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The purpose of this essay is to study and explore lex mercatoria and its impact on international contracting and arbitration. The movement of goods and international relations are shaping our societies and defining how countries behave within the broader international community; in this context, the Lex serves as a key tool that will benefit merchants by shaping the dynamics that guide their profession, moving away from the somewhat rigid instruments derived from state legal systems and providing the market’s professional community with commercial autonomy in both international contracting and dispute resolution methods. Lex mercatoria provides a secure environment for international commercial relations, especially when entrepreneurs seek innovative business models and the expedited resolution of potential disputes arising from them, such as International Commercial Arbitration. The study of this topic allows the reader to gain access to knowledge that, although it has been in effect for more than half a century, is a fundamental component of contemporary international commercial practice even as the world’s economies become more complex and interconnected.
