Ireland now ‘key player’ in ADR – William Fry
Lawyers at William Fry say that an announcement made on St Patrick’s Day in New York positions Ireland as a key player in the international arbitration landscape.
At an event in the Irish consulate, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said that Ireland had been selected as the European base for a new international arbitration hub aimed at resolving commercial disputes between European and US companies.
Under the initiative, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) Ireland, a new Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) hub for international commercial arbitration, will be established in Dublin.
Panel of arbitrators
The ICDR is the international division of the American Arbitration Association, whose chief executive Bridget McCormack spoke alongside the minister in New York.
The new hub will include an advisory board chaired by senior legal practitioners and a panel of Irish arbitrators who will support businesses managing disputes across multiple jurisdictions.
William Fry said that Ireland, as a global leader in ADR (alternative dispute resolution) services, together with its strong economic ties to the US and the international business community, was “a natural venue” for international dispute resolution.
‘Gateway’ for US firms
“The establishment of ICDR Ireland positions Ireland as a key player in the international arbitration landscape and further strengthens its role as a gateway for US firms operating across Europe, the Middle East and Africa,” the firm stated.
It added that the news further demonstrated Ireland’s reputation as a rules-based and business-friendly jurisdiction for international companies.
William Fry noted that the recently published Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 will, once enacted, enable effect to be given in Ireland to certain international agreements that include investment-protection provisions.