Prior to the COVID-19
pandemic, the use of technology in international arbitration was steadily
increasing. It was common for international arbitration practitioners to
conduct certain arbitral procedures remotely via videoconferencing or
telecommunications (for example, preliminary conferences or witness
examinations). However, the swift spread of the pandemic, and the global
lockdowns, forced the arbitration community to embrace technology in an
unprecedented way. Today, not only do experts provide evidence via
videoconference or telecommunications, but full hearings take place remotely.
This article will explore the use of technology in international institutional
arbitration and the way in which arbitration institutions have adopted electronic
services, specifically the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR or the
Chamber).