10 June, 2025 – The Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) is proud to announce the participation of its Director, Dr. Ismail Selim, in the prestigious Italian Arbitration Day (IAD) 2025, held in Milan on 6 June 2025. The event was jointly organized by the Associazione Italiana per l’Arbitrato (AIA) and the Milan Chamber of Arbitration (CAM) and brought together leading voices from the global arbitration community.
Dr. Selim delivered a thought-provoking and poetic speech titled “Navigating Institutional Arbitration: Between Use and Abuse”. His address explored the nuanced role of arbitral institutions in ensuring legitimacy, transparency, and evolution of institutional arbitration while maintaining safeguards against potential abuse.
Reflecting on the metaphor of navigation, Dr. Selim likened the work of arbitral institutions to steering through dynamic legal and procedural landscapes—requiring adaptability, knowledge, and vision. He underscored the importance of maintaining the legitimacy of institutional arbitration, drawn from both party consent and the trust vested by users.
Highlighting CRCICA’s recent reforms, Dr. Selim shared insights from the Centre’s 2024 Arbitration Rules, including measures inspired by CAM’s innovative phrasing “however labelled,” to prevent jurisdictional challenges based on minor errors in institutional naming. He also emphasized the growing importance of Practice Notes and internal rulemaking as tools of institutional responsiveness.
In discussing global perspectives, Dr. Selim cited jurisprudence from courts in France, Italy, the US, and the UK to demonstrate the evolving recognition of arbitral institutions’ quasi-judicial roles and the legal immunities granted to protect their decision-making autonomy. He called for institutions to meet this recognition with greater accountability, trustworthiness, and transparency.
Closing his speech with a nod to Italian culture and optimism, Dr. Selim playfully invoked the spirit of Volare, inviting institutions to “cantare e volare” (sing and fly) on the sailboat of institutional arbitration, guided by vision and legitimacy.
The organizers of IAD expressed their sincere appreciation to Dr. Selim and other speakers for their inspiring contributions, noting that the event was “energizing and full of ideas.”
CRCICA extends its thanks to AIA and CAM for hosting such an enriching forum and looks forward to continuing its active role in global dialogues shaping the future of arbitration.
