What Changed
- Agreement signed on 7 November 2026 between ICC Court Secretary General Alexander G. Fessas and Shanghai Mayor Zhu Zhongming.
- ICC becomes the first non-Chinese arbitral institution to establish a case management office in mainland China following arbitration law changes.
- Operations are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027, complementing existing case management offices in Hong Kong SAR and Singapore.
Businesses, arbitration practitioners, and dispute resolution users operating in mainland China face a significant development in international dispute resolution following a new agreement between the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and local government authorities.
On 7 November 2026, Alexander G. Fessas, Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, met with Zhu Zhongming, Mayor of Shanghai, and signed an agreement with the Shanghai Municipal Government to establish an ICC case management presence in Shanghai. This development follows recent amendments to the arbitration law of the People’s Republic of China (mainland China), which now permit the ICC to operate locally. Upon commencing operations, the ICC will become the first non-Chinese arbitral institution to establish a dedicated case management office in mainland China.
The ICC intends to begin operations at the new Shanghai case management office during the first half of 2027. The upcoming office will work alongside the ICC’s existing global case management network, including its established presences in Hong Kong SAR and Singapore. It also builds upon the ICC's decade-long representative office in Shanghai, which has focused on strategic development, training, and capacity-building. According to the ICC, detailed operational information will be released prior to the office’s official opening.
The establishment of local case management capabilities brings ICC dispute resolution services closer to commercial entities and legal practitioners in mainland China. Additionally, the ICC highlighted its status as an authorised institution under the Mainland China-Hong Kong arrangement on interim relief, which enables parties in ICC arbitrations to apply to mainland Chinese courts for interim measures. The ICC also expressed support for measures introduced by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government aimed at developing Shanghai into an international legal services hub.
Who May Be Affected
Commercial businesses, legal practitioners, and dispute resolution users in mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and the broader Asia region.
Cross-Border Context
Connects mainland Chinese enterprises and international commercial parties directly to ICC arbitration services, utilizing existing regional case management offices in Hong Kong SAR and Singapore as well as the Mainland China-Hong Kong interim relief arrangement.
What to check next
- Official operational announcements and administrative details released by the ICC ahead of the H1 2027 opening
- Specific statutory provisions of the amended Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China regarding foreign arbitral institutions
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.