Arbitration offers several advantages in a commercial context, including confidentiality, procedural flexibility, efficiency, and a high degree of party autonomy in shaping the proceedings. Another important feature is that arbitral awards are not subject to appeal on the merits and are therefore final and binding. They are also widely enforceable internationally under the 1958 New York Convention, which has been adopted by more than 170 jurisdictions.
The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, through its arbitration institute (SCC), is widely recognised as one of the leading arbitral institutions globally and offers a modern and flexible framework for arbitration, including its Rules for Expedited Arbitration.
In addition to standard arbitration, parties may opt for expedited arbitration under the SCC Rules. This is a more streamlined form of dispute resolution, particularly suitable where the nature or complexity of the dispute does not justify a full-scale arbitral process.
Under the SCC Rules for Expedited Arbitration, the procedure is deliberately structured to be more concentrated, with limited written submissions, shorter timeframes, and, as a general rule, determination by a sole arbitrator. Oral hearings are only held where necessary or at the request of a party.
The process is therefore “frontloaded”, requiring the parties to present their case at an early stage, which contributes to a more efficient procedure and reduced overall costs.
One of the key advantages of expedited arbitration is the shortened timeframe. Under the SCC Rules for Expedited Arbitration, the final award is to be rendered within three months from the date the case is referred to the arbitrator. Disputes can therefor be resolved within a matter of months, which stands in clear contrast to both standard arbitration and court proceedings, where comparable disputes may take years.
Expedited arbitration is not necessarily appropriate in all cases. More complex disputes, particularly those involving extensive evidence, multiple parties, or high-value claims, are generally better suited to standard arbitration.
Expedited arbitration is often a particularly suitable and, in many cases, preferable option where:
Typical examples include disputes relating to breach of contract, payment obligations, or penalty clauses, including disputes arising in shareholder relationships or settlement agreements.
Arbitration requires an agreement between the parties, most often set out in an arbitration clause in the underlying contract. In practice, such clauses are often based on standard model clauses provided by the SCC. For expedited arbitration, a specific model clause is available on the SCC’s website.
Absent such an agreement, expedited arbitration is generally not available. The choice of dispute resolution mechanism should therefore be carefully considered at the contracting stage, where expedited arbitration may, in many cases, constitute an efficient and strategically sound option.
If you are uncertain whether expedited arbitration is appropriate for your contract, contact one of our dispute resolution lawyers to assess the most suitable approach for your specific circumstances.
Expedited arbitration provides an efficient and proportionate solution for many commercial disputes. For parties prioritizing speed, predictability, confidentiality, and cost efficiency, it is often a strategically sound option, provided that the nature of the dispute is suited to a more streamlined procedure.
