International commercial arbitration is a private dispute resolution mechanism for resolving cross-border commercial disputes, generally based on a contract between the parties. Investment arbitration is a dispute resolution method generally based on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), a national investment law, or investment agreement.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of primary and secondary sources that may be utilized to research the general topics of international commercial arbitration and international investment arbitration, as well as more specific sub-topics. Included are introductory materials,bibliographies, treatises, commercial databases, and free websites. Suggested resources for locating arbitral awards and decisions are also listed.
Law360 is a popular legal news and current awareness resource covering over 40 different practice areas, including international arbitration. The Law Library's Law360 subscription allows users to receive daily newsletter alerts on legal topics of their choosing. Law360 is available from any on-campus computer, or from off campus with proxy authentication (current Loyola Law ID and password). For use by current students, faculty, and staff of Loyola University Chicago's School of Law only. Ask a reference librarian for help setting up an account.
Bibliographies of published materials related to international commercial arbitration are listed below. Note that not all listed publications are in English.
English translations of legal materials, including foreign statutes, are often difficult to locate and can be unreliable. Only in rare instances are authoritative English translations available. If authoritative versions are not available, look for "official" translations that are created by, or for, a government organization. Further, look for synoptic translations, which allow for side-by-side comparisons of the vernacular with the English translation.
Many online translators are available on the WWW, but these should be used with caution since web translators do not generally include specialized legal or commercial vocabulary. Online translators, however, may be of some help in getting the general sense of a document or passage. Examples of WWW translators are:
Arbitration Law in a Nutshell (5th ed.) by 
The Evolution of International Arbitration: Judicialization, Governance, Legitimacy by 
An Introduction to International Arbitration by 
The Principles and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration by 
Principles of International Litigation and Arbitration by 
Research and Practice in International Commercial Arbitration: Sources and Strategies by 
UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts. an Article-By-Article Commentary by The following are PowerPoint/PDF presentations that were prepared for various LUC Law School courses related to international commercial and investment arbitration.
Practical Law ia a Thomson Reuters current awareness service that is available to LUC Law students and faculty with their Westlaw subscription. Practical Law: Arbitration is a comprehensive suite of resources that includes practice notes, drafting notes and examples, and overviews of topics, such as investment treaty arbitration. There is an "Arbitration Global Guide" and a "Browse by Country" tab. LUC law students and faculty may sign up for e-mail updates.
The American Society of International Law (ASIL), headquartered in Washington, DC, launched the Center in 2013 to honor Judge Howard M. Holtzmann. The Center houses a collection of research materials on international arbitration, including Judge Holtzmann’s personal library and papers. The Center also offers a regular program of events, including a speaker series featuring leading figures in the field of international arbitration.
