CICIA at UNCITRAL Working Group II 82nd session

The Center for International Commercial and Investment Arbitration (“CICIA”) participated in the autumn session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (“UNCITRAL”) Working Group II: Dispute Settlement in Vienna. Celia Cañete (LL.M. ’26) attended the session as CICA’s representative. 

The meetings were chaired by Andrés Jana, President of Working Group II, and Melissa Magliana, Vice-President of Working Group II and alumna of Columbia Law School (J.D. ’04). The session focused on the recognition and enforcement of electronic arbitral awards, a timely and significant topic in the modernization of arbitration frameworks. 

Delegates and representatives from across the globe, including States and observer institutions, examined: (i) the revised Recommendation regarding the interpretation of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention); (ii) the proposed amendments to the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (MAL), including the Explanatory Note by the UNCITRAL secretariat on the 1985 Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration as amended in 2006; and (iii) the proposed amendments to the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (UARs).

The debate centered on the notification, form, recognition, and enforcement of arbitral awards, with particular attention to issues arising from the increasing use of electronic communications and digital awards. Throughout the week, delegates highlighted both the diversity of national approaches and a shared commitment to ensuring clarity, accessibility, and adaptability in international arbitration proceedings with a focus on ad hoc arbitration.

While no final consensus was reached on the text, delegates and representatives expressed broad agreement on maintaining a simple, technology-neutral, and future-oriented drafting approach. The UNCITRAL Secretariat will prepare a revised text reflecting these discussions for further consideration at the upcoming session, to be held in February 2026 in New York.

Ms. Cañete noted that the debates underscored UNCITRAL’s ongoing efforts to harmonize procedural practices across jurisdictions. Her participation provided a valuable opportunity to observe firsthand the intricate process through which international legal standards are negotiated and refined.

“Representing CICA at UNCITRAL was an extraordinary experience,” said Ms. Cañete. “It was inspiring to witness how States, practitioners, and institutions work together to ensure arbitration continues to evolve in step with technological change.”

Beyond the formal proceedings, Ms. Cañete also engaged with fellow delegates and representatives, building connections that reflect CICA’s mission of fostering dialogue among international arbitration communities. She attended the side conference organized by Pitkowitz & Partners in cooperation with the Vienna International Arbitration Centre (“VIAC”) and the Shanghai International Arbitration Center (“SHIAC”), titled “Arbitration 4.0: Digital Innovation, E-Awards and Cross-Border Enforcement”. The event addressed China’s Arbitration Law reforms, SHIAC’s digital innovation, recent Austrian developments including VIAC’s initiatives, the UNCITRAL debate on e-awards, and comparative perspectives on cross-border enforcement in the digital era.

The Center, co-directed by Professor George Bermann and Professor Kabir Duggal, remains committed to promoting excellence in international arbitration education and practice. CICA’s participation in UNCITRAL underscores its dedication to contributing to global discussions on the modernization of arbitral procedures and to providing its members and students with unique opportunities to engage directly with the evolution of international dispute resolution.