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CEPANI statistical survey 2025

CEPANI statistical survey 2025

This yearly report provides a statistical overview of CEPANI arbitration proceedings in 2025 and its evolution in comparison with past years.

In this report, you will find information on proceedings administered by CEPANI such as the origin of the Parties, the language and the seat of the arbitration, the constitution of Arbitral Tribunals, statistics on the appointed Arbitrators, the average duration of CEPANI arbitration procedures and more.

In 2025, the numbers of arbitration proceedings initiated have increased.

We observed an increase of our international cases (9% between International Parties with no Belgian Parties involved against 0% in 2024, 38% of the cases involve at least one International Party). Nevertheless, our domestic cases are still a steady trend with 53 % of cases involving exclusively Belgian Parties. 47% of the cases were introduced in English, 38% in Dutch and 15% in French, highlighting Belgium’s linguistic diversity but also the internationalization of our cases.

The financial scope of disputes also continue to evolve. Expedited proceedings (< € 100.000,00) represent 15% of the cases, while 46% of our cases have an amount in dispute over 1 million euros (compared to 37% in 2024) showcasing both the importance of efficient and cost-effective dispute resolution mechanisms for smaller disputes as well as the success of CEPANI for cases with high financial stake.

Brussels has reinforced its role as a key hub for arbitration, with 76% of cases selecting Brussels as the seat of arbitration. 18% of cases were seated in other Belgian cities. 6% of the introduced cases in 2025 have chosen an international city as seat (namely Luxembourg city).

As an ADR institution administering dispute resolution proceedings, diversity, inclusion, and equality form an integral part of CEPANI’s mission and values. In 2025, women represented 30% of the arbitrators appointed compared to 23% in 2024. When considering appointments made exclusively by the Appointments Committee (excluding confirmations of party-appointed arbitrators), 50% of these appointments were women, as in 2024. Furthermore, 18% of arbitrators appointed were under the age of 40, of whom 83% were appointed by CEPANI’s Appointments Committee. These figures reflect CEPANI’s sustained efforts to promote diversity and broaden representation within the arbitral community.

Finally, CEPANI remains firmly committed to the efficient administration of proceedings. The 2025 statistical indicators confirm CEPANI’s ability to deliver effective dispute resolution services across an increasingly diverse and complex caseload.

Origin of the Parties

In 2025, 53% of the cases concerned solely Belgian Parties and 38% involved at least one Belgian and one International Party. 9% of our cases concerned exclusively International Parties (against 0% in 2024).

  • 53%
    Belgium vs Belgium
  • 38%
    Belgium vs Int.
  • 9%
    Int. vs Int.

International Parties

  • Switzerland
    2
  • Netherlands
    3
  • Germany
    2
  • United States
    1
  • Sweden
    1
  • Algeria
    1
  • France
    1
  • Luxembourg
    2
  • China
    1
  • Philippines
    1
  • Morocco
    1

Language of the arbitral proceedings

In 2025, the arbitral proceedings introduced in French have decreased by 10%, while the proceedings introduced in Dutch have increased by 13%. The proceedings introduced in English have decreased by 3% in comparison to 2024. 

Indeed, 47% of the cases were introduced in English, 38% in Dutch and 15% in French.

  • Dutch
    38%
  • French
    15%
  • English
    47%

Place of Arbitration

Brussels as place of arbitration is a steady trend. 

In 2025, 76% of the cases have chosen Brussels as seat of their arbitration and 18% of the cases had their seat in another city in Belgium. In 2025, 6% of the cases had an international city as seat (namely Luxembourg city).

In comparison to 2024, 79% of the cases had Brussels as seat of arbitration, while 21% of the cases had their seat in another city in Belgium.

  • Brussels
    76%
  • Belgium
    18%
  • International
    6%

Nature of the dispute

  • In 2025, 26% of the cases concerned general issues of civil law;

  • 15% related to a service agreement;

  • 26% related to corporate disputes;

  • 33% related to a share purchase agreement.

    In comparison to 2024, service agreement disputes have decreased with 26%, while cases concerned general issues of civil law have increased with 18%. The share purchase agreement disputes continue to represent a steady trend, reaching 34% in 2024. 26% of the cases were related to corporate disputes in 2025 compared to 17% in 2024.

