Global guide to Alternative Dispute Resolution
Explore key ADR options, costs, timing, and enforcement worldwide. Discover more ↓
Global guide to Alternative Dispute Resolution
Explore key ADR options, costs, timing, and enforcement worldwide. Discover more ↓
When conflicts arise, a key concern for companies will be how to resolve these in the most time- and cost-efficient manner, and whether this can be done in a way that could (potentially) preserve commercial relationships. This process can appear even more daunting as increasingly disputes arise outside of the jurisdiction or across borders. Alternatives to litigation or arbitration vary considerably from country to country, with Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) continuing to evolve worldwide.
ADR is increasingly becoming mandatory/embedded in legal procedures and can involve parties with different cultural views of what ADR entails.
This quick reference guide and comparative map highlights the types of ADR available worldwide and whether they are mandatory; the consequences of non-engagement; timing considerations; cost responsibilities; privacy, confidentiality, and publicity concerns; cross-border enforcement; and any unusual features.
This is particularly helpful where your dispute involves more than one jurisdiction or you have the option to select the jurisdiction where the dispute will be resolved.
Our litigation and arbitration practice has an international reach with offices across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa and the US. Produced in collaboration with our global network of offices and relationship firms, we provide a practical overview of ADR in over 40 jurisdictions worldwide.
While this document is not a substitute for proper legal advice, it highlights the key points of difference from an operational perspective for parties involved. For advice on specific issues, please get in touch with the key contact(s) for each jurisdiction.
This guide was published in March 2025. Eversheds Sutherland takes all reasonable care to ensure that the materials, information and documents, including but not limited to articles, newsletters, reports and blogs, including this guide (“Materials”) on the Eversheds Sutherland website are accurate and complete. However, the Materials are provided for general information purposes only, not for the purpose of providing legal advice, and do not necessarily reflect the present law or regulations. The Materials should not be construed as legal advice on any matter. The Materials may not reflect the most current legal developments. The content and interpretation of the Materials and the law addressed in the Materials are subject to revision.
No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the Materials and therefore the Materials should not be relied upon. Eversheds Sutherland disclaims all liability in respect of actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of the Materials to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Materials are not intended to be comprehensive or to include advice on which you may rely. You should always consult a suitably qualified Lawyer/Attorney on any specific legal matter.
Any views expressed through the Materials are the views of the individual author and may not reflect the views of Eversheds Sutherland or any other individual Lawyer/Attorney.
© Eversheds Sutherland. All rights reserved. Eversheds Sutherland is a global provider of legal and other services operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. Eversheds Sutherland is the name and brand under which the members of Eversheds Sutherland Limited (Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP) and their respective controlled, managed and affiliated firms and the members of Eversheds Sutherland (Europe) Limited (each an "Eversheds Sutherland Entity" and together the "Eversheds Sutherland Entities") provide legal or other services to clients around the world. Eversheds Sutherland Entities are constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local regulatory and legal requirements and operate in accordance with their locally registered names. The use of the name Eversheds Sutherland, is for description purposes only and does not imply that the Eversheds Sutherland Entities are in a partnership or are part of a global LLP. The responsibility for the provision of services to the client is defined in the terms of engagement between the instructed firm and the client.