MOSCOW, February 5  – RAPSI. Russia had the largest international presence in the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce’s (SCC) 2012 caseload, according to statistics released by the institute.

In general, International disputes outnumbered domestic disputes heard by the SCC in 2012. Of its case load including 177 new cases, 92 were international. Notably, Russia proved to be the country with the heftiest presence at the institute, which was recognized during the Cold War by the US and the Soviet Union as a neutral center for dealing with trade disputes between the East and West.

The majority of cases brought before the SCC in 2012 arose from service agreements (22.6%); supply agreements (18.6%); business acquisitions (14.7%); and real estate. Investment treaty protection, license agreements, joint ventures, and intellectual property all proved popular matter for arbitration as well.

Of the SCC’s 2012 case load, 56% of disputes were administered in accordance with the SCC rules.

2012 was notable as well for having the institute’s highest yet annual concentration of investment treaty cases. According to the SCC website, “The SCC has become a leading center for the resolution of investment treaty arbitration. Since 1993 parties have brought 57 investment disputes to the SCC, 43 of which were brought from 2003-2012. In 2012, the SCC registered ten investment treaty cases.”

Eight of these ten investment treaty cases arose under allegations of violations of bilateral investment treaties, and two arose under the Energy Charter Treaty.