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Welcome to
Swiss Arbitration – A unique global dispute resolution platform
About
Swiss Arbitration is Global
Swiss Arbitration is the global platform for arbitration and mediation under the leadership of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA). Building on a history that goes back over 100 years, and a network of over 2,000 legal practitioners from all over the world, Swiss Arbitration brings together many of the leading players in the alternative dispute resolution community through four organisations.
Recognised for its thought leadership and the reputation of its independent dispute resolution centre, Swiss Arbitration helps to advance the practice of international arbitration and mediation for all users, practitioners and academics, in Switzerland and abroad.
Cross-roads of languages and cultures.
Cosmopolitanism is part of Swiss DNA
Global outlook with close ties
to Swiss roots
Challenges against arbitral awards
can be filed in English
Our history
Swiss Arbitration has centuries of experience
1866
First modern commercial arbitration conducted in Geneva in 1866, after centuries of conducting arbitrations between towns and regions in today’s Switzerland.
1872
The Alabama case – the most famous international arbitration in diplomatic history, between Great Britain and the United States.
Today
Arbitration users today benefit from the long arbitration experience continuously developed and refined from the Middle Ages to the 19th, 20th, and 21th centuries.
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Why Swiss Arbitration
Swiss Arbitration is fast
- Swiss practitioners have prioritised time efficiency for many years; the Swiss
Arbitration Centre (formerly SCAI) was one of the first to incorporate expedited
proceedings into its rules. - Long hearings and extensive document discovery are not part of the Swiss arbitration tradition, leading to quicker and more cost-effective proceedings.
- Approximately 66% of proceedings initiated at the Swiss Arbitration Centre in the last four years were concluded in less than one year.
- For all arbitrations seated in Switzerland, the average duration for setting-aside
proceedings before the Swiss Supreme Court is around six months
Swiss Arbitration is reliable and predictable
- Swiss Arbitration’s three centuries of experience have enabled it to thoroughly test various solutions, establishing itself as a reliable and efficient option.
- Switzerland boasts a liberal international arbitration framework under Chapter 12 of the Swiss Private International Law Act (PILA), adopted in 1987 with a light revision in 2020. This is one of the world’s most modern arbitration laws, emphasizing party autonomy and offering both reliability and predictability.
- The Swiss Supreme Court has a commendably low rate of arbitral awards being set aside, averaging around seven percent. This highly experienced court exercises appropriate restraint while serving as an effective safety valve in case of serious issues.
- Local Swiss courts and judges provide excellent support for arbitrations conducted in Switzerland, enhancing the overall experience.
Swiss Arbitration is neutral and independant
- Swiss arbitration operates independently from government influence, receiving no funding or direction from the state.
- This independence aligns with Switzerland’s long-standing tradition of neutrality and offering good offices to conflicting parties.
- Swiss arbitrators are frequently chosen for their well-known neutrality, procedural fairness, and efficiency (e.g., consistently ranked among the top nationalities in ICC arbitration).
- Switzerland, located at the heart of Europe, is not subject to EU arbitration-related restrictions, as it is not an EU member.
- The Swiss legislator, judiciary, and government are traditionally supportive of arbitration.
- Switzerland’s neutrality is further illustrated by hosting many prominent international institutions, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Swiss Arbitration is flexible and innovative
- Swiss Arbitration has a rich tradition of customising proceedings to meet the diverse expectations and backgrounds of the parties involved, supported by a community of both Swiss and international civil and common law practitioners.
- The unique emphasis on party autonomy within Swiss international arbitration law allows parties the flexibility to tailor proceedings to their needs, including the option to forego any setting aside proceedings.
- Switzerland is a hub for many arbitration innovations, such as expedited proceedings, the Arbitration Toolbox developed by the ASA, and the world’s first Tribunal Secretary Platform.
Swiss Arbitration is pragmatic and efficient
- Pragmatism and efficiency are hallmarks of Swiss culture—things are designed to work effectively, influencing everyone involved in arbitration practice.
- The Swiss Federal Supreme Court directly handles setting-aside applications, avoiding further levels of appeal, resulting in high efficiency with no oral pleadings or reopening of facts, thus preventing prolonged court proceedings after arbitration.
- Swiss thought leadership focuses on practical solutions for arbitration practitioners globally, enhancing efficiency (e.g., the Arbitration Toolbox by ASA and the world’s first Tribunal Secretary Platform).
Find out more about Swiss Arbitration
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