By Jamyle Jardim
In recent years, Brazil has seen significant growth in the use of alternative dispute resolution methods – ADRs. Since 2018, professionals have benefited from the São Paulo Arbitration Week (SPAW), a week-long event organized by CAM-CCBC and dedicated to facilitating the exchange of experiences, access to international trends, and fostering connections among participants.
SPAW 2023
By 2023, SPAW had firmly established itself as a premier forum for discussing important ADR topics both in Brazil and globally. The sixth edition of SPAW, held in October 2023, featured over 25 registered events, showcasing its ongoing growth and relevance.
The week kicked off with the X CAM-CCBC Arbitration Congress, followed by a series of events exploring various aspects of arbitration and the future of ADR. Highlights included the “Document Production in International Arbitration Workshop” by NewGen CAM-CCBC, which focused on the complexities of document production, and the 7th meeting of the “NewGen Workshop Cycle on Contractual Breach, Damages, and Arbitration,” offering in-depth discussions on these issues. The event “Through the Looking Glass: CAM-CCBC and VIAC’s Insights on Transparency” provided valuable perspectives on transparency in arbitration within the Brazilian and Viennese communities. Additionally, the “M&A Arbitration: Dialogue Between Negotiation and Arbitration Practice” event connected negotiation and arbitration practices in mergers and acquisitions.
The wide range of topics discussed during SPAW has been valuable for the arbitration community. The program covered opportunities for using ADR in different economic sectors, practical aspects of ADR use, and emerging trends for the future.
Reinforcing its commitment to gender representation, SPAW recommended that events have at least 40% female participation. Additionally, a social initiative was maintained: event organizers were required to make a symbolic donation to a social institution of their choice to register their events.
Success Story
Over the years, SPAW has become an important platform for discussing arbitration in Brazil, engaging professionals, and promoting the exchange of experiences. Initially held in different locations, such as offices, law firms, universities, and the CAM-CCBC itself, the initiative has highlighted the importance of alternative dispute resolution, particularly arbitration, in São Paulo.