The federal courts in Chicago are among the most highly respected in the U.S., regularly handling complex, cross-border commercial disputes. The district court’s Local Rules permit foreign counsel to participate in arbitration-related court proceedings. The court also is available virtually for arbitrations seated in Chicago. The court is among the top 10 district courts for quickest disposition of civil cases.

The Federal Arbitration Act governs international arbitrations seated in Chicago. Illinois also adopted its International Commercial Arbitration Act in 1998, modeled on the UNCITRAL Model Law. It is one of the first such laws in the U.S. and one of the few state laws that expressly permits third-party discovery in aid of arbitration.

Awards rendered in Chicago are enforceable under the New York Convention and U.S. Federal Arbitration Act. Illinois also adopted the Uniform Arbitration Act and International Commercial Arbitration Act to facilitate enforcement of arbitral awards.

Illinois’ legal framework maximizes the opportunity for parties to be represented by counsel of their choice. Counsel in arbitrations seated in Chicago need not be licensed in Illinois. In 2023, the District Court in Chicago also adopted a Local Rule (LR 80) allowing foreign attorneys to participate in arbitration-related proceedings before the Court.

Chicago has a world-class legal community with domestic and international dispute resolution experience, across all industries and sectors, reflecting the strength and diversity of Chicago’s multinational corporate base. 29 Global Arbitration Review 100 law firms have offices in Chicago.

Chicago is home to multiple internationally renowned law schools, including the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Loyola University Chicago and the University of Illinois, regularly teaching domestic and international arbitration as well as other forms of alternative dispute resolution, along with strong international LL.M. programs.

ChIAC modern hearing facilities are custom-designed for arbitration hearings of all sizes, powered by FTI Consulting’s state-of-the-art technology platform team, including transcription services, document handling and management services, and translation services. Chicago’s multi-national labor pool is able to offer real-time interpretation in any language, with natively fluent interpreters.

Chicago is globally accessible with daily flights to over 275 cities around the world and secure and reliable local transportation, free from unreasonable constraints on entry, work and exit for parties, witnesses, and counsel in international Arbitration. Local federal court rules enable parties to rely on counsel of their choice, including foreign counsel. ChIAC facilities are housed in the Aon Center, which provides excellent security and protection of hearing participants, their documents and information.

Chicago is a globally diverse city built by immigrants from all over the world and its arbitration community is attuned to the evolving nature of legal practices and ethics. Illinois legal ethics requirements are regularly updated by the Illinois Supreme Court to maintain the highest ethical standards, including preservation of client confidentiality, avoidance of conflicts of interest, competent and diligent client representation, and effective attorney-client communication.

Under federal law and Illinois state law, arbitrators in arbitrations seated in Chicago are immune from liability for all acts taken within the scope of their adjudicative duties in good faith, as confirmed by federal and state court decisions.