In the year 2020, the FAI received a record number of 101 new requests for arbitration. This translates into a growth of 50 percent in comparison to 2019 (67 RfAs) and 25 percent in comparison to the previous record year 2013 (80 RfAs).
Record number of 101 new cases filed with the Finland Arbitration Institute (FAI) in 2020
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Six Questions to Tero Artimo
Six Questions to Tero Artimo, Partner at Artimo & Co, FAI Board Member
What is the most enjoyable part of your work?
Independence and autonomy: Having both control and freedom within the job. My clients set the goals but I get to select the strategy and means. Variability and diversity: every assignment is different and presents a new challenge, which enables one to learn and evolve professionally.
What is most challenging in your work?
It seems I still give too much time and resources to work at the expense of my family and personal well-being. Adjusting the workload to a balanced level is anything but easy. Continue reading
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The 6th edition of Finnish Arbitration Academy was completed by 35 participants
The Finnish Arbitration Academy is a programme organised by the FAI to ensure that the pool of qualified arbitration practitioners will continue to grow in Finland. More than 180 lawyers have already completed the Academy.
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COVID-19 Pandemic and FAI Arbitrations
The COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on the daily life of all businesses and citizens in some way. Further, the pandemic also affects arbitral proceedings, as traditional practices and agreed timetables may prove difficult to adhere to.
In these exceptional circumstances, it is increasingly important that arbitration offers an expeditious, flexible and reliable way of resolving disputes and providing access to justice. Speed and efficiency are important in already ongoing proceedings, but also in new disputes that may arise as a result of contractual disruptions in a difficult economic and business environment.
The FAI continues to be fully operational
The FAI continues to manage its ongoing proceedings and ensures the management of new proceedings without undue delay. Already prior to the pandemic, the FAI administered its disputes mainly electronically.
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Erkko Meri appointed as a Case Manager at the FAI
Erkko Meri has joined the FAI team as a Case Manager as of 15 April 2020.
Prior to joining the FAI, Meri was working as a Lawyer at the Entrepreneurship and Business Environment Team of the Finland Chamber of Commerce. He has experience as an in-house lawyer at Signom Ltd and also as a legal trainee at law firm Hästö & Co. Mr Meri speaks professional English and Swedish, in addition native Finnish.
”I’m looking forward to deepening my understanding of dispute resolution at the FAI. Effective dispute resolution is, in the end, what makes rights and contracts relevant. I’m sure I will enjoy the inspiring and energetic spirit at the Institute and I hope that I will be able to contribute to its growth”, Meri says.
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Tanja Volanen started as a Case Manager in the FAI Specialisation Programme for Arbitration Lawyers
Tanja Volanen has started as a Case Manager at the FAI. Ms Volanen is the first case manager to join the FAI Specialisation Programme for Arbitration Lawyers, a two-year programme completed whilst working as a Case Manager at the Institute.
In addition to case management work, as part of the FAI Specialisation Programme for Arbitration Lawyers Ms Volanen will participate in the Finnish Arbitration Academy which will be organised starting in October 2020, as well as in other national and international FAI events. In the FAI Specialisation Programme, Ms Volanen will be supported in developing her expertise in arbitration, creating her network in the arbitration community and also publishing in arbitration.
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A Review of the FAI’s Year 2019
A Review of the FAI’s Year 2019
The year 2019 was full of action at the FAI. The FAI Arbitration Rules and Rules for Expedited Arbitration were revised, entering into force on 1 January 2020. Mr Santtu Turunen was appointed as new Secretary General to head the FAI Secretariat. New Finnish and international Board members began their terms. In May, the FAI hosted the 15th IFCAI Biennial Conference in Helsinki. The FAI launched a specialisation programme for arbitration lawyers.
The key statistics were positive: The new filings increased by 10 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 67 cases by the end of the year. The median duration of FAI arbitration remained at an excellent level of 8 months after transfer of the case file to the tribunal, and at 3 months in FAI expedited arbitrations.
Please find below some brief comments on selected highlights of the FAI statistics and a brief account of the highlights of FAI activities in 2019. Continue reading
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Six Questions to Toomas Vaher
Six Questions to Toomas Vaher, Partner at Ellex Raidla, FAI Board Member
What is the most enjoyable part of your work?
Building strategy for an anticipated dispute and achieving results without the need to start one.
What is most challenging in your work?
To adapt to bending the rules and causing delays in an otherwise simple proceeding. Over-regulation of matters.
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Updated dates for 9th DIS Baltic Arbitration Days 2020
The FAI continues as the Media Partner of the DIS Baltic Arbitration Days. The 9th edition of the BAD will be organised both online and on site in Riga, Latvia, from Sunday 16th to Monday 17th of August 2020. The topics of the conference are arbitration in transport related disputes, arbitration and IT, third party financing in arbitration disputes in CEE and an update on investment arbitration. The focus countries are Israel, Russian Federation, Switzerland and Ukraine. The program and link to registration are available here. The registration is kindly required even if you plan to participate online.
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Revised Arbitration Rules of the Finland Chamber of Commerce to enter into force on 1 January 2020
Revised Arbitration Rules of the Finland Chamber of Commerce to enter into force on 1 January 2020
The Arbitration Rules and Rules for Expedited Arbitration of the Finland Chamber of Commerce will enter into force on 1 January 2020 (the “2020 Rules”). The 2020 Rules contain individual improvements to the well-functioning 2013 Rules, with the aim of speeding up and streamlining the arbitration process. Key changes include wider possibilities to deliver documents by electronic means and more flexibility in the choice between standard and expedited arbitration proceedings.
Arbitration Rules of the Finland Chamber of Commerce 2020
Expedited Arbitration Rules of the Finland Chamber of Commerce 2020
Revision of Rules to increase speed, efficiency, and flexibility
The FAI Arbitration Rules and the Rules for Expedited Arbitration were fully revised in 2013. This comprehensive revision implemented best international practices, shortened the duration of arbitral proceedings and improved cost-efficiency.
Since the implementation of the 2013 Rules, FAI arbitration proceedings have proved very competitive in terms of speed and cost-efficiency. Arbitrations conducted under the 2013 Rules have thus been a reliable, efficient, and credible option for the resolution of commercial disputes both domestically and internationally.
The purpose of the 2020 Rules is to improve the efficiency and speed of FAI arbitrations even further. In addition, the 2020 Rules aim to offer more flexibility to enable the parties and tribunals to take into account the specificities of each individual dispute.
The revision was prepared by a working group chaired by the Vice Chair of the FAI Board, Marko Hentunen. The working group collected feedback and proposals for the development of the 2013 Rules from a broad group of stakeholders domestically and internationally. Their input was used as a source of inspiration in preparing the revised Rules.
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