Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in International Investment Disputes

The Secretariats of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) are collaborating on a draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in International Investment Disputes. 

The Code is intended to provide applicable principles and provisions addressing matters such as independence and impartiality, and the duty to conduct proceedings with integrity, fairness, efficiency and civility. It is based on a comparative review of standards found in codes of conduct in investment treaties, arbitration rules applicable to ISDS, and of international courts. 

Code of Conduct Resources

A first version of the Code was published on May 1, 2020. ICSID and UNCITRAL received extensive input on the draft through consultation with State delegates and other interested stakeholders. Based on the feedback received, a second version of the Code was published on April 19, 2021, a third version published on September 22, 2021, and a fourth version published on July 25, 2022.

Drafts of the Code of Conduct

Version Four

Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in International Investment Disputes: Version Four (July 2022) (Download PDF)

Version Three

Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in International Investment Disputes: Version Three (September 2021) (Download PDF)

Projet de Code de Conduite pour les personnes appelées à trancher des différends internationaux d’investissement : Troisième Version (Septembre 2021) (Télécharger le PDF)

Proyecto de Código de Conducta para decisores en controversias internacionales relativas a inversiones: Tercera Versión (Septiembre de 2021) (Descargar PDF)

Version Two

Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in International Investment Disputes: Version Two (April 2021) (Download PDF)

Projet de Code de Conduite pour les personnes appelées à trancher des différends internationaux d’investissement : Deuxième Version (Avril 2021) (Télécharger le PDF)

Proyecto de Código de Conducta para decisores en controversias internacionales relativas a inversiones: Segunda Versión (Abril de 2021) (Descargar PDF)

Version One

Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in Investor-State Dispute Settlement: Version One (May 2020) (Download PDF)

Annex A: Text of the Code of Conduct (Download PDF)

Annex B: Summary of Codes of Conduct in Free Trade Agreements (Download PDF)

Translations of the Code of Conduct by the UNCITRAL Secretariat (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish)

Comments on the Code of Conduct

Version Three

Comments by State/Commenter as of November 3, 2021 (Download PDF)

Comments by Article and Topic as of November 3, 2021 (Download PDF)

Version Two

Comments by State/Commenter as of September 3, 2021 (Download PDF)

Comments by Article and Topic as of September 3, 2021 (Download PDF)

Version One

Comments by State/Commenter as of January 14, 2021 (Download PDF)

Comments by Article and Topic as of January 14, 2021 (Download PDF)

Other Comments Received:

Russian Federation (Download PDF)

Notes by the UNCITRAL Secretariat

A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.167 - Background information on a code of conduct

A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.151 - Ensuring independence and impartiality on the part of arbitrators and decision makers in ISDS

Draft Note on the Implementation and Enforcement of the Code of Conduct

Background Papers by the ICSID Secretariat

Code of Conduct Background Paper: Issue Conflict

Code of Conduct Background Paper: Double-Hatting

Code of Conduct Background Paper: Repeat Appointments

Events, Commentary and News

The draft Code of Conduct has been widely discussed in events and publications. Here is a roundup of recent recorded webinars, commentaries and news reports on the Code. 

Webinars and Podcasts

Recorded Events and Podcasts

The Arbitration Station: The Drafter of the Draft Code (Podcast with Chiara Giorgetti)
Inter-Pacific Bar Association Webinar: ICSID and UNCITRAL Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in Investor-State Dispute Settlement
Institute for Transnational Arbitration Webinar: Focus on the Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in ISDS
Young ICSID Webinar: Perspectives on the ICSID & UNCITRAL Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators
Reed Smith LLP: ICSID/UNCITRAL Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in Investor-State Dispute Settlement
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Commentary

Back to Basics: Drawing the line between Disclosure, Challenge and Disqualification Standards in International Investment Arbitration (by Fahira Brodlija)
Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in ISDS Proceedings: Further Practical Considerations (by Felipe de Marinis, Lucy Winnington-Ingram, Zach Mollengarden, and Paige von Mehren)
The Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in Investor-State Dispute Settlement: An Important Step Forward in the Reform Process? (by Chiara Giorgetti)
A binding code of conduct for adjudicators in investor-state disputes: a step forward? (by Laura Pereira and Zara Desai)
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In the News

ICSID and UNCITRAL publish draft code of conduct for adjudicators of ISDS disputes (Thomson Reuters)
ICSID and UNCITRAL unveil draft conduct code (Global Arbitration Review)
ICSID AND UNCITRAL Release First Draft of Much-Anticipated Code of Conduct for ISDS Adjudicators (Investment Arbitration Reporter)