SCC contributes to newly released book on Nordic arbitration
The inaugural Nordic Commercial Arbitration Forum convened in Stockholm on 11 March 2025 and now continues through the newly released book: Nordic Commercial Arbitration Forum 2025 – Nordic Arbitration: A Strategic Choice for Business. Drawing on contributions from more than two dozen practitioners, academics and institutional leaders, the book distils why the Nordics present a compelling, business-friendly seat for international disputes and how the region's institutions innovate to meet user needs.
Published
A Nordic initiative for international arbitration
The publication is the result of a truly Nordic collaboration, showcasing the shared ambition of arbitration institutions, practitioners and academics across the region to strengthen the visibility of Nordic arbitration on the global stage. Through a series of essays and reflections, the book highlights the distinct features that define the Nordic approach to dispute resolution, a blend of efficiency, transparency, and user-focused innovation.
Beyond outlining the legal frameworks and procedural strengths of each jurisdiction, the volume underscores how the Nordic countries collectively offer a reliable and modern environment for resolving cross-border commercial disputes. It also illustrates how the region’s institutions continue to evolve to meet the demands of a global business community, balancing high standards of due process with flexible, technology-driven solutions.
Together, these contributions present the Nordics not only as a geographic region, but as a unified, forward-looking community of arbitration professionals committed to advancing best practices and setting benchmarks for accessible and sustainable dispute resolution worldwide.
SCC’s contribution to the book
SCC’s chapter, titled “From wheatfields to oilfields to wind farms and back again: innovating dispute resolution in the 21st century at the SCC Arbitration Institute,” is authored by Caroline Falconer, Secretary General of the SCC Arbitration Institute, and Raoul J. Sievers, former Visiting Professional at SCC. The chapter traces SCC’s trajectory as it navigates a rapidly changing commercial landscape, with the shift from wheatfields to oilfields to wind farms metaphorically capturing the institution’s adaptability in fulfilling needs that could scarcely have been imagined by the Stockholm business community in 1917.
This forward-thinking approach is essential in today’s interconnected world, where climate change, sustainability, and cross-border commerce create new challenges. Looking ahead, the chapter emphasises that the SCC aims to keep users top of mind when considering the future of dispute resolution. AI will play a significant role in streamlining arbitration processes, from automating document review and legal research to predictive analytics for case outcomes, enhancing efficiency, improving quality, and reducing costs. Efforts to increase diversity among arbitrators will intensify, including gender, ethnic, and professional diversity, ensuring a broader range of perspectives in decision-making. Environmental considerations are expected to become even more prominent, with institutions adopting green practices to minimise the carbon footprint of arbitration proceedings. By introducing and promoting multi-tiered clauses, the SCC seeks to encourage well-thought-through dispute resolution models and hybrid approaches combining arbitration with mediation and SCC Express, offering more flexible and tailored solutions to complex disputes.
SCC’s natural place in Nordic and global arbitration
As the largest arbitration institute in the Nordics and one of the leading institutions globally, the SCC holds a prominent position in international dispute resolution. Each year, the SCC administers a substantial number of cases involving parties from all parts of the world, a testament to its efficiency, neutrality, and the trust it enjoys among users worldwide.
Driven by innovation, the SCC continuously enhances its procedures and develops new tools to meet the evolving needs of the business community. From expedited arbitration and emergency measures to mediation and other tailored administrative services, the SCC offers a comprehensive and flexible suite of solutions designed to support efficient and modern dispute resolution.
This combination of innovation, accessibility and reliability reinforces the SCC’s reputation as a forward-looking institution and a natural representative of the Nordic approach to arbitration on the global stage.