Disclosure of Documents in International Arbitration

Mohammadian, Saman; Zeynodini, Fateme

doi:10.48308/eclr.2025.239857.1169

Disclosure of Documents in International Arbitration

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Saman Mohammadian ¹ ^¶

Fateme Zeynodini ²

¹ L.L.M Student, Faculty of Law & Political Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Corresponding Author Email: zeynodini@ut.ac.ir

https://doi.org/10.48308/eclr.2025.239857.1169

Abstract

Documents are an integral part of arbitration proceedings and play a key role in articulating the parties’ claims and defenses. In international arbitration, procedural orders—such as document production orders—are issued based on the needs and discretion of the arbitrator or tribunal. This area is significantly influenced by the divergence between common law and civil law traditions. In common law systems, document disclosure is broader and based on transparency and truth-finding, whereas civil law systems adopt a more limited approach, focusing mainly on documents already in the parties' possession. Given that parties in international arbitration often come from different legal backgrounds, their expectations regarding document disclosure may differ. Therefore, adopting a fair and balanced approach to disclosure is essential to ensure efficiency and the legitimacy of the arbitral process. In this regard, fairness and equity must be preserved alongside key elements such as efficiency, speed, and cost-effectiveness. The scope of disclosure should be defined by clear criteria such as specificity, relevance, materiality, proportionality, and accessibility. Ignoring these criteria can lead to excessive costs, delays, and inefficiency in arbitration proceedings. Overwhelming document production may also confuse and frustrate parties and undermine fundamental principles

Keywords

Document Disclosure

Request to Produce Documents

Efficiency

International ‎Arbitration

Burdensome

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