ICC arbitration · Governing Rules and actual communication country
When must the ICC tribunal hold its first case management conference?
Under the 2026 standard rules, the tribunal must hold its initial case management conference within 30 days after receiving the file from the Secretariat. The Secretary General may extend that period on a reasoned request or on the Secretary General’s own initiative. Constitution alone is not file receipt.
- Period
- 30 calendar days under the established ordinary branch.
- Trigger
- Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat
- Rule
- ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Article 24(1)
The 2026 Rules apply from commencement on or after June 1, 2026 unless an earlier edition was agreed. The CMC event also supplies the 2026 cutoff for new claims, but the establishment of the ensuing timetable has no separate universal thirty-day period.
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When must the ICC tribunal hold its first case management conference?
Under the 2026 standard rules, the tribunal must hold its initial case management conference within 30 days after receiving the file from the Secretariat. The Secretary General may extend that period on a reasoned request or on the Secretary General’s own initiative. Constitution alone is not file receipt.
Responsible actor. The standard-track arbitral tribunal.
Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat
Confirm the standard track, actual tribunal receipt and any Secretary General extension. Expedited and HEAP initial conferences have fifteen-day and seven-day provisions respectively.
The CMC event also supplies the 2026 cutoff for new claims, but the establishment of the ensuing timetable has no separate universal thirty-day period.
Confirm the standard track, actual tribunal receipt and any Secretary General extension. Expedited and HEAP initial conferences have fifteen-day and seven-day provisions respectively.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Article 24(1)How does this provision count time?
- Identify actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat.
- Confirm the standard track, actual tribunal receipt and any Secretary General extension. Expedited and HEAP initial conferences have fifteen-day and seven-day provisions respectively.
- Hold the initial CMC to consult the parties on procedural measures. A proposed invitation or appointment of the tribunal does not establish that the conference occurred.
- Retain the actual communication and the established relevant country calendar before recording the expiry.
Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat. For this 30-day period, establish the legally effective event before applying the time-limit rules. Article 4(1) excludes the event day, starts on the next business day if necessary, includes intermediate nonbusiness days and carries a closed final day to the next business day.
Hold the initial CMC to consult the parties on procedural measures. A proposed invitation or appointment of the tribunal does not establish that the conference occurred. The calculation calendar is metropolitan France excluding Alsace-Moselle, with retained official 2026 holidays and Saturday/Sunday closures. Establish the country where the relevant communication is deemed made. The arbitral seat is insufficient; a different country, local calendar, disputed event or out-of-coverage result is outside this calculation.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Article 24(1)What do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
The standard-track arbitral tribunal. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat is established on October 06, 2026. Confirm the standard track, actual tribunal receipt and any Secretary General extension. Expedited and HEAP initial conferences have fifteen-day and seven-day provisions respectively. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Example 1. Ordinary established facts | The standard-track arbitral tribunal. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat is established on October 06, 2026. Confirm the standard track, actual tribunal receipt and any Secretary General extension. Expedited and HEAP initial conferences have fifteen-day and seven-day provisions respectively. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle. Start on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Count 30 calendar days, including intermediate nonbusiness days. The independently enumerated last day is Thursday, November 5, 2026. That final day is open under the retained applicable calendar. | Thursday, November 5, 2026 |
| Example 2. Closed-day boundary | The standard-track arbitral tribunal. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat is established on October 09, 2026. Confirm the standard track, actual tribunal receipt and any Secretary General extension. Expedited and HEAP initial conferences have fifteen-day and seven-day provisions respectively. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle. Start on Monday, October 12, 2026. Count 30 calendar days, including intermediate nonbusiness days. The independently enumerated last day is Tuesday, November 10, 2026. That final day is open under the retained applicable calendar. | Tuesday, November 10, 2026 |
| Example 3. Material procedural branch | The standard-track arbitral tribunal. Actual receipt of the file from the Secretariat is established on October 12, 2026. Confirm the standard track, actual tribunal receipt and any Secretary General extension. Expedited and HEAP initial conferences have fifteen-day and seven-day provisions respectively. The ordinary period applies without a different direction. Relevant deemed communication is independently established in metropolitan France outside Alsace-Moselle. Start on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Count 30 calendar days, including intermediate nonbusiness days. The independently enumerated last day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Article 4(1) carries that closed final day to Thursday, November 12, 2026. | Thursday, November 12, 2026 |
Fictitious established facts. These examples do not establish eligibility, effective service, relief or a direction.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich conditions and exceptions apply?
- Established ordinary branch
- Confirm the standard track, actual tribunal receipt and any Secretary General extension. Expedited and HEAP initial conferences have fifteen-day and seven-day provisions respectively.
- Completion requirement
- Hold the initial CMC to consult the parties on procedural measures. A proposed invitation or appointment of the tribunal does not establish that the conference occurred.
- Confirm the standard track, actual tribunal receipt and any Secretary General extension. Expedited and HEAP initial conferences have fifteen-day and seven-day provisions respectively.
- The CMC event also supplies the 2026 cutoff for new claims, but the establishment of the ensuing timetable has no separate universal thirty-day period.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When must the ICC tribunal hold its first case management conference?
Does tribunal appointment start the thirty days?
No. Article 24(1) starts from receiving the file from the Secretariat.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Article 24(1)Who may extend the initial CMC period?
The Secretary General may extend it on a reasoned tribunal request or on the Secretary General’s own initiative.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Article 24(1)Does sending a CMC invitation satisfy the duty?
The rule requires holding the initial conference, not merely circulating a proposed date.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Article 24(1)Must the conference be in person?
Article 24(5) permits in-person, hybrid or electronic formats, subject to the applicable agreement or tribunal determination.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Article 24(1)Do new claims remain unrestricted after the CMC?
Article 25 requires tribunal authorization for new claims after the initial CMC.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Article 24(1)Is the standard CMC period also the HEAP period?
No. Appendix VI Article 6(1) ordinarily requires the HEAP initial CMC within seven days of file receipt.
ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Article 24(1)Official sources and review
Provisions used (2)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Article 24(1) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, Articles 1(2), 3(5) and 4 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |