ABSTRACT
This article argues that international arbitrators now satisfy the sociological criteria of an established profession. This conclusion is not based on the classical, state-licensed definition of a profession but on more modern defections that identify professions as including transnational, networked community that consolidates authority through specialized expertise, reputational gatekeeping, and peer-policed ethics. Building on contemporary theories of transnational professionalization, this article argues that a shared arbitrator identity, formalized training pathways (eg, CIArb, institutional academies, specialized LLMs), and soft-law self-governance (IBA Guidelines, institutional challenge decisions) collectively replicate the core functions of professional self-regulation. The article engages João Ilhão Moreira’s contrary view, reframing decentralization, hybrid roles, and the absence of licensing as key features of emergent global professions. It then traces how arbitrators’ jurisdiction and public recognition have expanded, and assesses pressure points-ISDS reform, CAS/EU judicial oversight, and corruption cases such as P&ID v Nigeria – where professional responsibility must be exercised to sustain legitimacy. The conclusion calls for arbitrators to lean into their professional status by embracing transparent procedures, ethical commitments, and a more coordinated public voice to shape the future of global dispute resolution.
Rogers, Catherine A, International Arbitrators as a Profession (October 30, 2025).
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