Panel Vetting Process
The most rigorous
panel vetting in
international arbitration.
Every UNIONE™ Panel member passes a four-stage vetting process before a single case is referred. This is what makes the UNIONE™ Panel the most trusted appointment pool in the world — and what gives parties the confidence to accept our nominations.
UNIONE™ Vetted & Certified
UNIONE™ Vetted Member
Panel certification — all four stages cleared
Qualifications and experience verified
Three professional references confirmed
IBA Guidelines conflicts assessment completed
Independence declaration signed
Profile active — available for appointment
Four stages. Every panel member. No exceptions.
5,000+
Vetted members
Why Vetting Matters
Parties accept UNIONE™ nominations because they trust what's behind them.
In international arbitration, the constituted tribunal is everything. A poorly appointed arbitrator can unravel proceedings, produce an unenforceable award, or destroy a commercial relationship. UNIONE™ vetting exists to make sure this never happens.
IBA Guidelines Aligned
Every vetting assessment is aligned with the IBA Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration. We do not merely ask arbitrators to self-certify — we verify.
Reference Verification — Not Self-Reporting
Three professional references are contacted and verified by the UNIONE™ Appointments Committee. Prior arbitral service, award quality and challenge history are all reviewed.
Ongoing Monitoring
Vetting is not a one-time event. UNIONE™ monitors Panel members on an ongoing basis — including disclosure of new conflicts, professional developments and any challenge history.
Cross-Jurisdictional Awareness
Our vetting process assesses arbitrators' familiarity with the enforcement environment in their primary jurisdictions — critical for the ERR process and award enforceability.
Transparent Criteria
All vetting criteria are published. We do not operate opaque panels. Every applicant knows exactly what we are looking for and how they will be assessed before they apply.
ERR Compatibility Assessment
Senior arbitrators are assessed for familiarity with the UNIONE™ ERR process and their ability to engage with enforceability questions during deliberations — unique to UNIONE™.
The Four-Stage Process
From application to active appointment.
Every applicant completes all four stages before receiving the UNIONE™ Vetted & Certified designation and being made available for case appointment.
1
Stage 1
Application & Qualifications Review
The Appointments Committee conducts an initial review of the applicant's submitted CV, qualifications, professional biography, publication record and arbitral experience. This is a substantive review — not an administrative check.
Academic and professional qualifications verified against primary sources
Arbitration experience assessed against UNIONE™ threshold criteria
Bar admissions and professional standing confirmed
Prior institutional listings (ICC, LCIA, SIAC etc.) noted and cross-checked
Publications and thought leadership assessed for subject matter depth
2
Stage 2
Reference Verification
Three professional references are contacted directly by the UNIONE™ Appointments Committee. References must be from individuals who have worked with the applicant in a professional arbitration context — not merely as a colleague or friend.
Each reference contacted individually and confidentially
Prior arbitral appointments, awards and conduct reviewed
Any known challenge history or ethical concerns explored
Assessment of the applicant's procedural management and award quality
3
Stage 3
Conflicts of Interest Assessment
Applicants complete a comprehensive conflicts disclosure exercise aligned with the IBA Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration. The Appointments Committee reviews all disclosures and maps the applicant's conflict profile for future appointment decisions.
Full disclosure of current and recent client relationships
Prior co-arbitrator relationships mapped
Counsel relationships and institutional affiliations disclosed
IBA Guidelines Red, Orange and Green lists reviewed and documented
Independence Declaration signed and filed
4
Stage 4
Onboarding, Profile Activation & Certification
On successful completion of Stages 1–3, the applicant receives the UNIONE™ Vetted & Certified designation. Their profile is created on the Panel Directory and they become immediately available for appointment on cases within their specialism.
UNIONE™ Vetted & Certified badge issued
Panel Directory profile published and searchable
ERR process briefing document issued
Case portal access activated
Available for immediate appointment — cases referred within days
Ready to apply?
Join the world's most trusted arbitration panel.
5,000+ vetted professionals. 100+ countries. Every case referred goes through a panel that passed all four stages. Be one of them.