COMMISSIONS

The CEIA Commission on the Use of Spanish in International Arbitration aims to promote and strengthen the use of Spanish in international arbitration by fostering initiatives designed to raise awareness among the legal and business communities of the importance of language in the negotiation of arbitration clauses and the conduct of arbitral proceedings.

The Commission carries out its activities with an Ibero-American and European focus and within the framework of the opportunities for institutional cooperation provided by the Cooperation Protocol entered into with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, with the aim of broadening the reach and impact of its initiatives among relevant institutions and forums.

Its main areas of work include:

• Updating and monitoring the Report on the use of the Spanish language in international arbitration, prepared by CEIA in 2025.
• Developing promotion and training activities for law firms, particularly for professionals responsible for drafting and negotiating dispute resolution clauses.
• Carrying out promotion and training activities for in-house counsel, in coordination with CEIA Empresas, with content tailored to the specific needs of in-house legal departments.
• Designing and organising events, projects and institutional initiatives aimed at promoting the use of Spanish in international arbitration, in collaboration with CEIA’s International Chapters and other institutions and organisations.

To implement these initiatives, the Commission initially has two specific working groups: the Working Group on Promotion and Training for Law Firms and the Working Group on Promotion and Training for Companies (In-house).

The Commission is open to new members interested in actively contributing to its objectives and areas of work.

Additional information about the Mediation Commission, its publications and its activities can be found in the Mediation section of the web.

President: Manuel Díaz Baños

The Commission on Constitution and Arbitration was constituted in 2019 and will focus on studying the relationship between the Constitution and Arbitration, in abstract, and on the jurisprudence emanating from the different Superior Courts of Justice of Spain, checking whether or not it is in accordance with the constitutional mandate. A Technical Report will be prepared and published shortly.

Presidents: Jesús Remón y Pascual Sala

The objective of this project is to carry out a large-scale survey on the situation of arbitration in Ibero-America, where the demographic will be companies that operate or do business in Ibero-America, through the opinion of their directors, legal advisors, in-house, etc.  The intention is to analyse their opinion on the main issues related to arbitration (advantages and disadvantages, arbitrators, etc.) and publish a report that will bring together all the results.

The Commission is represented by all the CEA Ibero-American International Chapters and each Chapter carries out the research in its own country. The results obtained will be consolidated into one report.

President: Marlen Estévez
informeamerica@clubarbitraje.com

The CEA’s Dispute Board Commission was created on march 2021 and will focus in analyzing the DB in Spain and Latinamerica, study the different types of DB (Dispute Avoidance Board -DAB-, Dispute Review Board -DRB-, Dispute Review Panel -DRP-, Dispute Avoidance/Adjudication Board -DAAB-, etc.) that could be use in Spain, Portugal and Latinamerica and analyze the alternatives to increase the knowledge and application of DB en this regions.

President: Fernando Marcondes

Secretary: Elisa Vicente

The CEIA Corporate Arbitration Commission aims to analyze the regulation, use and main challenges of corporate arbitration, as well as to formulate proposals to promote it as an effective mechanism for the resolution of corporate disputes.

Report on Corporate Arbitration in Ibero-America – 2026

In 2024, the CEIA Board of Directors decided to establish a new Corporate Arbitration Commission, chaired by Jesús Almoguera, with a mandate to study the situation of corporate arbitration in Ibero-American countries. The Commission began its work in January 2025, with the participation of approximately 65 professionals from 20 countries.

As a result of this work, a new report was published in 2026 analyzing the regulation and use of corporate arbitration in Ibero-America, the most frequent types of disputes, its main challenges and limitations, its advantages, and the measures that could be adopted to promote its use.

The report is also intended to provide continuity to the Commission’s work and to serve as a basis for monitoring the development of corporate arbitration across Ibero-American countries.

Consult the Report on Corporate Arbitration in Ibero-America – 2026

 

Background: the Commission’s work in 2013

The 2026 report builds on the work of the first Commission for the Study of Corporate Arbitration, chaired by Juan Fernández-Armesto, whose work focused primarily on Spain.

In February 2013, the Commission completed its work with the publication of the Report on Corporate Arbitration in Spain, which analyzed the legislative reform introduced by Law 11/2011, proposed a model arbitration clause for inclusion in the articles of association of companies, and formulated a model provision for arbitral institutions administering corporate arbitrations.

The Club also published a Note opposing the draft Commercial Code provisions on corporate arbitration.

The work of that Commission was publicly presented on 7 May 2013 in Madrid, during the event “Corporate Arbitration in Spain”.

Report on corporate arbitration in Spain (spanish)

Note from CEA opposition of the Spanish Club of Arbitration the draft commercial code on corporate arbitration (spanish)

The Financial Arbitration Commission was established in September 2013.

Arbitration is already a success in commercial and investment matters and the CEA Board of Director’s priority was to promote a line of work for the study of arbitration in the financial field, where the problems and conflicts generated as a result of the economic and financial crisis have highlighted the importance of arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

President: Manuel Conthe

Given the unstoppable expansion of arbitration in all areas of the legal system as a guarantor and effective system of conflict resolution, in 2016 the Club Español del Arbitraje created a Commission responsible for preparing a Note on the Recognition of Arbitration in Public Law.

Chairman: Antonio Hierro

Arbitration report and public law (spanish)

The Commission on Procedural Matters deals with issues that may arise when an arbitration comes into contact with the courts. The Commission analyses judicial decisions, identifies dysfunctions in existing rules and suggests organizational and procedural improvements to ensure effective interaction between arbitration and jurisdiction where necessary.

