The so-called “battle of seats” in international arbitration isn’t new, spanning over half a century. Various global capitals have developed favorable legal ecosystems—either through enacting legislation ensuring legal certainty or issuing court decisions viewed as favorable towards arbitration. This competition has helped to position arbitration as the preferred mechanism for resolving cross-border disputes.[1] The “rivalry” between London and Paris as arbitration seats is particularly noteworthy and has been put in display in cases where their courts have taken opposing approaches on the same issues. The fact that two of the world’s leading arbitration institutions –the LCIA and the ICC– are headquartered in London and Paris respectively further fuel this sustained competition.
Recent statistics and surveys confirm this phenomenon: Paris and London have long led the race for the top two global spots as the most frequently chosen arbitral seats[2] according to the ICC Dispute Resolution Statistics, with London claiming first place in certain years and Paris claiming the same in other years.[3] Similar results were reported in the 2024 International Arbitration Survey, which showed that London and Paris remain the preferred seats worldwide across virtually all regions.[4]
