SCC

The SCC Arbitration Institute (the "SCC") was established in 1917 and is a separate entity within the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. Recognised in the 1970s by the United States and the Soviet Union as a neutral centre for the resolution of the East-West trade disputes, the SCC has since expanded its services in international arbitration to over 40 countries. Over the past few decades the SCC has emerged as one of the leading arbitration institutions in the world.

The SCC was previously known as the “Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce” but in late 2022 a name change was announced as part of a re-brand together with updated versions of all its rules.

The current Arbitration Rules of the SCC Arbitration Institute (“SCC Rules”) entered into force on 1 January 2023 and apply (unless the parties agree otherwise) to arbitrations under the SCC Rules commenced on or after that date. An accompanying Schedule of Costs has also been revised as of that date.

According to the SCC Rules an award shall be rendered not later than six months as from the date when the case was referred to the arbitral tribunal. The SCC arbitration procedure under the SCC Rules can be quicker than the ICC rules as there is no requirement for Terms of Reference and no review of the final award.

In relation to arbitration costs, the SCC Rules provide fixed minimum and maximum fees. The fees are proportional to the amount in dispute. A costs calculator can be found on the SCC website.

The 2017 version of the SCC Rules introduced a number of significant revisions to the preceding version of the rules including a number of provisions on joinder, multiple contracts and consolidation of arbitrations and various provisions aimed at increasing efficiency and expeditiousness of proceedings. The 2023 SCC Rules made fewer material changes (summarised here) and accommodated, for example, the SCC’s new name.

Apart from the SCC Rules the SCC has adopted Expedited Arbitration Rules (under which a limited number of submissions are permitted and shorter deadlines imposed than under the SCC Rules), procedures for the use of the SCC to administer, or act as appointing authority in, UNCITRAL Arbitration cases, Mediation Rules, and SCC Express (a form of early neutral evaluation ADR).