HOW MIAMI BECAME A HEMISPHERIC HUB FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION

BY TIFFANY N. COMPRÉS

 

While Miami is renowned for its beaches and vibrant nightlife, it has also become a key hub for international law and particularly international arbitration. Its strategic location, diverse population, and strong legal framework have made it the second most popular arbitration seat in the U.S., especially for cases involving Latin America.

In 2023, 27% of ICC proceedings included parties from the Americas, with Mexico leading at 111 parties.  Additionally, 24% of arbitrators in global cases hail from the Americas. For these parties, Miami’s geographic and cultural position as a bridge to Latin America makes the city a natural choice for disputes related to the region. The city is easy to access, offers state-of-the-art arbitration facilities, and access to skilled, multilingual legal professionals at a fraction of the cost of New York City. Its cultural connections to Latin America and direct flights from major cities lead Miami to surpass New York City as the top U.S. arbitration seat for 2021. In 2023, the American Arbitration Association reported that Miami was the seat in 91 cases, with numbers expected to grow.

Miami’s legal framework is particularly favorable to international arbitration. Florida was the first state to pass legislation specifically for international arbitration in 1986—the Florida International Commercial Arbitration Act (FICAA), which mirrors the U.N. Model Law. Since 2005, Florida’s bar rules allow parties to use foreign counsel, further boosting Miami’s role as an arbitration hub that respects party autonomy.

In 2013, Miami became one of the first U.S. cities with a state court division dedicated to international arbitration disputes, including specialized judges. Only two other states can claim similar courts. With respect to federal courts, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Florida, is recognized as one of the most favorable in the nation for international arbitration.

The Miami International Arbitration Society, founded in 2008, and the city’s universities have only added to Miami’s reputation as an intellectual center. They have promoted Miami as a site for major conferences, like the ICC’s annual Miami conference, now in its 22nd year, and publish academic journals dedicated to international arbitration. Ultimately, it is thanks to the collaborative efforts of Miami’s international arbitration community that Miami has emerged as a dominant force in handling Latin American international arbitration disputes, successfully competing with leading global players.

At Pierson Ferdinand, LLP our international arbitration team, co-chaired by Tiffany N. Comprés, brings together a diverse range of skills and experience. Our international arbitration team offers multilingual professionals fluent in languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, French, and English. Trained in both common law and civil law systems and based in Miami, New York, and D.C., our partners regularly serve as counsel and arbitrators before major institutions like the ICC and AAA.

We also handle enforcement and ancillary proceedings, drawing from our experience in precedent-setting cases like LLC SPC Stileks (successor  in interest to Komstroy LLC) v. Republic of Moldova. Several of our attorneys are board-certified by the Florida Bar in international arbitration and in international law, ensuring our team remains at the forefront of its practice.

We deliver tech-driven efficient results, using our extensive experience and deep understanding of international arbitration to serve global clients across diverse industries, including agriculture, food and beverage, shipping, oil and gas, energy, construction, and shareholder disputes.