The Association

The Swedish Arbitration Association (SAA) is an organization for lawyers worldwide engaged in the practice and theory of arbitration. Sweden is a long-standing center for international arbitration and the SAA seeks to promote the interest in and knowledge of arbitration as a dispute resolution method, Swedish and international arbitration law and Sweden as an international arbitration venue. The SAA arranges conferences and seminars, training for arbitrators and is involved in publication projects.

The Executive Committee and Secretary


Ginta Ahrel

Partner, Westerberg & Partners, SAA President
Stockholm


Ramūnas Audzevičius

Partner, Motieka & Audzevičius
Vilnius


Ulrike Gantenberg

Partner, Gantenberg Dispute Experts
Düsseldorf


Kirsi Kannaste

Partner, Krogerus
Helsinki


Jerker Kjellander

Partner, Vinge
Stockholm


Kristina Ljungström

Partner, Norburg & Scherp
Stockholm


Andrea Menaker

Partner, White & Case
London


Isabelle Michou

Partner, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Paris


Fredrik Ringquist

Partner, Mannheimer Swartling
Stockholm


Shirin Saif

Partner, Roschier
Stockholm


Daniel Vargö

Partner, Nord Advokater
Stockholm


Natalia Petrik,

Counsel, Westerberg & Partners, SAA Executive Secretary
Stockholm

The Swedish Arbitration Association offers world-class training to both young practitioners as well as experienced arbitrators through the esteemed Arbitrator Training Programme, as well as the International Diploma Course on international arbitration.

Arbitration in Sweden

By choosing Sweden as the place of arbitration, commercial parties are guaranteed the respect of the fundamental arbitral principle of party autonomy and the safeguarding of the arbitral process by independent, arbitration friendly courts.

History of Arbitration in Sweden

Alternative forms of dispute resolution have been supported by Swedish law since the Middle Ages. With the establishment of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (the SCC) in 1917, the foundation was laid for Sweden to become a preferred place for the resolution of international disputes. In the 1970’s, the American Arbitration Association and the USSR Chamber of Commerce and Industry agreed to recognize Sweden and the SCC as a neutral locale for dispute resolution involving parties from the United States and the Soviet Union. Other East/West disputes have followed, and over time, Sweden has become accepted as one of the most favored places for international dispute resolution.

Procedural Culture at the Crossroads
Between Civil Law and Common Law

Parties are essentially free to structure their arbitrations in Sweden as they see fit. Sweden’s procedural traditions are particularly suitable for international arbitration, being a combination of Continental European civil law and common law traditions. The procedure is principally adversarial, as opposed to inquisitorial, with the parties themselves essentially controlling the facts and evidence to be introduced. In particular, examination of witnesses is conducted by counsel for the parties. On matters of evidence, including the disclosure/production of documents, Swedish law reflects best practices in international arbitration and is generally in line with the IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration.

The International Culture

As a nation, Sweden has a history of being a free trading and export-dependent country, with a strong international presence. Paired with Sweden’s reputation of being neutral and having independent, arbitration friendly courts, this makes Sweden an ideal venue for international arbitration.

Swedish Substantive Law is Neutral and Unsurprising

It is not unusual for parties agreeing to arbitrate in Sweden also to agree upon Swedish law as the substantive law governing their underlying contract. Swedish contract law principles – including as to contract formation, invalidity, breach, and remedies – are both neutral and unsurprising. Swedish contract law largely corresponds to the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts and thereby conforms to the expectations of international commerce. While Sweden has no Civil Code, its commercial law is well set out in a number of statutes as well as in a body of case law, making it readily available and understandable to civil law and common law practitioners alike.

The Swedish Arbitration Days is a biennial two-day conference arranged by the SAA. The next conference is arranged in Stockholm in January 2025 and brings together the views of leading international arbitration practitioners, world renowned arbitrators, scholars and other experts.

The SAA is governed by statutes adopted by its members at the General Meeting. See and download them below.