Presentations

This panel shall explore whether the widely proclaimed commitment to diversity and inclusion in international arbitration reflects genuine transformation or remains largely rhetorical. It considers how diversity is understood in practice, including gender, geography, race, language, age, professional background, and legal tradition, and why these dimensions matter for legitimacy, user confidence, and the perceived neutrality of tribunals. The discussion will examine the current landscape of arbitral appointments and institutional practices, asking whether recent initiatives, pledges and policy statements have led to a broader and more inclusive pool of arbitrators, or whether appointments continue to be concentrated among a relatively narrow, familiar group. The panel will also address how party autonomy, counsel preferences, and market dynamics interact with diversity goals, and whether there is a tension between “merit” and representativeness or whether these concepts are, in fact, mutually reinforcing. Ultimately, the session aims to move beyond slogans to assess what concrete progress has been made, what obstacles persist, and what additional measures may be needed for diversity and inclusion to become an integral, everyday reality in international arbitration rather than a recurring theme confined to speeches and mission statements.