White & Case has launched its 2020 international arbitration survey together with academics at Queen Mary, University of London. 

The 2020 survey will look how arbitration is adapting to the needs of stakeholders, the demands of the pandemic, and its economic consequences. It will also assess how trends towards greener arbitrations and increasing demand for greater diversity in arbitration are affecting business disputes.

This is the fifth White & Case arbitration survey and is one of the most comprehensive undertaken. Professor Stavros Brekoulakis, of Queen Mary's School of International Arbitration, said it would provide “unique insight into the continuously evolving practices, and better understanding of, the needs of the users of international arbitration".

Previous surveys have highlighted concerns about the length and cost of arbitrations, the use and potential abuse of procedural innovations and the rise of arbitration centres in Hong Kong, Dubai, and Singapore. The research has also tracked concerns surrounding arbitrator conflicts of interest and bias.

London-based arbitration partner Clare Connellan said: "We will explore how arbitration has adapted, and continues to adapt, to such global issues as diversity and sustainability, and the current Covid-19 health crisis, including through the use of technology."

Norah Gallagher, deputy director at Queen Mary, who leads on the study, said: “The results will be an important contribution to understanding the evolution of arbitration and identifying what changes will endure after the pandemic." 

The survey, which runs from October to December, will be launched in May 2021; White & Case has committed to making a charitable donation to SOS Children’s Villages and the World Wildlife Fund for every completed response.