Evolution Not Revolution: LCIA Launches New Rules Adapted To The COVID Era

The LCIA says its arbitration rules have been updated with a 'light touch', but significant changes have been made to help arbitration through the COVID era and streamline proceedings generally. We look at the look main ways in which the new rules differ from the old.

The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) was about to publish its new arbitration rules when the COVID-19 virus struck.  Now they have been launched at last, and will come into force on 1 October 2020, applying to all LCIA arbitrations commenced on or after that date.  New mediation rules have been issued too.

Key changes

The LCIA has used the extra time well.  Although its 2014 rules were better adapted than most to electronic communication, the new rules make electronic communication the norm,  not only within an arbitration but also when commencing it and bringing it to an end with the transmission of an award (Articles 1.3, 4 & 26.7).  Similarly, wording allowing virtual