The Finland Arbitration Institute (FAI)

A look back at the FAI 115th Anniversary Conference ✨ On 21 August, around 290 arbitration professionals joined us in Helsinki and online to explore how geopolitics runs through the arbitration lifecycle, from the contract to the hearing room to the award. Thank you to our speakers, moderators, partners, media supporters, side event organisers, and all attendees who joined us in celebrating 115 years of FAI. 🎥 Watch the aftermovie below. A fuller recap of the discussions is on the way.

The FAI 115th Anniversary Conference is just around the corner, and our partners have lined up a series of excellent side events to complement the conference programme. 🌟 The official side events calendar is now live on the FAI 115 website! Browse the list of events, plan your conference week, and register here: https://lnkd.in/ddvHsrdu 📍 International Bar Association Arbitration Committee IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration 📍 Young Arbitration Club Finland (YACF) Growing into Leadership 📍 DISFAI Arbitration Group New Disputes on the Horizon: From Satellites to Cyber Security 📍 Castrén & Snellman Nordic Arbitration Summer Social 📍 Finnish Arbitration Association (FAA) Take a Stand – the Model Law Edition 💡 The FAI 115th Anniversary Conference has already attracted over 210 registrations from 37 countries. Join us to hear the Helsinki Lecture by Gary Born, connect with arbitration professionals from around the world, and celebrate 115 years of FAI at the historic Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.

𝐅𝐀𝐈 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐫ø𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐨 In the latest edition of FAI Insights, Mikal Brøndmo, partner at Haavind in Oslo and FAI Board member, shares his perspective on Norwegian arbitration practice, including the continued role of ad hoc arbitration and tribunal composition under Norwegian law. In his interview, he discusses the factors that may increasingly favour institutional arbitration in the years ahead, and the lessons to be drawn from the Norwegian Supreme Court's recent ruling on arbitrator impartiality. 🔗 Link in the comments.

Today's government proposal marks a significant milestone for arbitration in Finland. The Government has presented a reform of Finnish arbitration legislation. The new act would be based on the UNCITRAL Model Law, reflect international developments and digitalisation, and concentrate court proceedings related to arbitration at the Helsinki Court of Appeal and the District Court of Western Uusimaa. The act is intended to enter into force in spring 2027. FAI has played a central role in shaping this reform. FAI Board Chair Mika Hemmo led the six-member working group appointed by the Ministry of Justice to prepare the draft legislation. The other members were Teemu Taxell, Ari Kantor, Timo Heikkinen, Kirsi Pulkkinen, and FAI Secretary General Henrik Sajakorpi. We are proud to have contributed to making Finland an even more attractive seat for arbitration. Link to the government proposal (in Finnish) in the comments.

𝗙𝗔𝗜 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗵𝘂-𝗛𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴 In the latest edition of FAI Insights, Nhu Hoang Tran Thang, founder of Astute Dispute Resolution and international arbitration lawyer registered with the Paris bar and based in Geneva, shares her practical insights as arbitrator in expedited and default proceedings, including under the FAI Rules. In her interview, she discusses how tribunals should establish procedural control from the outset, what effective case management looks like under compressed timelines, and how to safeguard due process when one party does not participate. 🔗 Link in the comments.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗙𝗔𝗜 𝟭𝟭𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Founded in 1911, the Finland Arbitration Institute is one of the oldest continuously operating arbitration institutions in the world and the oldest in the Nordic region. For 115 years, the Institute has provided a neutral, efficient and reliable framework for the resolution of cross-border disputes through periods of political, economic and legal change. Today, that environment is increasingly shaped by geopolitical tension, regulatory fragmentation and a renewed emphasis on sovereignty. This August, we explore how international commercial arbitration operates when the rules-based order is under strain. The programme takes this apart through three lenses: when contracts collide with geopolitics, when the state enters the hearing room, and when awards meet power. The programme includes the Helsinki Lecture by Gary Born, Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group at WilmerHale, and three panel discussions with internationally recognised practitioners in arbitration, international law, and cross-border disputes from Europe, Asia, and North America. The conference takes place on 21 August 2026 in Helsinki. The day concludes with a Gala Dinner at Suomenlinna, a sea fortress that has stood through centuries of change, for an evening of dinner and music. We hope to see you in Helsinki. 🔗 Event website and registration in comments.