DIS 2025 Statistics: Stability, International Reach, and High-Value Disputes

1. Caseload and Case Values

In 2025, 218 new cases were submitted to the DIS, demonstrating sustained demand for arbitration and ADR mechanisms. They broke down as follows:

• 193 (89%) DIS arbitrations
• 7 (3%) DIS/Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) arbitrations
• 14 (6%) ADR proceedings and other proceedings
• 4 (2%) DIS sports arbitration

Among the 193 arbitrations conducted under the DIS Arbitration Rules of 2018:

• 170 cases applied DIS Arbitration Rules
• 5 cases applied Annex 4 (expedited proceedings), demonstrating demand for faster dispute resolution
• 16 cases applied Annex 5 (Supplementary Rules for Corporate Disputes), highlighting the continued relevance of corporate arbitration in shareholder matters

The total value of disputes in DIS arbitration amounted to just shy of €4 billion, continuing the up-ticking trend set in 2024. This confirms that DIS arbitration is increasingly being used for high-value, complex disputes, reinforcing its position as a trusted venue for sophisticated commercial conflicts.

2. Internationality of DIS Proceedings

As arbitration continues to be a preferred mechanism for cross-border disputes, the international reach of DIS cases remains strong:

• 25% of cases (54 proceedings) involved parties from outside Germany on one side.
• 5% of cases (12 proceedings) involved parties from outside Germany on both sides,
• 70% of cases (152 proceedings) were purely domestic.

This corresponds to the language of the proceedings

• 71% of cases (155 proceedings) were conducted in German.
• 29% of cases (63 proceedings) were conducted in English.

3. Multi-Party Arbitrations (DIS arbitrations incl. IHK)

• 27% of arbitrations (52 cases) involved three or more parties.
• The remaining 73% (141 cases) were traditional bilateral disputes.

DIS’ procedural flexibility, particularly its provisions for joinder and consolidation, provides a robust framework for efficiently resolving disputes involving multiple stakeholders.

4. Industries and Sectors

DIS arbitration is utilized across a broad spectrum of industries, reflecting its adaptability to various commercial needs. The top three sectors in 2025 were:

1. Energy supply (23 cases)
2. Service sector (business) (18 cases)
3. Hospitality sector (16 cases)

The most common subject matters in 2025 were:

• Share Purchase Agreements (SPA) disputes (55 cases)
• Purchase & supply contract disputes (25 cases)
• Contract for Work and Labour (12 cases)

These trends confirm that DIS remains the preferred choice for complex, high-value disputes across diverse industries.

5. Gender Diversity in Arbitrator Appointments

Diversity in arbitrator appointments continues to be an important focus for the arbitration community. 

• 47.8% of arbitrators appointed by DIS were women, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to increasing female representation in arbitration.
• 20.1% of arbitrators appointed by parties were women, reflecting a continued gender gap in party appointments.
• 28% of arbitrators appointed by co-arbitrators were women.

Overall, 26.23% of arbitrators in DIS proceedings were female — marking an increase from 21.73% in 2024. While showing progress, these figures also underscore the need for continued efforts to promote gender diversity in arbitration.

Your DIS Team
 

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