Newsletter Highlights of 2025

Developments of the DIS Regulation Framework

At the regulatory level, 2025 marked an important step forward. We started the year 2025 off athletically: with the implementation of the new 2025 DIS Sport Arbitration Rules (DIS-SportSchO) from 1 January 2025. The improved alignment to the DIS Rules, essential sport-specific features as well as the increased transparency of case management practices further strengthen the chance for athletes to enforce their rights.

Alongside these procedural enhancements, DIS has updated its Guidelines for Reimbursement of Arbitrators’ Expenses and adjusted the amounts to reflect the market changes. 

In addition to these updates, another development with regard to market changes this year was the translation of the DIS Arbitration Rules and model clauses in Chinese, which underscores our commitment to international outreach and user-friendly arbitration “made in Germany.” 

Beyond rulemaking and accessibility, DIS continued to focus on case management efficiency. As part of this commitment, DIS launched DIS Arbitrator Database to ensure fair and informed choices for arbitrators.

DIS CLOUT – Joint Project with UNCITRAL Secretariat

In parallel to these regulatory developments, DIS also strengthened its international outreach. In 2025 DIS was proud to announce the first publication of a German case in the DIS CLOUT (Case Law on UNCITRAL Texts) database, in all official UN languages to make internationally relevant German arbitration-related decisions available to a global audience.

Conferences and further educational events

These substantive developments were complemented by an extensive conference and education programme. Organized together with the publishing house C.H. Beck, 21st Petersberg Arbitration Days 2025 with its guiding theme “Climate Change and Renewable Energies" gave insight to the legal framework and practical particularities of disputes in the energy sector.

Continuing this dialogue on emerging issues, our DIS Spring Conference 2025 was focused on another highly relevant topic - “The Revolution of Arbitration – Is Artificial Intelligence a Gamechanger?”. It drew the attention of over 350 participants and enabled complex discussions on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in dispute resolution.

Later in the year, arbitration practitioners from Germany, Europe and beyond gathered at the Berlin Dispute Resolution Days to discuss the role of arbitration amid global challenges and the rapid transformation of the legal landscape. DIS annual Autumn Conference was our largest edition yet, with 500 participants from 18 countries. Besides the Autumn Conference the Berlin Dispute Resolution Days were complemented by more than 40 satellite events including a presentation of the new German Commercial Courts. It was enriched by formats such as the Humboldt Conference and the DIS40 Autumn Conference. 

In addition to these flagship events, DIS was also able to provide a platform for the arbitration community in Germany through events such as DIS/BMJV conference in Karlsruhe, IAKL European Conference 2025 in Berlin, or the event of DIS Stuttgart on the Challenges of ESG Disputes to highlight a few.

Throughout the year, ten Lunch-DIScussions took place to keep up with the most relevant topics on arbitration. Moreover, DIS’s role as an intellectual hub was reinforced by events such as the Book Sprint at DIS Office in Bonn, which brought together leading international ADR experts to collaborate on their work.

International Activity

Beyond Germany, DIS further expanded its international engagement. DIS continued to strengthen its international presence in 2025 through its country groups and strategic cooperations, in particular, the cooperation with Japan Association of Arbitrators and with the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center SVAMC.

This international focus was also reflected in DIS’s presence at global arbitration weeks. Throughout the year, DIS supported a series of international events ranged from Seoul to Toronto and including wind-related dispute panels and other arbitration-focused sessions at global arbitration weeks. 

Culminating these activities, towards the end of 2025, DIS co-hosted the Four-Country Conference (Vierländerkonferenz) in cooperation with several arbitral institutions and associations from Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland. Furthermore, during the past year DIS (co-) hosted events in Canada, France, Lithuania, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, UK and USA.

Regional Engagement and Bilateral Groups

Complementing its international outreach, DIS also remained firmly anchored at the regional level. DIS Regional Groups in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Rhine/Ruhr continued to play a central role in fostering professional exchange within the arbitration community. 

At the same time, DIS expanded its bilateral cooperation network. The number of bilateral arbitration groups increased with new partnerships, including CAM-CCBC in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the Finland Arbitration Institute in Helsinki, and the German-Norwegian Arbitration Group.

DIS Practice Groups

In 2025, DIS Practice Group finalised its work on settlement, culminating in the publication of a comprehensive Final Report. The report explores this provision in depth, reviewing global approaches to settlement facilitation, examining the complementary role of ADR mechanisms, and offering practical guidance.

Developments within the DIS Organisation and Governance

These activities were underpinned by important organisational developments. 2025 brought about some changes to the DIS; in particular, for the DIS Secretariat, Appointing Committee of the DIS, and the DIS Board. With regard to the later, the General Assembly elected a new Executive Board of 13 members on 10 December 2025. 

Against this backdrop of a dynamic and productive year, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of you – our members, colleagues, and friends for their invaluable contributions and participation in our initiatives and activities. We look forward to continuing working together in 2026!

Ramona Schardt, Thomas Klich
 

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