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Arbitration at a crossroads: Freshfields defines the trends shaping 2025 and beyond
Global law firm Freshfields has released its annual international arbitration report for 2025, predicting and analysing the key trends in international arbitration in the year ahead.
The firm’s latest report delves into the world of international arbitration that is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Geopolitical turbulence, technological breakthroughs, and escalating ESG demands are significantly influencing the field and driving its transformation.
Boris Kasolowsky, Partner and Global Co-head of the International Arbitration Group, said: “Our report empowers businesses to stay ahead of the curve. By anticipating challenges, refining strategies, and aligning operations with emerging trends, companies can confidently navigate a competitive global landscape.”
“We have gone beyond observation to provide actionable guidance for businesses facing complex challenges – this guide is a helpful primer to navigate the ever-changing disputes landscape,” adds Noiana Marigo, Partner and Global Co-head of the International Arbitration Group.
The trends in this year’s report are:
- AI in International Arbitration: a fast-evolving landscape
- Geopolitical shifts: new political agendas driving investment treaty claims
- Russian disputes and anti-suit injunctions: arbitration and state courts - allies, adversaries or both?
- Investor-state mediation: a bridge over troubled waters?
- Indigenous rights in investment treaty arbitration: a growing imperative
- Arbitration as a tool for private capital disputes
- Arbitration of space disputes: time for take-off
- Game-changing sports disputes: a new normal
- Privilege in international arbitration – should one set of rules apply?
- The shift from EPC to EPCM: a recipe for more complex arbitrations?
- The internationalization of arbitration in Brazil: a rising trend
- Shifting sands: the Middle East’s evolution into an arbitration hub
As a world-leading international arbitration practice operating across key jurisdictions and industry sectors, Freshfields offers clients a comprehensive range of services in commercial and treaty arbitration, litigation in support of arbitration, global projects disputes, public international law and alternative dispute resolution.
The firm has a diverse team of more than 200 market-leading lawyers in multiple locations, conducts arbitrations all over the world, whatever the governing law of the dispute, the language of the arbitration, the applicable arbitration rules, or the subject matter of the dispute. To find out more about the Freshfields practice, click here.
This is the tenth edition of our annual arbitration trends report. Further information on this year’s report can be found here.
