“Pravova derzhava”. Issue 37 (2026), pages 844–851.

DOI: 10.33663/0869-2491-2026-37-844-851

Melnyk Maksym
Bifurcation of proceedings in arbitral practice and procedural rules of international arbitration institutions

ISSN online: 2617-9776 print: 0869-2491

Introduction. The article is devoted to the analysis of bifurcation as a procedural instrument in international arbitration, with particular emphasis on investment and commercial arbitration. According to the author, despite the growing frequency of its application by arbitral tribunals and parties, bifurcation has not yet been suficiently examined in Ukrainian legal scholarship.

The aim of the article is to analyze the legal nature of bifurcation, its foundations, and the main approaches to its application in international arbitration practice, as well as to assess its role in ensuring procedural economy and eficiency in the resolution of international investment disputes.

Results. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research is formed by general scientific and special legal methods of cognition, including analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, comparative method, formal-legal method, and systematic approach. The article examines the evolution of bifurcation in arbitral rules and practice, with particular attention to the ICSID Convention and the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. The author analyzes key arbitral decisions that have shaped the criteria for the use of bifurcation, including cases in which jurisdictional objections or issues of liability were resolved at a preliminary stage. Statistical data on the application of bifurcation in ICSID proceedings are also considered, demonstrating that bifurcation does not automatically shorten the overall duration of proceedings but may significantly reduce procedural costs and focus the tribunal’s analysis on decisive issues. The article emphasizes that the effectiveness of bifurcation depends on the specific circumstances of the dispute, including the seriousness of preliminary objections and their connection with the merits of the case.

Article provides a comprehensive assessment of bifurcation as a procedural instrument in contemporary international arbitration, taking into account recent trends in arbitral practice. The legal nature of bifurcation is examined in the context of the procedural autonomy of arbitral tribunals and the principle of flexible case management, which distinguishes arbitration from state court proceedings. Particular attention is paid to the place of bifurcation within the overall structure of arbitral proceedings and its function as an instrument for concentrating procedural efforts on threshold issues capable of determining the outcomes of a dispute. The study highlights that bifurcation may serve not only as a means of procedural economy but also as a tool for enhancing the clarity and predictability of the arbitral process.

Conclusions. The author concludes that bifurcation constitutes an important and flexible procedural instrument in modern international arbitration, aimed at enhancing procedural economy and rational case management. At the same time, its application requires a balanced and case-specific approach in order to prevent procedural abuse and ensure the fair and eficient administration of justice.

Keywords: bifurcation, international arbitration, investment arbitration, procedural economy, jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal, ICSID, UNCITRAL, arbitration proceedings, preliminary questions.

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Дата першого надходження рукопису до видання: 15.12.2025
Дата прийнятого до друку рукопису після рецензування: 03.03.2026
Дата публікації: 24.03.2026