CDR Quotes Justin Williams and Graham Lovett on 2023 Seats of Arbitration Trends

For the article “Arbitration: Location, Location, Location,” Commercial Dispute Resolution (CDR) extensively quoted Akin Gump international arbitration practice head Justin Williams and partner Graham Lovett. The article discusses trends and predictions for the year concerning the seat of arbitration and considers London’s outlook as arbitration’s center of gravity.

The article notes that the future is bright for Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore because they have consolidated their reputations as accomplished and reliable arbitral seats and centers. Dubai-based Lovett has observed this gravitational shift towards Asia, as well as Middle East-seated arbitrations, over the past five to eight years: “People have much more confidence in these centres’ ability to enforce and resist silly challenges to awards, so arbitration is becoming more segmented.”

London-based Williams highlights the keen sense of competition when it comes to arbitration: “All seats, arbitration centres and institutions have a healthy competition going on, all are looking at what the others are doing and looking to improve relative to others.” However, English law is still influential as a choice of governing law for contracts, meaning many still find it to be a natural seat. As such, Mr. Williams concludes: “There is no absolute reason why it [London] needs to be, but there is no reason for it not to be – it is a virtuous circle due to the accumulation of expertise, venues and centres, which makes it an attractive choice as it has all the necessary infrastructure located there.”

The article can be read in full here (subscription required).