Two Non-Administered Arbitration Rule Sets Issued by CPR Dispute Resolution Services

User-Created Rules Updated to Reflect Best Practices  
and Technological Developments for the ADR Community 
 

NEW YORK, NY — July 15, 2026 — CPR Dispute Resolution Services today announced the release of two newly updated rule sets for its dispute resolution platform and the ADR community: the 2026 Non-Administered Arbitration Rules and the 2026 International Non-Administered Arbitration Rules, expanding the options available to parties seeking efficient, flexible, and user-focused procedures for resolving complex commercial disputes. 

“The updated user-created rules reflect CPR’s continued commitment to practical innovation in arbitration and dispute resolution,” said Mia Levi, Vice President and Corporate Secretary, CPR Dispute Resolution Services. “The rules build on CPR’s long-standing non-administered arbitration framework while updating procedures to better serve today’s users, counsel, and arbitrators.” 

With these revised rules, parties get institution-quality safeguards and modern procedural protections, plus access to a trusted institution when support is needed, without committing to the cost, formality, or institutional involvement of a fully administered process. 
 
“The CPR Non-Administered Rules have been updated to reflect current best practices, the parties’ evolving needs, and significant technological developments,” said John Buckley, Co-Chair of CPR Institute’s Rules Revision Committee, Senior Counsel at Williams & Connolly LLP, and principal of Buckley Arbitration LLC.  “CPR’s 2026 Non-Administered Rules are the product of extensive consultations involving the Rules Revision Committee, CPR leadership, and end-users, including parties, their in-house and external counsel, and neutrals, for whose valuable contributions the Committee and CPR are grateful.” 
 

Key Updates to the 2026 Non-Administered Arbitration Rule Sets 

The 2026 Non-Administered Arbitration Rules preserve the core non-administered structure of the 2018 rules while adding clearer filing procedures, more robust CPR support mechanisms, updated case-management tools, and provisions addressing modern hearing practice, technology, and confidentiality. 

• Early Disposition: New Rule 12.6 creates a dedicated early-disposition procedure for claims, counterclaims, defenses and other issues, including a preliminary application process and an expected 60-day decision timeframe in most circumstances. 

• Joinder and consolidation: Rule 3.10 is expanded to provide relevant circumstances CPR may consider in deciding joinder. Rule 3.11 broadens consolidation to include arbitrations involving the same or related parties and adds more detailed decision factors. Both include a reference to referral to the CPR Domestic Arbitration Council as needed. 

• Counsel changes: New Rule 4.3 provides that, once the Tribunal is constituted, any addition or substitution of counsel is subject to Tribunal approval if it would affect the integrity of the proceeding. 

• Modernization of existing rules: Several rules were modernized to facilitate the use of electronic transmission or virtual/hybrid proceedings.  Rule 2.1 modernizes notice provisions by emphasizing email and other record-preserving communications; several rules were amended to expressly allow remote video proceedings for status conferences and hearings (Rule 9.5), emergency hearings (Rule 14.8); Rule 9.3 recommends the Tribunal discuss the electronic transmission of submissions instead of hard copies during the initial conference.  

• Conduct of the arbitral proceeding: Rules 9.1–9.2 add express references to fairness and efficiency. Rule 9.3 expands the suggested topics for the pre-hearing conference, to cover page or word limits, discovery scope, CPR’s disclosure protocol, cybersecurity, data safeguards, AI and other emerging technologies.  

• Extension of time limits in the International Rules: To allow for better handling of complex international issues, the deadlines of some rules have been extended in the international version of the 2026 Rules. Rule 5.2 extends the time for party-appointed arbitrators to select the chair from 20 to 30 days. Rule 5.4 extends screened-selection response and objection periods from 10 to 14 days. Rule 6.4 extends candidate-list returns from 10 to 14 days. Rule 7.6 extends the challenge deadline from 10 to 15 days. 

• CPR Domestic Arbitration Council: Rule 22 provides for CPR to refer any determinations under these rules to the CPR Domestic Arbitration Council (this was previously only in the International Rules for the CPR International Arbitration Council). 

How Rules Moved from Development to Practice 

CPR Dispute Resolution Service’s rules are developed through a user-driven process that draws on the expertise of the members of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR Institute), who are in-house counsel, arbitrators, and other dispute resolution stakeholders. Proposed rules are reviewed, refined, and tested against real-world needs before being released for use by parties and counsel. 

Once finalized, CPR Dispute Resolution Services implements the rules through model clauses, matter-management guidance, neutral selection resources and training for users and case professionals. This development-to-practice approach helps ensure that CPR’s rules are not only carefully drafted, but also practical, accessible and responsive to the needs of the dispute resolution community. 

About CPR Dispute Resolution Services 

CPR Dispute Resolution Services is a responsive, user-focused provider of dispute management services – arbitration, mediation, custom appointing services, a panel of dispute prevention specialists, and more – that leverages resources generated by the CPR Institute. 

CPR Dispute Resolution Service’s rules are informed by CPR Institute’s thought leadership and developed by end users who understand dispute resolution, supported by CPR’s Panel of Distinguished Neutrals and experienced matter-management team. 
 
MEDIA INQUIRIES 

Peggy Swisher 
Director, Marketing and Communications 
pswisher@cpradr.org 
646-753-8204 
 

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