London Arbitration Court Appointed Record Women in 2025
The London Court of International Arbitration saw a rise in female and non-British arbitrator appointments in 2025.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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The London Court of International Arbitration reported that women accounted for 38% of all arbitrator appointments in 2025. This marks a record for the institution as part of a year involving 365 total arbitration referrals.
Why it matters
The increase in female appointments, up from 33% in 2024 and 15.8% in 2015, demonstrates a shifting demographic in global dispute resolution. These gains were driven by increased selections from both the court and the involved parties.
In 2025, 155 of the 403 total arbitrator appointments were women, while 211 positions were filled by non-British individuals. The court received 365 referrals across 103 jurisdictions, with transport and commodities cases leading at 25% of the caseload.
The players
London Court of International Arbitration
This institution is a globally recognized provider of international dispute resolution services based in London.
The details
The court enhanced transparency by implementing new institutional metrics, acknowledging 87% of requests within one business day. Disputes in banking and finance accounted for nearly 17% of the total caseload, followed by 14% for energy and 11% for professional services.
Timeline
In 2015, only 15.8% of arbitrators appointed were women.
By 2024, the share of female arbitrator appointments reached 33%.
During 2025, the court reached a record for female and non-British arbitrator appointments.
Culture Shift
This progress reflects a broader shift toward greater inclusion in high-stakes international legal environments. The data marks a decisive departure from the 2015 gender diversity baseline for LCIA arbitrator appointments, signaling a move toward more diverse professional representation.
For legal professionals and stakeholders involved in international arbitration, these figures highlight a widening pool of eligible candidates. This shift suggests that parties can now expect more diverse perspectives when selecting their appointed arbitrators.
The takeaway
The trend toward more inclusive panels indicates a sustained professional shift within the international legal community. Practitioners should note that institutional transparency metrics are now standard in tracking such organizational goals.
Further reading
Find more related developments in our Women’s Issues coverage.
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