HELSINKI — Finland is considering sweeping reforms to its arbitration framework as part of an effort to modernize dispute resolution laws and strengthen the country’s position in international arbitration.
The Finland Arbitration Institute announced that the Ministry of Justice (Finland) has released a report from a government-appointed working group recommending a new Arbitration Act to replace the country’s existing legislation.
According to the report, the proposed law would align Finland’s arbitration regime with the widely used United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, a framework adopted in many jurisdictions to harmonize arbitration practices worldwide.
Officials say the reform aims to ensure that Finland’s arbitration system keeps pace with global developments. The proposal also addresses the growing role of digital technology in dispute resolution and seeks to enhance the competitiveness of Finnish arbitration in the international legal market.
The working group responsible for drafting the report was chaired by Mika Hemmo, who is set to assume the role of chair of the Arbitration Board at the Finland Arbitration Institute on Jan. 1, 2026. Other members of the group included legal experts Kirsi Pulkkinen, Ari Kantor, Timo Heikkinen, Henrik Sajakorpi and Teemu Taxell.
The proposed legislation reflects a broader trend among countries updating arbitration laws to reflect changes in global commerce and dispute resolution practices. If adopted, the new law could position Finland as a more attractive venue for international arbitration, particularly as cross-border commercial disputes continue to rise.