Deminor Wiki - Paris Arbitration Week

Read below for a definition of the term: "Paris Arbitration Week".

What do we mean when we say: "Paris Arbitration Week"?

Paris Arbitration Week (PAW) is an annual international arbitration event held in Paris, France, that brings together leading arbitration practitioners, academics, arbitrators, in-house counsel, and litigation funders from across the globe. Established in 2017, this week-long programme features conferences, seminars, workshops, and networking events organised by arbitral institutions, law firms, universities, and professional associations. PAW has evolved into one of the most significant gatherings in the international arbitration calendar, serving as a crucial platform for discussing emerging trends, sharing best practices, and fostering connections within the global arbitration community. 

History

Paris Arbitration Week emerged from the collective vision of the Paris arbitration community to establish a unified platform celebrating the city's position as a leading global arbitration centre. The first edition was held in April 2017, following the model of arbitration weeks already established in cities such as Hong Kong, Dubai, and Singapore. The founding co-hosts were the ICC International Court of Arbitration, which has maintained its headquarters in Paris since 1923, the Comité Français de l'Arbitrage, and "Paris, the home of international arbitration" (later known as Paris Place d'Arbitrage). This collaborative approach distinguished PAW from other arbitration events by creating a decentralised model where multiple organisations could contribute to a coordinated programme whilst maintaining their individual identities and perspectives.

Structure and Programming

Paris Arbitration Week operates through a distinctive decentralised model that sets it apart from traditional conferences. Rather than being organised by a single entity, PAW comprises numerous events hosted by different organisations, all coordinated under the PAW umbrella through a dedicated Board and Organising Committee. This structure enables diverse perspectives whilst maintaining quality standards through established criteria for inclusion in the official programme.

The week typically features several anchor events that define the programme's character. The ICC European Conference on International Arbitration traditionally opens the week, addressing current challenges and institutional developments. Law firms contribute specialised seminars covering sector-specific disputes, emerging markets, and procedural innovations. The programme encompasses morning conferences, afternoon workshops, evening receptions, and the PAW Gala, facilitating different types of professional engagement.

Programming themes reflect current market concerns and emerging trends. Recent editions have featured substantial coverage of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations, artificial intelligence applications in arbitration, cybersecurity in virtual proceedings, and the intersection of criminal law with arbitration proceedings. Sessions dedicated to construction disputes, energy transitions, sanctions compliance, and collective redress mechanisms demonstrate the breadth of topics addressed.

Litigation Funding Context

Litigation funding, also known as third-party funding (TPF), has become an integral component of Paris Arbitration Week programming since the inaugural edition. Third-party funding involves financial arrangements whereby entities with no prior connection to a dispute provide capital to parties pursuing or defending arbitration proceedings in exchange for a share of any favourable outcome. The integration of funding discussions into PAW reflects the arbitration community's recognition that access to justice in international arbitration increasingly depends upon availability of financial resources to pursue meritorious claims, particularly in complex commercial disputes where costs can reach millions of euros.

Dedicated sessions examine regulatory developments across jurisdictions, from Singapore's 2017 legislation permitting funding in international arbitration to ongoing European Union discussions on collective redress funding. Panels address practical considerations including due diligence processes, privilege protection in funder communications, negotiation of funding agreements, and the management of conflicts of interest.

Discussions have addressed disclosure obligations for funded parties, the impact of funding on costs awards, funder involvement in settlement negotiations, and ethical boundaries in funded arbitrations. Sessions examining portfolio funding arrangements, law firm finance options, and innovative funding structures demonstrate the sophistication of the modern litigation finance market.

The event facilitates dialogue between funders, arbitrators, counsel, and arbitral institutions, helping to establish norms and expectations that balance the commercial interests of funders with the integrity of arbitral proceedings.

Deminor Participation

Deminor has partnered with Paris Arbitration Week on numerous occasions, as an official event sponsor, in addition to organising dedicated litigation funding panel discussions with a number of leading law firms.

For example, in 2022 Deminor partnered with UGGC host a presentation and discussion on the topic of "Funding of arbitration proceedings: scope, issues and obligations of transparency”.

At the 2023 event, Deminor partnered with Baker McKenzie to host the panel discussion on the topic: "Are Arbitration costs making it prohibitive (and unruly)?".

Broader Industry Context

Paris Arbitration Week operates within the expanding ecosystem of global legal services, reflecting fundamental transformations in how international disputes are financed, managed, and resolved. The event exemplifies the increasing commercialisation of dispute resolution, where arbitration has evolved from an alternative to litigation into a sophisticated industry with specialised practitioners, funders, technology providers, and support services. The concentration of expertise during PAW creates knowledge spillovers benefiting the entire arbitration community through improved practices, and enhanced professional standards.

International perspectives converge at PAW, creating a unique forum for comparative analysis and cross-pollination of ideas between different legal traditions and arbitration cultures. The event attracts significant participation from emerging markets, with dedicated programming on arbitration developments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This global orientation distinguishes PAW from regionally focused events and reinforces Paris's position as a neutral meeting ground for diverse legal traditions. The increasing focus on diversity and inclusion has prompted PAW organisers to ensure balanced representation in speakers and programming, contributing to broader industry efforts to address historical imbalances in arbitrator appointments and leadership positions.

Conclusion

Paris Arbitration Week has established itself as the premier global gathering for the international arbitration community, evolving from its 2017 inception to become an indispensable forum for practitioners, academics, arbitrators, and litigation funders. Its distinctive decentralised structure enables unprecedented diversity of perspectives whilst maintaining high quality standards, creating a unique platform where commercial interests, academic insights, and professional development converge. The integration of litigation funding discussions throughout PAW programming reflects the maturation of third-party funding from a niche financial product to an essential component of access to justice in international arbitration. Through its role in shaping best practices, facilitating market connections, and advancing policy discussions, PAW contributes significantly to the development of international arbitration as a sophisticated, accessible, and effective means of resolving cross-border disputes.