LCIA annual casework report shows continued growth and diversity in both its caseload and its choice of arbitrators in 2019

On 19 May 2020 the LCIA published its annual casework report for 2019 which can be found here. The report provides a useful summary of trends in the LCIA caseload during last year, and demonstrates the global nature and variety of disputes referred to the LCIA. The report highlights in particular the continued increase in the international appeal of the LCIA. Below are a number of key takeaways from the report.

Growth in caseload: A record 406 arbitrations were referred to the LCIA in 2019 compared with 317 in 2018, a significant increase of 28% year on year.

Banking and finance dominates (again): 32% of all arbitrations were in the banking and finance sector, up from 29% in 2018, making this sector the dominant sector again. Energy and natural resources was the second most represented sector, with 22% of arbitrations in 2019 up from 19% in 2018. These increases were offset by slightly reduced numbers of cases in the construction and infrastructure sector down to 5% in 2019 from 10% in 2018.

Global users: The LCIA continues to be used by parties from around the world and in 2019 parties from 138 different countries were represented in LCIA arbitrations. There has been a significant growth in the percentage of Western European parties in LCIA arbitrations, increasing to 24% in 2019 from 15% in 2018. Conversely, there has been a slight decrease in users from Asia, down to 10% in 2019 from 14.4% in 2018, which may reflect the general trend of growth in arbitrations heard in Asia.

Global arbitrators: Arbitrators from 40 different countries were appointed in 2019, an increase from 34 in 2018, and only 51% of appointed arbitrators were British.

Continued diversification: In 2019, 29% of all arbitrator appointments were female, up from 23% in 2018. The LCIA is taking an active role in this rise with 48% of all arbitrators selected by the LCIA being female.

Developing new talent and depth of arbitrators: 19% of arbitrators appointed in 2019 were first-time appointees. Of all arbitrators appointed, 60% were only appointed once in 2019, with the LCIA committed to ensuring arbitrators are available for appointments that they take on.

If you would like to discuss this report or have any questions on LCIA arbitrations more generally, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our leading international arbitration team.