Ireland to host new international arbitration hub for US-Euro disputes

The International Centre for Dispute Resolution Ireland will serve as an international commercial arbitration hub for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, acting as an international division of the American Arbitration Association.

Ireland has become a gateway to the EU for US firms, with nearly 1,000 US companies already operating from there.

The centre will have an advisory board and a panel of Irish arbitrators available for international cases.

Lisa Carty, a dispute resolution expert with Pinsent Masons in Dublin, said the announcement would position Ireland as a centre of excellence for international arbitration.

“The decision to locate ICDR Ireland in Dublin reflects the strength of our legal system and of our experienced arbitration practitioners,” she explained. “Ireland is a stable and sophisticated common law jurisdiction with a strong and trusted reputation.”

“It also builds on Ireland’s deep commercial ties with the US and reinforces our role as a gateway for transatlantic business operating across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In practical terms, this new hub will give international companies greater confidence in choosing Ireland as a forum for resolving complex crossborder disputes,” she said.

“It signals Ireland’s growing influence in the global dispute resolution landscape and is a welcome endorsement of the capability and expertise within the Irish arbitration community.”

Irish barrister Cian Kelly will chair the ICDR Ireland advisory board, with the new centre also having a panel of Irish arbitrators who will be available for international cases.

The AAA-ICDR dispute resolution services has already handled more than 22,000 international cases since 1996, with offices in Singapore alongside its significant US presence in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and more than 20 regional offices, plus a centre in Canada handing domestic cases.

Irish enterprise minister Peter Burke said the establishment of ICDR Ireland was a key element in Ireland continuing to attract and retaining US investment.

“The government is keen to support the establishment of ICDR Ireland and to work with partners to develop Ireland as a leading international arbitration hub, complementing our strong legal system, pro-enterprise environment, and deep economic ties with the US,” he said.