In this multipart article, the authors provide a perspective
on international commercial courts. In this first part, the authors set out a
brief overview of five prominent international commercial courts with a
description of their salient features. In the next part, to be published in an
upcoming issue of Dispute Resolution Journal, the authors will discuss five
characteristics of a high-quality dispute resolution process and make
recommendations as to whether its emphasis is better reflected in arbitration
or commercial court proceedings. Finally, in the following issue of Dispute
Resolution Journal, the authors will provide guidance to the choice between the
various international commercial courts, based on the substantive and
procedural law applicable to them with a focus on the determination method for
foreign law issues as well as the legal basis for the cross-border enforcement
of commercial court judgments.