Topic: Conflict of interest

A panel at GAR Live Abu Dhabi examined the principle adopted by some institutions that sole arbitrators or tribunal chairs with the same nationality as one of the parties are presumed to be biased – and debated whether it should be overturned. 

29 January 2025

The International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) has published new guidelines on how arbitrators should make conflict of interest disclosures.

11 September 2024

The fifth edition of the Bucharest Arbitration Days included panels addressing ethics and conflicts of interest, the relationship with the courts, how institutions make appointments, modernisation of investment contracts and efforts to reform ISDS. 

09 July 2024

ICSID deputy secretary general Martina Polasek has been elected as the institution’s next secretary general, after the centre outlined measures to avoid potential conflicts of interest arising from her marriage to White & Case arbitration partner Petr Polášek.

02 May 2024

The International Bar Association arbitration committee has proposed updates to its guidelines on conflicts of interest in international arbitration for the first time in a decade, expanding the definition of relationships between arbitrators and parties and providing new examples of when disclosure is required.

05 March 2024

An event during Canadian Arbitration Week in Toronto discussed appropriate disclosure for arbitrators when accepting appointments, including recent case law from the UK, France and US that seeks to clarify applicable standards. Timothy Hughes, independent counsel and arbitrator based in Calgary, reports.

16 November 2023

The International Bar Association has formed a new task force to review its guidelines on conflicts of interest in international arbitration, with amendments expected to be finalised next year.

13 April 2023

Laurent Aynès has been disqualified as president of the arbitral tribunal hearing a US$32 billion case over a gas supply contract brought by Crescent Petroleum against Iran's national oil company.

27 March 2023

Documents leaked to GAR shed light on efforts by Iran's national oil company to disqualify the tribunal president in a US$32 billion arbitration with Crescent Petroleum, a challenge that is supposed to be decided this week.

14 March 2023

A company owned by Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos has lost a final appeal in the French courts relating to a US$646 million award, failing on arguments that the ICC was wrong to appoint all five members of the tribunal itself or that an arbitrator failed to disclose potential conflicts.

15 November 2022