ForewordPreface: A Word about this Book and its OrganisationAcknowledgementsList of ContributorsIntroduction: Justice in a Globalised AgeSundaresh MenonI OverviewII Globalisation and the Law: A Brief HistoryA The Twin Triumphs of Globalisation and LawB Globalisation on the RocksIII Evaluating Globalisation: A Faith Misplaced?A The Fall of an IdeologyB The Case for HopeIV Keeping a Light on for GlobalisationA A More Sustainable FootingB A Robust, Truth-Based Space for DiscussionC Building LegitimacyV ConclusionPART I WHAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL DISPUTE?1 A Bird's Eye View of International Commercial Dispute ResolutionPak Hei LiI About thisChapterII Special Features of International Commercial DisputesIII Party Autonomy and its LimitsIV Means for Achieving ConvergenceA InstrumentsB Institutions2 International Commercial Dispute Resolution as a SystemJames AllsopSamuel WalpoleI The Nature of an International Commercial DisputeA IntroductionB Describing an International Commercial DisputeII The Distinctiveness of International Commercial Dispute ResolutionIII Understanding International Commercial Dispute Resolution as a SystemA FoundationsB InstitutionsC Rules and PrinciplesD The Human ElementIV Balancing Competing InterestsA ArbitrabilityB Mandatory RulesC Public PolicyV Continued Convergence in International Commercial Dispute ResolutionA The Lex Mercatoria TodayB International Commercial CourtsC A Facilitative Dispute Resolution CultureVI COVID-19, the International Order and the System of International Commercial Dispute ResolutionVII ConclusionPART II THE SWINGING PENDULUM: INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION AND THE RISE OF SPECIALIST COMMERCIAL COURTS3 The Landscape of International Commercial CourtsJianping ShiI IntroductionII ICCs in Different CountriesA The Commercial Court in LondonB The International Chamber of the Paris Commercial CourtC The Singapore International Commercial CourtD The Dubai International Financial Centre CourtsE The Netherlands Commercial CourtF The China International Commercial CourtIII Reasons for the Establishment of ICCsA International Trade and DisputeB Providing an Alternative to ArbitrationIV The Benefits of ICCsA Making Up for the Shortcomings of ArbitrationB Greater Professionalism, Expertise, and FlexibilityC DiversityD Breaking through the Limits of National BoundariesE Simplification of ProceedingsF Unification of Litigation LanguageV The Problems of ICCsA Recognition and Enforcement of JudgmentsB Imperfection and Ambiguity of RegulationsC Disadvantages of Litigation in Some ICCsD Lack of Foreign Lawyers in Some ICCsVI Conclusion4 The Driving Forces behind the Swinging PendulumBernard EderI IntroductionII Historical Perspective: What are the Reasons for the Swinging Pendulum?III Pros and Cons of the SwingIV The Rise of ICCsV Supposed Shortcomings of ICCsVI ConclusionPART III DAVID AND GOLIATH: INVESTOR--STATE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT5 An Introduction to Investor--State Dispute SettlementJianjian YeI The System of Investor--State Dispute SettlementA Jurisdiction under the ICSID Convention and UNCITRAL RulesB What is a Minimum International Standard?C Favourable Treatment and MFN ClausesD Expropriation, FET and FPS ClausesE Dealing with CorruptionF Umbrella ClausesG The Mauritius ConventionH Set-Offs and CounterclaimsI Multi-Party Arbitration and ConsolidationJ A Word on AwardsII Problems with ISDSA TransparencyB CertaintyC AccountabilityD ExpenseE EnforcementF Diversity of ArbitratorsIII Proposals for Reform and Possible Future TrajectoriesA Appeal MechanismB Appointment of ArbitratorsC Reducing Costs and DurationD The FutureIV A Radical Proposal: Formation of an Investment Court and Use of International Commercial CourtsA Two Levels of AdjudicationB AdjudicatorsC EnforcementD FinancingE Application to Existing Treaties6 The Way Forward in Investor-State Dispute Settlement: How Do We Balance the Needs of States with the Demands of Investors?Anselmo ReyesI IntroductionII Four PropositionsA Proposition 1B Proposition 2C PropositionsD Proposition 4III