LCIA releases 2017 Casework Report 10 April 2018 The LCIA’s 2017 Casework Report shows a stable and diverse caseload In 2017, a large number of parties from a diverse range of jurisdictions once again entrusted the LCIA with the administration of their disputes. A total of 285 arbitration referrals were received by the LCIA in 2017, 233 of which were under the LCIA Rules. Key points of interest from the report include: Parties to LCIA arbitrations come from all around the world: The geographical spread of parties to LCIA arbitrations remained broad, with over 80% of parties from outside the UK. The proven neutrality, impartiality, and responsiveness of English arbitration law and courts have once again led to such parties overwhelmingly choosing English law and a London seat. The proven professionalism and cost and time efficiency of the LCIA’s Court and casework team have once again led to such parties choosing the LCIA to administer their disputes. Female arbitrators were appointed at record rates: The LCIA has long been recognised as a leader in gender diversity, being the first institution to publish detailed information about the gender diversity of its appointees. In 2017, the LCIA’s gender diversity figures once again improved, with women being appointed 24% of the time. While in the past most improvements have been attributable to the LCIA Court selecting a larger proportion of women, in 2017 parties showed a marked improvement in the rate at which they selected women: from 4% in 2016 to 17% in 2017. The LCIA Court, however, still leads the way: selecting women 34% of the time in 2017. Challenges were once again rare in LCIA arbitrations: Following the release of its online database of anonymised challenge decisions, the 2017 figures again show the rarity of challenges in LCIA arbitrations: only six challenges were made, and all three decided by the end of 2017 were rejected. Tribunal secretaries figures are provided for the first time: Building off the successful rollout of its new processes for tribunal secretaries, and a series of well-received role play events to communicate these processes to users, the LCIA is for the first time releasing statistics regarding tribunal secretaries. Thirty eight tribunal secretary appointments were made in 2017, with appointees being drawn from a wide variety of countries. Security for costs was the most frequently sought form of interim relief: The LCIA is also for the first time releasing statistics regarding applications for interim relief. The 2017 statistics show security for costs is the most frequent type of application, and the most frequently successful: 32% of applications for security for costs were approved by tribunals. The LCIA hopes that users find its 2017 Casework Report a useful resource, and one which again demonstrates the LCIA’s commitment to transparency. Click here to access the full LCIA 2017 Casework Report For further information regarding the LCIA’s 2017 Casework Report, send an email to [email protected].