London and Singapore have retained their leading positions as jurisdictions of choice for global arbitration, according to a White & Case survey.

Just over a third of respondents (34%) selected London as their top destination, while 31% selected Singapore, the survey data showed. The sixth edition of the survey, which was conducted in association with the School of International Arbitration at Queen Mary University of London, was released to coincide with Paris Arbitration Week. The last survey in 2021 saw London and Singapore tie for top spot.

While Hong Kong tied with Singapore as the preferred seat overall, London and Singapore were unique in being among the top five preferred seats for respondents in each of the six regions in which respondents principally practice or operate.

Both jurisdictions have recognised the need to refresh existing legislation. In the UK, the new Labour government recently adopted previous reforms initiated by their Tory predecessors to pass a new Arbitration Act in February, designed to modernise arbitration proceedings, enhance the powers of arbitral tribunals and increase procedural efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Similarly, Singapore’s Ministry of Law initiated a comprehensive consultation last month to further refine arbitration practices and reinforce judicial support for arbitration, a theme discussed by former Singaporean appellate judge Judith Prakash at the International Bar Association’s Arbitration Day last week.

Clare Connellan, an arbitration partner at White & Case, commented: “The sustained appeal of London and Singapore underscores the importance arbitration users place on judicial reliability and proactive legislative support.

“Both jurisdictions have made significant legislative advances in recent months, demonstrating a clear political commitment to maintaining their positions as preeminent global arbitration hubs.”

Most preferred seats

Other seats to feature strongly alongside Hong Kong were Beijing and Paris. In recent years, the Special Administrative Region and the Chinese capital have agreed on closer working arrangements between their respective courts and regional arbitral integration in the Greater Bay Area. Paris, the home of the ICC Court of Arbitration, also celebrated its arbitral centenary last year.

The report highlights the increasing use of AI in arbitration. While 91% of respondents plan to use AI for research within the next five years, most prefer human oversight for legal reasoning and award drafting.

More than 90% of respondents expected to use AI for factual and legal research, data analytics or document review over the next five years. However, 77% of respondents, including 80% of arbitrators and 85% of counsel, object to AI drafting the reasoning sections of arbitral awards and decisions. While anticipating broader AI use, they insisted that critical legal assessments must remain human-led.

Zelda Hunter, another White & Case international arbitration partner, said: “AI and data technologies are transforming the practice of arbitration but, unsurprisingly, the survey’s findings confirm that human judgement and expertise are irreplaceable, particularly [regarding] strategic and legal decision-making. The future of arbitration will undoubtedly be defined by innovation underpinned by oversight.”

The survey showed divided opinions on transparency. Confidentiality is still vital in commercial disputes, but there is growing support for more openness in disputes involving governments or state entities.

Most respondents (59%) supported publishing redacted awards in investor-state disputes, although nearly 90% opposed public access to hearings in commercial arbitration, reflecting enduring concerns around sensitive business information and reputational risk.

White & Case partner Charles Nairac, co-head of the arbitration practice, said the survey’s findings underscored arbitration’s resilience and “enduring relevance in helping businesses navigate today’s complex global environment”, notwithstanding increased geopolitical uncertainty, economic volatility and rapid technological change.

The 2025 survey, which will be published in full in May, saw a 97% increase in respondents from previous years, with 2,402 responses received and 117 interviews conducted.

Asia-Pacific accounted for 47% of respondents, while 21% were from Europe and the UK, 10% from North America, 9% were from the Middle East, which has seen considerable expansion of arbitration in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and 7% were from Latin America or the Caribbean. Just 6% of respondents were African.