Quick Summary: International arbitration is one of the most competitive and career-defining LLM specialisms. This guide covers every essential book β from the standard student texts to the practitioner treatises used by counsel and arbitrators worldwide β with honest guidance on what you actually need to buy.
International arbitration has grown into the dominant method for resolving cross-border commercial disputes. Billions of dollars in contracts, investment treaties, and commercial relationships are resolved through arbitration every year β and the lawyers who specialise in it are among the most highly regarded and well-compensated in the profession.
LLM programmes in international arbitration and dispute resolution β particularly at Queen Mary University London’s Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) and UCL β attract students from around the world. The reading lists are demanding, the books are expensive, and knowing which ones to actually buy matters.
In This Guide
The Essential Student Texts
Two books dominate international arbitration reading lists worldwide. Both are considered essential by most LLM programmes. If you can only buy one, read the comparison section below first β but most serious students will buy both.
International Arbitration: Law and Practice (3rd ed.) β Gary B. Born (Kluwer Law International)
Gary Born is simply the world’s leading authority on international arbitration. This single-volume work β derived from his three-volume International Commercial Arbitration β is the primary student and practitioner text for international arbitration globally. It is systematic, comprehensive, and authoritative. The third edition covers all aspects: arbitration agreements, constitution of tribunals, conduct of proceedings, choice of law, awards, and enforcement. It references over 20,000 cases and awards. Cited by courts and tribunals in virtually every jurisdiction.
- β The most cited international arbitration text in the world
- β Covers commercial and investment arbitration
- β Integrated with Born’s online lecture series
- β Third edition fully updated through 2024
- β Dense β not a casual read
- β Expensive relative to undergraduate texts
Redfern and Hunter on International Arbitration (7th ed.) β Blackaby, Partasides & Redfern (OUP)
Redfern & Hunter follows the chronological process of an arbitration β from drafting the arbitration clause through to enforcement of the award. Written by practitioners who have acted as both counsel and arbitrator in hundreds of major cases. Where Born is doctrinal and comprehensive, Redfern & Hunter is practical and procedural. The two books complement each other perfectly. Published by Oxford University Press.
- β Follows the real-world sequence of an arbitration
- β Written by leading practitioners (Freshfields, Three Crowns)
- β Highly readable β clear and accessible
- β Seventh edition updated for recent developments
- β Less comprehensive than Born on legal doctrine
Practitioner & Reference Treatises
These are the books used by senior practitioners and researchers. Most LLM students do not need to buy them β library access suffices β but they are essential for dissertations, PhD research, and practice.
International Commercial Arbitration (3-Volume Set, 3rd ed.) β Gary B. Born (Kluwer Law International)
The definitive scholarly and practitioner treatise β 4,250 pages across three volumes, referencing over 20,000 cases and awards. The most comprehensive work on international arbitration ever written. Essential for PhD candidates and practising arbitration lawyers. Most LLM students use the single-volume Law and Practice version; the full treatise is a library reference. Price reflects its authority: Β£300βΒ£500 for the set.
Price: ~Β£300βΒ£500 (set) | Buy from Wolters Kluwer β
Fouchard, Gaillard, Goldman on International Commercial Arbitration (Kluwer Law International)
A foundational treatise in international arbitration β the classic French perspective on the field. Less commonly assigned on UK LLM modules than Born or Redfern & Hunter but frequently cited in advanced scholarship and dissertation bibliographies. Essential background reading for PhD research on the theoretical foundations of international arbitration.
Price: ~Β£180βΒ£250 | Buy from Wolters Kluwer β
Investment Arbitration
Investment treaty arbitration β where foreign investors bring claims against states under bilateral investment treaties (BITs) β is a growing and highly specialised sub-field. If your LLM module covers investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), you will need at least one of these.
Principles of International Investment Law (3rd ed.) β Dolzer & Schreuer (OUP)
The standard introductory text on investment treaty law. Clear, structured, and comprehensive on BITs, most-favoured-nation treatment, expropriation, and the ICSID convention. The third edition is significantly updated to cover recent ISDS reforms. Used on investment arbitration modules at CCLS, UCL, and Edinburgh.
Price: ~Β£60βΒ£80 | View on Amazon UK β
International Investment Arbitration: Law and Practice β Born & Ε arΔeviΔ (Kluwer Law International)
Born’s investment arbitration counterpart to his commercial arbitration text. Systematic and comprehensive. More advanced than Dolzer & Schreuer and appropriate for students focusing specifically on investment treaty arbitration as their primary specialism.
Price: ~Β£90βΒ£120 | View on Amazon UK β
Arbitration Rules & Institutions
International arbitration is conducted under institutional rules β ICC, LCIA, SIAC, AAA, ICSID β or under UNCITRAL ad hoc rules. Understanding these rules is essential for anyone planning a career in the field.
A Guide to the ICC Rules of Arbitration β Derains & Schwartz (Kluwer Law International)
The standard commentary on the ICC Rules β the most widely used institutional arbitration rules in international commerce. Essential for students focusing on ICC arbitration. Used extensively in practice and frequently assigned as supplementary reading on ICC-focused modules.
Price: ~Β£100βΒ£140 | Buy from Wolters Kluwer β
LCIA Arbitration Rules: A Commentary β Turner & Mohtashami (OUP)
The leading commentary on the London Court of International Arbitration rules β the most important arbitral institution for UK-based practitioners. The LCIA is London’s home institution and understanding its rules is particularly important for students planning careers in the UK arbitration bar.
Price: ~Β£75βΒ£95 | View on Amazon UK β
Born vs Redfern & Hunter β Which to Buy First?
Buy Born First If You:
- Want the most comprehensive legal doctrine
- Are writing a dissertation on arbitration law
- Plan a career in arbitration at a major law firm
- Are at CCLS/Queen Mary (Born is the primary text)
- Want the global standard reference
Buy Redfern & Hunter First If You:
- Want to understand how arbitration works in practice
- Find Born’s density overwhelming initially
- Are focused on procedural aspects of arbitration
- Prefer a more narrative, accessible writing style
- Are on a module that specifically assigns it
The honest answer: Most serious international arbitration LLM students buy both. Combined they cost Β£160βΒ£200, which is substantial but proportionate to the career you are building. If you must choose one, follow your module reading list β but Born is the more essential scholarly reference.
Which UK universities are best for an LLM in international arbitration?
Queen Mary University London (CCLS) is the UK’s leading centre for international arbitration LLM study β the programme is internationally respected and has strong connections to practice. UCL, King’s College London, and Edinburgh also offer excellent programmes. For investment arbitration specifically, Edinburgh has particular strength.
What is the Vis Moot and do I need special books for it?
The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot is the world’s largest and most prestigious moot competition, focused on international commercial arbitration. If your LLM programme participates, Born’s Law and Practice is your primary text. You will also need the CISG (Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods) and the relevant UNCITRAL or institutional rules β all freely available online.
How do I access Kluwer Arbitration online?
Most UK university law libraries with international arbitration LLM programmes subscribe to Kluwer Arbitration β the online database that includes full texts of many of Born’s and other treatises, plus arbitral awards and court decisions. Check your library’s database list. If your institution doesn’t subscribe, printed copies of the key texts are the practical alternative.