Anton Alifanov, Counsel in the International Arbitration and Cross-Border Disputes practice, took part in SCC Arbitration Week held in Stockholm from 20–24 October.

Organised annually under the auspices of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), the event brought together practitioners and experts for several days of discussion on key topics — the importance of amicable settlement in arbitration, the combination of mediation and arbitration procedures, the impact of artificial intelligence on dispute resolution, and other current issues in international arbitration amid today’s global challenges.

On the sidelines of the summit, Anton Alifanov also participated in a working meeting with representatives of the SCC Arbitration Institute, where he raised several practical issues faced by Russian parties in Stockholm — ranging from the execution of payments to the appointment of neutral arbitrators and the relocation of arbitral seats.
Some of these matters were already known to SCC colleagues and had prompted the introduction of certain procedural routines, while others came as a surprise and were met with assurances that the SCC would review them internally to develop a unified approach.

Although the once-popular Stockholm arbitration is rarely chosen in new contracts involving Russian parties over the past three to five years, previously concluded SCC arbitration clauses remain active and continue to generate new cases.
In this context, maintaining engagement with the arbitration institution, arbitrators, and counsel in this key arbitration jurisdiction is critically important to ensure effective client representation amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.

For those interested in the practical aspects of disputes under historical arbitration clauses heard in Stockholm and other “unfriendly” jurisdictions, we recommend watching the recording of the VERBA LEGAL webinar held on 16 October 2025.