The Brazilian Center for Mediation and Arbitration (CBMA)

The Brazilian Center for Mediation and Arbitration – CBMA is a non-profit legal and private chamber of mediation and arbitration. (www.cbma.com.br) established on April 3, 2002, by three institutions of national relevance: ACRJ - Rio de Janeiro Commercial Association, Firjan - Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro,  and Fenaseg - National Federation of Private Insurance Companies and Capitalization.

The Center's mission is to "resolve conflicts efficiently, speedy and independently through various means of dispute resolution, always complying with good governance, the highest ethical standards and social responsibility."

CBMA has a superior performance (ranked as excellent by Leaders League) in various segments in the field of commercial arbitration: Corporate, Infrastructure, Construction, Real Estate, Oil and Gas, Social Security (Pension Funds), Naval Construction, Sports, and Public Administration.

Mediation in CBMA (including the MED-ARB clause) concentrates on civil construction, corporate disputes, contracts and sports law.

The Center is also experienced in Dispute Boards.

CBMA has the following rules in force: Arbitration Rules (01.02.2013); Fast-Track Arbitration Rules (01.12.2015); Ordinary Sports Arbitration Rules (04.09.2020); Appellate Sports Arbitration Rules (10.10.2019), Dispute Board Rules (2019); Mediation Rules (25.08.2015).

CBMA reached approximately R$ 8.5 billion in dispute by the end of 2022, with an annual average of R$ 400 million reais. The Center has about 70 (seventy) ongoing arbitration proceedings, receiving an average of 25 (twenty-five) new procedures each year in the past four years. The average duration of ordinary commercial arbitration procedures is 24 (twenty-four) months.

It is worth highlighting the presence and growth of arbitration with the public administration in CBMA. There have been 13 (thirteen) procedures, all involving indirect public administration (municipalities and state-owned companies. The first procedure occurred in 2013, even before the reform of the Brazilian arbitration act (which occurred in 2015, with the approval of Law 13.129/2015), which expressly allowed the use of arbitration in the area.

CBMA also has ESG policies and is concerned about its impact on the community. For example, the Center spreads the culture of alternative conflict solutions by organizing major events, its YouTube channel and its Internationally known Scientific Journal (RBADR). The performance of the Committees of Young Arbitralists (CJA) and Young Mediators (CJM) becomes relevant in this scenario. A particular concern is forming a new generation of lawyers in these committees—more collaborative and less belligerent.

CBMA has solidified as a suitable and high-quality chamber in the domestic market. The expansion to São Paulo in 2022 was a vital growth movement of the Chamber for commercial and public administration disputes.

The Center will continue to invest in disseminating the Multi-door Courthouse culture through academic initiatives, organizing major events, and applying and defending best practices for the area.