A Glimpse into a Possible FuturePART IV THE PERFECT AS THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD -- THE IMPORTANCE OF FINALITY AND CERTAINTY7 The Need for Finality and Certainty in International Commercial Dispute ResolutionWilson-IuiI IntroductionA The Virtues of Finality and CertaintyB The Limits of Finality and CertaintyII Concurrent ProceedingsA Forum Non Conveniens and Lis Alibi PendensB Anti-Suit InjunctionsC Applications for the Stay of Arbitral ProceedingsD Applications for the Stay of Court Proceedings on Case Management GroundsE Res Judicata and Issue EstoppelIII Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments and AwardsA Indirect JurisdictionB ReciprocityC Due ProcessD Public PolicyE Enforcing Awards Set Aside by a Supervising CourtF The 2005 and 2019 Hague ConventionsIV Post-Pandemic Considerations ;8 Towards the Just Resolution of Disputes: How Do We Balance Commercial Certainty and Achieving the Right Result?Nallini PathmanathanJoanne Tan Xin YingI IntroductionA FinalityB CertaintyII Denning and Evaluating the Policies of Finality and Certainty in International Commercial Dispute ResolutionA FinalityB CertaintyC Comity, Sovereignty and Party AutonomyIII Managing Concurrent ProceedingsA Lis Alibi PendensB Forum Non ConveniensC Anti-Suit InjunctionsD Applications for Stay of ProceedingsE Res Judicata and Issue EstoppelIV Recognising and Enforcing Judgments and AwardsA Jurisdictional ConsiderationsB Grounds for Refusing to Recognise or Enforce Judgments and AwardsC Enforcing Awards Set Aside by a Supervising CourtD Requirement of ReciprocityV Impact of 2005 and 2019 HCCH Conventions on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign JudgmentsA 2005 HCCH ConventionB 2019 HCCH ConventionVI Issues Arising from the COVID-19 PandemicPART V THE LEX MERCATORIA AND THE CONVERGENCE OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL LAW9 An Anatomy of the Lex MercatoriaJason LinI The Concept of Lex MercatoriaA Is the Concept too Nebulous?B What Principles Make up the Lex Mercatoria?C Is it Fit for the Purpose of International Commercial Dispute Resolution?D Do Parties Actually Choose the Lex Mercatoria as Governing Law?II Convergence of the Lex MercatoriaA Efforts at Identifying the Principles of the Lex MercatoriaB Evaluating Efforts at ConvergenceC Will International Commercial Mediation Detract from the Lex Mercatoria?D Will International Commercial Arbitration Detract from the Lex Mercatoria?10 Developing the Lex MercatoriaTiong Min YeoI Focusing the InquiryII Finding Common GroundA National and Municipal InterestsB Diversity and CompetitionC Scope and Modality of ConvergenceIII Towards a System of Transnational Civil JusticePART VI THE IMPACT OF COVID-1911 How the Pandemic has Changed the Landscape of International Dispute ResolutionCedric YeungI IntroductionII The PastIII The PresentIV The Future12 Shaping the Future of International Dispute ResolutionDouglas JonesJonathan ManceI The Lessons of the PandemicII COVID-19, Technology and Cross-Border Dispute Resolution ProcedureA Innovations in Dispute Resolution ProcedureB Positive Impact of TechnologyC Limitations of TechnologyD ConclusionIII Fully Asynchronous Dispute Resolution ProceedingsA The Concept of AsynchronicityB Asynchronous Dispute ResolutionIV Overall ConclusionConclusion: Transnational Dispute Resolution, International Commercial Courts, and the Future of International Commercial LawPamela BookmanAlyssa KingI New and Old Challenges in International Dispute ResolutionA Chief Justice Menon's IntroductionB International Commercial Law in an Age of UncertaintyII Commercial Courts: Old Private Wine, New Public BottlesA Familiar Themes from ArbitrationB The Role of International Commercial CourtsIII Charting a Course for the Future of International Commercial CourtsA Why International Commercial Courts? A Bridge from the Past to the FutureB How Convergence Might HappenC International Commercial Law and Global Problems: Cause and Solution?D What Can a Court Do?IV ConclusionPostscriptList of Participants in the 3rd Judicial Roundtable: 29 September to 1 October 2021Index