Asia Pacific Arbitration Roundup 2020

Welcome to the second edition of our Asia Pacific Arbitration Roundup and our third regional arbitration publication.

Despite the unavoidable effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a year of developments for international arbitration across the globe and in particular in Asia Pacific.

The inherent flexibility and adaptability of the arbitration process meant that commercial and sovereign parties alike could continue to use arbitration effectively and meaningfully to resolve their disputes, despite the hurdles created by travel restrictions and lockdown. In this regard arbitration institutions and centres in the region were at the forefront of embracing the changing landscape by wholeheartedly adopting virtual hearings and introducing guidance on any necessary changes to the rules. We covered these developments in our Asia Pacific Arbitration Virtual Hearings publication, which can be read here.

In this 2020 Asia Pacific Arbitration Roundup, we provide an update on the significant international arbitration cases considered by the national courts in the various Asia Pacific jurisdictions and also outline any key developments in international arbitration in these jurisdictions.