President: Miguel Ángel Fernández-Ballesteros

The Commission on the Independence of Arbitrators prepared a report on the practical consequences of this legal requirement. On the basis of that report, the Commission drew up rules of best practices, which could serve as a standard of conduct for the independence, impartiality and recusal of arbitrators.

You can access the aforementioned Report of the Working Group on the Independence of Arbitrators and the Recommendations on the Independence and Impartiality of Arbitrators here.

President: Juan Fernández-Armesto

CEA recommendations on the independence and impartiality of arbitrators (spanish)

The Commission for the study of arbitral judgements was established in 2018 and its objective was to prepare a study of the judgements handed down by the High Courts of Justice of Spain to determine the grounds for annulment of arbitral awards.

President: María José Menéndez

The arbitration procedure must be transparent and follow the principles of equality, hearing, audi alterem partem and confidentiality. Ensuring the effective application of these principles is the responsibility of both the arbitral institutions and the arbitrators, the parties and their advocates.

In 2005, the Commission of Best Practices in Arbitration was created, chaired by Jesús Remón, which was responsible for preparing the «Code of Good Practices»’inspired by the above-mentioned principles and with the aim of helping to increase society’s confidence in arbitration. 

In 2017, the CEA Board of Directors considered it necessary to reopen the Commission, to update the previous Code and include current issues that were not foreseen in the previous version. The Commission is organized through sub-commissions, each responsible for a chapter of the new Code of Best Practices in Arbitration.

Chairmen of the Commission: Juan Fernández-Armesto and Carlos de los Santos.

Sub-Commission of Arbitral Institutions chaired by: Ricardo Feris.

Sub-Commission on the Arbitration Process chaired by: Jesús Remón, Antonio Hierro and José Antonio Caínzos.

Sub-Commission of Arbitrators chaired by: Alfonso Gómez-Acebo.

Sub-Commission of Lawyers chaired by: Urquiola de Palacio, José María Alonso, Alfonso Iglesias and Álvaro López de Argumedo.

Sub-Commission of Experts chaired by: María José Menéndez and Jesús Almoguera.

Sub- Commission in relation to Funding chaired by: Clifford Hendel and Joe Tirado.

Código de Buenas Prácticas Arbitrales

Code of Best Practices in Arbitration of the Spanish Arbitration Club

Código de Boas Práticas em Arbitragem do CEA

КОДЕКС ЛУЧШИХ АРБИТРАЖНЫХ ПРАКТИК ИСПАНСКОГО АРБИТРАЖНОГО КЛУБА

CODE DES BONNES PRATIQUES ARBITRALES

Codice di Buone Pratiche Arbitrali CEA

The CEA Board of Directors approved on September 21st, 2017, the creation of a Commission for the purpose of analysing and promoting Spain as a seat of international arbitration.

The mission of this Commission has been twofold:

1. To analyse the reasons why the legal provision has had less impact than expected in relation to international arbitration and the reasons for this situation;

2. Propose measures and strategies to remedy this situation.

In order to carry out its work, the Commission has had the cooperation of all the “Arbitration practitioners” who have voluntarily decided to participate. Participation in the work of this Commission has been open to all those who have decided to do so since its constitution.

The result of the work of the Commission is the Report on Spain as a seat of International Arbitration.

Informe de España como Sede de Arbitraje
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION TO PROMOTE SPAIN AS A SEAT OF INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION

The objective of this project is to create a reliable database that gathers jurisprudence and legislation from the Portuguese-speaking countries. The Commission, through its Subcommittees, shall seek to strengthen the work of the Club Español del Arbitraje (CEA) in promoting arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution procedure, making it available to all its members and the arbitration community in general, the updated legislation of Portuguese-speaking countries (Brazil, Macao, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal and Timor), as well as the most relevant jurisprudence.

The Commission will also serve to promote the analysis of legislation and jurisprudence, by reviewing the most relevant decisions, in order to be published in the CEA magazine the Spanish Arbitration Review.

The Commission is open to all partners and those interested in participating can do so by sending an email to jurisprudencialusoparlante@clubarbitraje.com.

Commission Presidents: Miguel Esperança Pina and Fernando Marcondes

Commission Secretary: Iñaki Carrera

The objective of this project is to create a reliable database that gathers jurisprudence and legislation from Latin American countries. The Commission, through its Subcommittees, shall seek to strengthen the work of theClub Español del Arbitraje (CEA) in promoting arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution procedure, making it available to all its members and the arbitration community in general, the updated legislation of Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela) as well as the most relevant jurisprudence.

The Commission will also serve to promote the analysis of legislation and jurisprudence, making a review with the most relevant decisions, to be published in the CEA magazine the Spain Arbitration Review.

The Commission is open to all partners and those interested in participating can do so by sending an email to jurisprudencialatinoamericana@clubarbitraje.com to be part of this initiative.

Steering Committee of the Commission: Carlos A. Soto, Javier Navarro-Velasco and Carolina Posada.

The objective of this project is to create a reliable database that gathers jurisprudence and legislation from Spain. The Commission, through its Subcommittees, shall seek to strengthen the work of the Club Español del Arbitraje (CEA) in promoting arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution procedure, making it available to all its members and the arbitration community in general, the updated legislation of Spain as well as the most relevant jurisprudence.

The Commission will also serve to promote the analysis of legislation and jurisprudence, making a review with the most relevant decisions, to be published in the CEA magazine the Spain Arbitration Review.

Presidents of the Commission: Jesús Remón and Ignacio Díaz-Picazo.