  • 26%
    Civil law disputes
  • 15%
    Service agreement disputes
  • 26%
    Corporate disputes
  • 33%
    Share purchase agreement disputes

Amount in dispute

In 2025, expedited proceedings (< € 100.000,00) represent 15% of the cases, while 46% of our cases have an amount in dispute over 1 million euros (compared to 37% in 2024).

  • ↓ € 100.000,00 15%
  • € 100.000,00
    -
    € 200.000,00     19%
  • € 200.000,00
    -
    € 500.000,00     12%
  • € 500.000,00
    -
    € 1.000.000,00     8%
  • € 1.000.000,00
    -
    € 10.000.000,00     38%
  • ↑ € 10.000.000,00 8%

Arbitral Tribunal

The majority, i.e. 53% of the Arbitral Tribunals appointed in 2025 were composed of a Sole Arbitrator.

  • Arbitral Tribunals (3)
    47%
    • 50% Chair appointed by parties
    • 50% Chair appointed by the CEPANI Appointments Committee
  • Sole Arbitrator
    53%
    • 11% Appointed by parties
    • 89% Appointed by the CEPANI Appointments Committee
  • Emergency Arbitrator
    1
  • Arbitrator replaced
    2
  • Challenge procedure
    0

Women in Arbitration

30%

In 2025, 30% of the Arbitrators appointed were women, 60% of which were appointed by the CEPANI Appointments Committee and 40% directly by the Parties. Therefore, in 2025, there has been an increase of women appointed, indeed in 2024, 23% of the Arbitrators appointed were women.

When taking into consideration the appointments made by the Appointments Committee itself (thus excluding all confirmations of Party appointed Arbitrators), 50% of these appointments were women in 2025 (as in 2024). 

Below 40 in Arbitration

<
40yo 18%

In 2025, 18% of the Arbitrators appointed were under 40 years old (19% in 2024).

83% of them were appointed by the CEPANI Appointments Committee, 17% by the Parties.

Average duration of a CEPANI Arbitration in 2025

In 2025, an arbitration administrated under the CEPANI Rules of Arbitration lasted an average of 19,5 months as from the introduction of the procedure.

Expedited proceedings lasted an average of 10,5 months as from the introduction of the procedure.

Ordinary Procedure: average duration 19,5 months
1 3m
2 1,5m
3 15m

1. Introduction to appointment

The CEPANI Arbitration Rules provide for a one-month deadline for Parties to pay the advance on arbitration costs. This delay (3 months) is solely due to the parties' delay in paying the advance for arbitration costs. Indeed, the Appointments Committee only appoints the Arbitral Tribunal when the advance on arbitration costs is paid in full.

2. Appointment → TOR:

The CEPANI Arbitration Rules provide for a one-month deadline. Clearly, Arbitrators - in collaboration with the Parties and their Counsel – have made every effort to meet this strict deadline.

3. TOR → Award

When drawing up the Terms of Reference, or as soon as possible thereafter, the Arbitral Tribunal will organise a case management conference between the Arbitral Tribunal and all Parties involved in the proceedings. This meeting may take place in person, via telephone or video conference. After having consulted the Parties, the Arbitral Tribunal will draw up the Procedural Timetable. The CEPANI Arbitration Rules grant the Arbitral Tribunal a deadline of six months to render its Arbitral Award as from the signature of the Terms of Reference. The average time limit of 15 months is due to the fact that Procedural Timetables are established in consultation with the parties and exceeding – and thus extending – the six-month deadline provided for in the CEPANI Arbitration Rules.
Expedited Procedure average duration 10,5 months
1 2,5m
2 8m

1. Introduction → Appointment

Following Article 29 of the CEPANI Arbitration Rules, the expedited procedure shall apply if the amount in dispute does not exceed the amount of € 100.000,00 or if the Parties so agree. In the context of an expedited procedure there are no Terms of Reference.

2. Appointment → Award

Moreover, the deadline granted to the Arbitral Tribunal to make the Arbitral Award is 4 months as of the date of the establishment of the Procedural Timetable. The average time limit of 8 months is due to the fact that Procedural Timetables are established in consultation with the parties.

Contact CEPANI

Rue des Sols Stuiversstraat 8 — B-1000 Brussels
info@cepani.be — +32 2 515 08 35
BTW BE 0413 975 115

Financial information

BNP  BE45 2100 0760 8589 (BIC GEBABEBB)
KBC  BE28 4300 1693 9120 (BIC KREDBEBB)
ING   BE36 3100 7204 1481 (BIC BBRUBEBB)

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