International arbitration: what lies ahead?

• 2024 saw increased arbitration caseloads, new institutional rules and updated practice guidelines, as well as a series of important rulings.
• During the rest of 2025, we can expect further growth of digital asset disputes, new regulations around third-party funding, renewed interest in specialised rules, increased use of artificial intelligence in the arbitral process, and continued growth in environment, social and governance disputes.

Arbitration is in a period of growth, with arbitral institutions reporting a rise in the number of cases. The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) registered its second-highest number of cases in 2024, while the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) recorded that its participants spanned 141 countries, with construction and energy generating the most cases between 2021 and 2023.

2024 also saw the launch of a new institution in the Middle East, with