operations at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), says that England and Wales – and specifically, London – gets the business for three reasons: the efficiency of the process; trust in the local law; and trust in the local law firms. But has he not heard the frequently-voiced assertions that London risks losing business to more ‘modern’ or dynamic jurisdictions? Is this overstatement or fact?
