Strengthening International Commercial Arbitration: Guangzhou Arbitration Commission Launches Global Recruitment for Arbitrator Panel

(SeaPRwire) –   GUANGZHOU, China, May 15, 2026 — The Guangzhou Arbitration Commission (GZAC) has recently launched a global application drive for its arbitrator panel, looking for professionals with cross-border alternative dispute resolution (ADR) experience across areas including but not limited to law, international trade and commerce.

The entire application process is carried out online via the official application platform at https://zcyselect.gziac.cn, and the application window will remain open until June 15, 2026. Priority consideration will be given to professionals with rich experience in legal and commercial affairs, maritime and admiralty issues, science and technology, as well as ADR. The Commission is especially keen on candidates who hold practicing qualifications in multiple jurisdictions, enjoy recognized professional standing, have considerable experience in cross-border arbitral proceedings, and are proficient in at least one of the following languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Italian. In accordance with the Regulations on the Construction of Guangzhou International Commercial Arbitration Center which came into force in May 2026, GZAC will build an internationally competitive remuneration system for arbitrators, offering overseas arbitrators market-oriented compensation that matches their professional expertise and contributions.

As indicated in the 2025 International Arbitration Survey, Guangzhou is ranked among the most preferred arbitration seats across the world, while GZAC’s arbitration rules are recognized as some of the most widely adopted arbitration rules globally. Up to now, the Commission has handled cases involving parties from 67 countries and jurisdictions, covering disputes in international trade, cross-border investment, intellectual property, as well as maritime and commercial sectors. Its arbitral awards have been recognized and enforced by courts in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States and Malaysia.

GZAC’s Decision-Making Body consists of members from six jurisdictions, bringing together well-known legal practitioners and experts from representative civil law and common law jurisdictions, Belt and Road partner countries, BRICS member states, the Hong Kong SAR, and the Chinese mainland. Its executive body is headed by Professor Mark Feldman, an American expert, marking the first time a foreign national has been appointed to lead the executive body of a Chinese arbitration institution.

GZAC has realized fully online operation for the whole arbitration process. Its recommended online arbitration standards, the first of their kind worldwide, have been approved by 102 overseas arbitration institutions and organizations. What’s more, the Commission has set up the APEC Online Dispute Resolution Platform (APEC ODR Platform) and launched the London Hearing Centre at the International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC) in the UK. This initiative creates a landmark arbitration model, as shown by its first case: with Guangzhou as the arbitration seat and London as the hearing venue, the entire proceedings were carried out online.

In 2025, GZAC received a record-high caseload of 27,000 filings, with the total disputed amount reaching RMB 92.1 billion. It is worth noting that the Commission’s international docket included 877 foreign-related cases with a total disputed value of RMB 12.3 billion. With overseas arbitrators appointed to 610 of these proceedings, GZAC keeps consolidating its position as China’s top venue for international disputes in terms of the volume of foreign-related cases.

Source: Guangzhou Arbitration Commission

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