Deminor Wiki – CIArb (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators)

History

CIArb was founded on 1 March 1915 as the Institute of Arbitrators in London by five professionals: H.C. Emery (a solicitor and chartered secretary), F.M. Burr (an architect), I.W. Bullen (an accountant), A. Powells, and A. Stevens (a solicitor). The institute's founding aim was to raise the status of arbitration to the dignity of a distinct and recognised position as one of the learned professions. The organisation's first offices were established at 32 Old Jewry in London.

In 1979, the institute was incorporated by Royal Charter under Queen Elizabeth II, marking formal recognition as a learned body. The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators, a City livery company, was subsequently created in 1981. In July 1990, CIArb became a registered charity in the United Kingdom (charity number 803725), with its principal objective being to promote and facilitate the determination of disputes by arbitration and alternative means of dispute resolution.

Today, CIArb operates as a global professional body offering education, training, and accreditation for arbitrators, mediators, and adjudicators. The organisation publishes Arbitration: The International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management, a peer-reviewed academic journal that has contributed over 5,000 articles since its inception in 1915. CIArb also maintains relationships with academic institutions and professional bodies worldwide, contributing to international standards development including strategic input to UNCITRAL working groups.

Membership Grades and Qualifications

CIArb offers several membership grades reflecting different levels of expertise and experience. The three primary professional grades are Associate (ACIArb), Member (MCIArb), and Fellow (FCIArb), each denoted by internationally recognised postnominal letters. In 1999, the current membership structure was formalised alongside the introduction of the Chartered Arbitrator (C.Arb) designation, representing the highest level of professional recognition. A Chartered Adjudicator (C.Adj) qualification was introduced in 2024.

Membership can be obtained through three routes: completion of CIArb qualification courses and assessments, evidence of successful completion of accredited courses through Recognised Course Providers, or demonstration of professional experience commensurate with the required grade. Fellows who meet additional criteria for excellence may apply to become Chartered Arbitrators through a panel interview process. All members adhere to CIArb's Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct, with the Professional Conduct Committee empowered to investigate misconduct and impose disciplinary measures.

Litigation Funding Context

CIArb plays an increasingly significant role in the intersection of arbitration and third-party litigation funding. In September 2025, the institute published its comprehensive Guideline on Third-Party Funding in Arbitration, representing a landmark contribution to transparency and best practice in funded dispute resolution. The Guideline addresses the rapid development of third-party funding over the past three decades, which CIArb describes as representing both an expansion of access to justice and a challenge for those dealing with funders and funded parties.

The Guideline is structured in two parts. The first explains the funding process, including due diligence procedures, typical commercial terms in litigation funding agreements, and the relationship between funders and funded parties. The second addresses case management implications, covering disclosure obligations, conflicts of interest, security for costs applications, and cost recovery. Notably, the Guideline highlights that arbitral tribunals may, in appropriate circumstances, award third-party funding costs to successful parties—a distinction from many court litigation systems where such recovery is not routinely permitted.

For litigation funders, CIArb qualifications serve as important indicators when evaluating arbitrator appointments. The FCIArb and C.Arb designations signal that practitioners have met rigorous professional standards, providing funders with confidence in the procedural competence of tribunal members. CIArb's guidance on disclosure of funding arrangements aligns with developments across major arbitral institutions including ICSID, ICC, SCC, and SIAC, all of which have introduced rules requiring disclosure of third-party funding to address potential conflicts of interest. The institute's position that mere presence of third-party funding should not lead to adverse presumptions about a funded party's solvency or case merits provides helpful clarification for parties and tribunals navigating funded proceedings.

Conclusion

CIArb stands as the preeminent global professional body for alternative dispute resolution practitioners, with over a century of experience in advancing arbitration as a respected profession. Its qualifications are recognised worldwide as credible accreditation, whilst its guidelines and standards shape best practice across the ADR community. For litigation funders and funded parties alike, CIArb's 2025 Guideline on Third-Party Funding provides essential guidance for navigating funded arbitration proceedings, reinforcing the institute's role in promoting transparency, professionalism, and effective dispute resolution in an increasingly complex legal landscape.