Arbitration
A binding, private and internationally enforceable method for the definitive resolution of commercial disputes, administered by independent arbitrators under LIACourt's Arbitration Rules.
LIACourt Arbitration
What Is LIACourt Arbitration
LIACourt arbitration is a dispute resolution process by which the parties submit their dispute to the decision of a sole arbitrator or a collegiate panel of three independent and impartial arbitrators, whose final award is binding and definitive for both parties.
Unlike court litigation, arbitration takes place in a private and confidential environment, with parties retaining a significant degree of control over aspects such as the choice of arbitrators, the language of the proceedings, the seat of arbitration and the procedural timetable. These factors make arbitration the preferred mechanism for resolving high-value and complex international commercial disputes.
Arbitral awards rendered under LIACourt’s Rules are enforceable in more than 170 signatory countries of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention, 1958), conferring global reach that national court judgments frequently do not possess.
Binding and Definitive Award
The arbitral award is final and binding on the parties, and is not subject to appeal on the merits, except on the limited grounds set out in the Rules and in the law of the seat.
International Enforcement
Enforceable in more than 170 countries under the New York Convention — a decisive advantage over judgments of national courts.
Absolute Confidentiality
The entire proceeding — pleadings, evidence, hearings and award — is strictly confidential, with restricted access through LIACourt's secure portal.
Arbitration in Numbers
170+
Countries of Enforcement
Awards enforceable under the 1958 New York Convention.
90
Days — Expedited Procedure
Final award guaranteed in 90 days under the expedited procedure.
24h
Emergency Arbitrator
Emergency arbitrator appointed within 24 hours of the request.
40+
Arbitrators on the Panel
Accredited arbitrators across multiple jurisdictions and sectors.
Stages of the Process
The Arbitral Process Step by Step
The arbitral process at LIACourt proceeds according to clearly defined stages established by the Arbitration Rules, guaranteeing predictability and certainty for all parties involved.
The entire process is managed through LIACourt’s secure digital portal, centralising communications, documents, deadlines and hearings on a single confidential platform.
01
Request for Arbitration
The claimant submits the Request for Arbitration to the LIACourt Secretariat, indicating the parties, the nature of the dispute, the amount in dispute and the number of arbitrators requested. The Request is accompanied by the registration fee and essential documents, including the arbitration clause or submission agreement.
Digital Portal · Timeframe: immediate
02
Response to the Request and Constitution of the Tribunal
The respondent submits its Response to the Request within the timeframe established by the Rules. Simultaneously, the process of constituting the tribunal begins: the parties appoint their arbitrators or LIACourt appoints them, and the party-appointed arbitrators elect the presiding arbitrator, or the presiding arbitrator is appointed by LIACourt.
Typical timeframe: 30 to 45 days
03
Terms of Reference and Procedural Timetable
The tribunal draws up the Terms of Reference, a document that establishes the scope of the dispute, the issues to be decided, the seat of arbitration, the language of the proceedings and the timetable for the main stages. This document is signed by all parties and the tribunal, and serves as the roadmap for the proceedings.
Typical timeframe: 15 to 30 days after constitution
04
Evidentiary Phase — Pleadings and Evidence
The parties exchange their written submissions — memorial, statement of defence and any replies — accompanied by documents, expert reports and witness lists. The tribunal may issue procedural orders on specific matters of evidence, confidentiality or interim measures.
Variable duration — 6 to 12 months
05
Hearings
Unless otherwise agreed, the tribunal holds one or more hearings for the examination of witnesses and experts and for the parties' final oral submissions. Hearings may be held in person at LIACourt's premises in London, at another agreed location, or by video conference.
In person · By video conference · Hybrid
06
Deliberation and Final Award
After the close of the oral and written phase, the tribunal deliberates and renders the final award. The award undergoes formal review by the LIACourt Court of Arbitration before being notified to the parties through the secure portal. The award is final, binding and internationally enforceable.
Typical timeframe: 60 to 90 days after hearings
Procedure Types
Types of Procedure
LIACourt's Arbitration Rules provide for three types of procedure, adapted to the urgency, value and complexity of the dispute.
Standard Procedure
The default procedure, designed for disputes of moderate to high complexity requiring full evidentiary phase, expert evidence and hearings.
- Sole arbitrator or panel of three arbitrators
- Full evidentiary phase: documents, experts and witnesses
- In-person or video conference hearings
- Typical duration: 12 to 18 months
- No limit on the value of the dispute
Expedited Procedure
Procedure with shortened timetables and a sole arbitrator, designed for disputes of lesser complexity or where speed of resolution is a priority.
- Sole arbitrator appointed by LIACourt
- Significantly reduced procedural timetables
- Final award guaranteed in 90 days
- Ideal for disputes up to USD 5,000,000
- Hearings generally conducted by video
Emergency Arbitrator
A mechanism that allows parties to request urgent interim or provisional measures before the formal constitution of the arbitral tribunal.
- Emergency arbitrator appointed within 24 hours
- Decision rendered within 15 days
- Available before the constitution of the tribunal
- Urgent provisional and interim measures
- Applicable in any type of arbitration
Distinguishing Features
Key Features of LIACourt Arbitration
Flexible Seat
The parties may agree the seat of arbitration in any country. In the absence of agreement, LIACourt fixes the seat, normally in London, without prejudice to hearings being held elsewhere.
Multi-Party Arbitration
LIACourt’s Rules allow the consolidation of related proceedings and the intervention of third parties, facilitating the integrated resolution of disputes involving multiple parties and contracts.
Language of the Proceedings
The parties freely choose the language of the proceedings. The LIACourt Secretariat offers multilingual support, with operational capacity in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.
Interim Measures
The tribunal may order interim or provisional measures at the request of any party, including asset preservation measures and injunctions, from the constitution of the tribunal onwards.
Video Hearings
LIACourt has the technical infrastructure for hearings conducted entirely by video conference, including secure virtual rooms, real-time transcription and encrypted document sharing.
Secure Digital Portal
All procedural documentation, communications, deadlines and decisions are managed through LIACourt’s digital portal, with role-based access and mandatory two-factor authentication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Arbitration
We have compiled the questions most frequently put to our Secretariat about the arbitration process at LIACourt.
Didn’t find the answer you were looking for? Our Secretariat is available to answer any additional questions.