CIAM-CIAR renews its brand as CIIAM and launches its Procedure Guide

The Palacio de Santoña, in Madrid, hosted the presentation of the Procedural Guide to the CIAM-CIAR Arbitration Rules, as well as the new corporate identity and denomination of the institution, now officially named the International and Ibero-American Arbitration Center of Madrid (CIIAM). The event marked a milestone in the Center’s institutional evolution and reinforced its positioning as a leading forum for the administration of international arbitrations involving Ibero-American parties.

During the event, José María Alonso, President of the Center, unveiled the new CIIAM Madrid–Santiago logo, a visual identity aligned with the Center’s international projection and its Ibero-American vocation. The change of name and image consolidates the trajectory of the institution, previously known as the International Arbitration Center of Madrid – Ibero-American Arbitration Center (CIAM-CIAR), and responds to a strategic evolution aimed at unifying its history and strengthening a clear, contemporary brand with a forward-looking vision.

The presentation of the new identity took place during a session moderated by Michelle Vasco, Director of Development at CIIAM, and featured remarks by Adolfo Díaz-Ambrona, President of the Madrid International Arbitration Association, who reviewed the origins and evolution of the Center; María Agnes Salah, Vice President of CIIAM, who highlighted the recent alliance with CAM Santiago and the institution’s Ibero-American DNA; and José María Alonso, who presented the new brand and outlined the Center’s future vision.

According to Alonso, the transition to CIIAM "is much more than a name change: it is a strategic evolution that unifies the history of both denominations into a solid, modern identity with a vision for the future." He also emphasized that the Center’s Ibero-American vocation constitutes a distinctive feature compared to other international arbitration centers, as it provides a unique cultural and linguistic identity.

The new CIIAM acronym fully represents the Center’s international and Ibero-American dimensions. Within this integrative narrative, the double "I" reinforces the idea that the institution operates across two closely linked spheres—international and Ibero-American—conveying that the Ibero-American dimension is neither secondary nor subsidiary, but an essential part of its nature. This brand evolution also reflects the Center’s mission: to offer efficient, transparent and accessible procedures, promote the use of Spanish and Portuguese as arbitration languages, and strengthen legal ties across the region.

The event also featured the presentation of the Procedural Guide to the CIAM-CIAR Arbitration Rules, prepared by the Center’s Best Practices Commission, an external body composed of non-remunerated members, whose purpose is to ensure that the application of the Rules complies with the highest international standards. The Guide is the result of collective work following the 2024 review of the Arbitration Rules, during which it was decided to transfer certain practical considerations into a complementary guide designed to facilitate their application. The issues addressed were determined by the President of the Commission.

The Guide is intended to accompany the application of the CIAM-CIAR Arbitration Rules, offering practical guidance on matters that have generated particular reflection in recent practice, and contributing to the coherence, quality and predictability of arbitrations administered by the Center. It is conceived as a companion instrument to the Rules, rather than an autonomous regulatory text.

Participants in the event included José María Alonso, President of CIAM-CIAR; Marta Lalaguna, Secretary General of the Center; Alexis Mourre, President of the Best Practices Commission; and Commission members Filipa Cansado, José Ricardo Feris and Jesús Remón, who explained the Guide’s approach and practical value.

During the session, speakers were invited to share a defining attribute of their role as arbitrators and a professional piece of advice. Alexis Mourre highlighted patience as an essential quality. Marta Lalaguna defined Jesús Remón by his ability to persuade, and he stressed the importance of not making things up. Filipa Cansado emphasized meticulousness and offered constant preparation—preparation, preparation, preparation—as her advice. José Ricardo Feris underscored the importance of listening, maintaining a sense of humor, and remembering that an arbitrator’s career is a marathon, not a sprint.

The International and Ibero-American Arbitration Center of Madrid (CIIAM) was established in 2020 through the merger of the international activities of the Madrid Court of Arbitration (CAM), the Spanish Court of Arbitration (CEA) and the Civil and Commercial Court of Arbitration (CIMA), with the Madrid Bar Association (ICAM) as a strategic partner. Subsequently, in 2024, the Ibero-American Arbitration Center (CIAR) also joined as a strategic partner.

As part of this expansion, on April 2, 2025, the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce (CAM Santiago) and CIIAM signed an agreement to jointly develop international arbitration. This alliance represented a decisive step for the Ibero-American international commercial arbitration ecosystem and resulted in CAM Santiago joining the institution with the same status as the founding courts: CAM, CEA and CIMA.

The incorporation of CAM Santiago strengthened the Center’s capacity and resources to offer companies and legal operators an independent, transparent and efficient dispute resolution service, generating synergies through the exchange of resources, knowledge and institutional relationships. This development does not detract from the Center’s strategic interest in the Europe, Africa, Asia–Africa, Asia–Latin America and Europe–Latin America axes.
CIIAM allows users to establish the seat of arbitration in any city worldwide and administer proceedings in four languages: Spanish, Portuguese, English and French. Since its creation, the Center has administered approximately 70 cases, maintaining the highest standards of efficiency.