The COVID-19 pandemic has required the international arbitration community to consider the use of virtual hearings as an alternative to indefinite adjournments.  Although virtual hearings existed previously, the Queen Mary, University of London 2018 International Arbitration Survey found 64% of respondents had never used “virtual hearing rooms” whereas only 8% had done so frequently or always.

As the travel restrictions are unlikely to be eliminated for the foreseeable future, the international arbitration community will need to embrace the virtual hearings. 

As the first installment of our continuing series on the subject, we have identified what we believe are currently the best webinars to assist in taking the initial dip into the virtual pool.

1. ICSID webinar: “The Art and Science of a Virtual Hearing” (4 May 2020) 

2. HKIAC webinar: “Virtual hearings: How best to proceed? HKIAC insights”, (15 May 2020).

3. AmCham Peru webinar: Gary Born, “Virtual Hearings Present or Future” (12 May 2020).  

4. SCC webinar: “Online hearing against the wish of one party” (29 April 2020).