The ICC International Court of Arbitration (“the Court”) is the world’s foremost institution in the resolution of international business disputes. While most arbitration institutions are regional or national in scope, the ICC Court is truly international. Composed of members from almost 90 countries, the ICC Court is the world’s most widely representative dispute resolution institution.

The ICC Court is not a “court” in the ordinary sense. As the ICC arbitration body, the Court ensures the application of the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. Although its members do not decide the matters submitted to ICC arbitration – this is the task of the arbitrators appointed under the ICC Rules – the Court oversees the ICC arbitration process and, among other things, is responsible for: appointing arbitrators; confirming, as the case may be, arbitrators nominated by the parties; deciding upon challenges of arbitrators; scrutinizing and approving all arbitral Awards; and fixing the arbitrators’ fees. In exercising its functions, the Court is able to draw upon the collective experience of distinguished jurists from a diversity of backgrounds and legal cultures as varied as that of the participants in the arbitral process.

The Secretariat of the ICC Court
The Court is assisted by a Secretariat comprising over 80 full-time staff, who manage more than 1,400 ongoing cases on a day-to-day basis and provide educational and documentary support services to promote and facilitate the use of arbitration.

The Secretariat, with its headquarters in Paris and a fully operational branch office in Hong Kong, administers arbitrations throughout the world.

The core of the Secretariat lies in its eight case-management teams. Under the direction of a Counsel, assisted by two or more Deputy Counsel, each team has a distinct regional, cultural and linguistic focus, allowing parties and arbitrators to be assured of an understanding approach to their needs. Almost 30 languages are spoken within the Secretariat, whose members encompass over 25 different nationalities. The Secretariat’s lawyers are conversant with all major legal traditions.