International Arbitration in Miami is on the Rise. Here’s Why.

By Santiago A. Cueto

Whenever someone learns that our  law firm (based in Miami) is currently handling a major international arbitration matter against the Kyrgyz Republic at the Hague,  they almost always ask “why is a complex case like that being handled in Miami?”

The answer is straightforward.

Over the last decade Miami has become one of the primary players on the international arbitration scene– it’s behind only New York and Los Angeles in terms of the volume of  international arbitration matters being handled in the U.S..

The increase in Miami attorneys trained to handle international arbitration matters, along with Miami’s diverse culture and favorable climate,  has enticed many foreign firms to choose Miami for their cross-border disputes over  more established cities such as London and Paris.

As Siobhan Morrissey points put in the Miami Herald article, Arbitration cases a growing revenue stream for law firms, a sure sign of  Miami’s meteoric rise in the arbitration world is its relationship with  the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), which recently chose Miami to host its 22nd congress in 2014.

While many factors have contributed to the explosive growth of international arbitration in Miami,  two major developments in Florida law have cemented Miami’s solid reputation.

The first development was the Florida law, which allows foreign attorneys to handle international arbitration matters in Florida, not just members of the Florida bar.

The second key development was the change in Florida law to adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law. With over 50 countries enacting the Model Law, it is a widely accepted and highly regarded model law which in turn provides greater uniformity and predictability in the international commercial arbitration context.

As Miami continue to gain international recognition as a major arbitration center,the city is sure to see a dramatic rise in international arbitration matters for years to come.

Additional Resources

Be sure to check out our these other posts on international arbitration: