Arbitration regulations and cooperation rules

Lublin Union Arbitrage (LUA) operates as an independent commercial dispute resolution center with its seat in Lublin at Krakowskie Przedmieście 22. By using our website and ordering consultations, you accept these rules. In our actions, we are guided by a simple philosophy: we solve the problem, we don't look for the guilty. This regulation defines the legal framework in which our arbitrators and clients move. Court is a last resort for us, which is why every interaction with LUA aims to lead to a quick closure of conflict without unnecessary bureaucracy.

We operate mainly for companies from Eastern and Western Europe looking for a neutral ground for talks. If you do not agree with any point of this document, please stop using our services. All findings made during sessions are confidential and protected by professional secrecy. Our team, which includes 7 specialists, ensures the process is transparent from the first minute. We are not an office, but a partner in business that helps unblock frozen financial resources and save contract relations.

At Lublin Union Arbitrage, we use clear rules of the game regarding finances. We do not charge percentages of the dispute value, which distinguishes us from many other institutions. We believe remuneration should depend on the arbitrator's actual work, and not on the amount on the invoice the dispute is about. A preliminary case assessment, including the analysis of one contract and a 60-minute consultation, costs 480 PLN net. This is a one-time fee that allows you to assess real chances for a settlement before involving more resources.

Further costs are calculated based on an hourly rate, which is standardly 140 PLN net per hour of arbitrator work. Before starting full proceedings, we always present a written valuation. The average cost of closing a typical case in our office allows for saving around 3,200 PLN compared to court costs and legal representation. We accept payments by transfer on the basis of issued VAT invoices. The payment term is usually 7 days. Lack of timely payment for a session may result in suspending the arbitration procedure until the debt is settled.

Discretion is our standard and is not subject to negotiation. All arbitration and mediation sessions take place behind closed doors in our office in Lublin. Unlike public common courts, we do not have public protocols that could be looked at by competition, media, or outsiders. We protect trade secrets, know-how, and financial details of our clients. Every arbitrator, including Marek Wiśniewski and Anna Lewandowska, is bound by a rigorous confidentiality clause, which also applies after the cooperation ends.

The obligation to maintain secrecy applies to all documents submitted for analysis, including export contracts, waybills, or email correspondence. Documentation is stored securely and disposed of after the proceedings are finished, unless law regulations mandate otherwise. We believe only in an atmosphere of full trust can a settlement that survives years be worked out. Your business image is key for us, which is why we never publish client names or case details for marketing purposes without the explicit, written consent of the interested parties.

Proceedings in LUA are designed to last short – usually from 4 to 8 weeks. After reporting a dispute and paying the fee for preliminary assessment, we set the date for the first session within 3 business days. Parties can take part in meetings personally or through representatives. If the case ends in arbitration rather than mediation, we issue a verdict that has the same legal force as a state court ruling. This means that after granting an enforcement clause, our verdict can be a basis for bailiff execution in Poland and in countries recognizing international conventions.

It is worth noting that about 23% of cases conducted in Lublin end in a settlement even before issuing a formal verdict. This is a result of our diplomatic techniques that tone down emotions and allow return to talks about numbers. If the parties reach an agreement, we write down the content of the settlement, which also closes the dispute definitively. Our goal is closing the topic in a permanent way. The average duration of proceedings in our last 124 cases was exactly 38 days. This is a huge saving of time compared to the 14 months that one has to wait on average for a verdict in commercial courts in the region.

Lublin Union Arbitrage makes every effort to ensure the dispute resolution process is reliable and based on facts. However, we do not take responsibility for the effects of decisions made by parties based on our mediation recommendations if they do not take the form of a binding arbitration verdict. Our role lies in facilitating communication and pointing out legal risks. All claims against LUA are limited to the amount of remuneration paid for a given service. We are not responsible for lost benefits or indirect damages resulting from an ongoing conflict between parties.

All disputed issues resulting from these regulations or services provided by us will be resolved according to Polish law. The appropriate place for considering all claims is the court in Lublin. If any of the points of the regulation is found invalid by a supervisory body, the remaining provisions stay in force. We regularly update our rules to correspond to changing trade regulations. The last modification was introduced in March 2025. We encourage regular checking of this page to stay up to date with cooperation rules.