Topic: Lebanon: A Dispute Resolution Overview
Court System
Lebanon follows a civil law system, where codified laws form the basis of judicial decision-making. The Lebanese judiciary is divided into two primary branches: judicial and administrative courts. The judicial courts hear civil and criminal disputes on three levels: courts of first instance, courts of appeal, and the Court of Cassation in Beirut. The State Council (Conseil d’État) handles disputes related to all administrative matters. Further, Lebanon has special courts with specific subject-matter jurisdiction, such as military courts and religious courts. In principle, proceedings are public, and the parties are not anonymised in judgments and decisions. In civil and commercial matters, court proceedings are subject to the provisions of the Lebanese Code of Civil Procedure (LCCP), issued by Legislative Decree No 90/1983 (as amended in 2002 and 2024). Criminal proceedings, in contrast, are governed by the Lebanese Code of Criminal Procedure, issued by Law No 328/2001 (as amended in 2023). Legal proceedings in Lebanon are inquisitorial in nature. Judges play an active role in managing cases, assessing evidence, and applying the law under the fundamental principle of iura novit curia. Although delays and limited resources remain a challenge affecting the performance of the Lebanese judiciary, recent appointments to the bench and ongoing institutional reforms reflect a clear effort to improve efficiency, transparency and judicial independence. Domestic judgments are enforced through the Execution Bureau (Article 828 of the LCCP), while foreign judgments are recognised in Lebanon through an exequatur order, which is a prerequisite to enforcement and is granted in accordance with the requirements set out under the LCCP (Articles 1009–1024 of the LCCP).
Arbitration
Arbitration in Lebanon is an alternative and consensual form of dispute resolution available to parties who agree to it in writing. It is governed by the LCCP, which devotes an entire chapter to arbitration proceedings (Chapter 1 of Book II) and adopts a dual system that distinguishes between domestic arbitration (Articles 762–808 of the LCCP) and international arbitration (Articles 809–821 of the LCCP). Lebanon is home to two principal arbitral institutions. The Lebanese Arbitration and Mediation Centre of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (LAMC-CCIAB), established in 1995, is the country’s main arbitration body. In 2024, the Centre updated its rules of arbitration to introduce features such as expedited procedures, consolidation of claims, and the use of technology in case management. The Lebanese and International Arbitration Centre of the Beirut Bar Association (LIAC-BBA), established in 2014, also administers arbitration proceedings and contributes to the continued development of arbitration practice in Lebanon. For a comprehensive and detailed overview of Lebanon’s court system, legal proceedings, arbitrability, and the enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards, please refer to our Litigation 2026 Law and Practice chapter.
Recent Developments
Lebanon’s dispute resolution landscape continues to evolve alongside broader legal and institutional reform. The past year has seen renewed momentum in legislative updates and initiatives, all demonstrating a gradual movement towards greater transparency and modernisation across the legal sector.
Notably, recent developments include:
- the lifting of banking secrecy by virtue of Law No 1 of 24 April 2025;
- amendments to Articles 1, 2 and 12 of the Lebanese Labour Law of 1946; and
- the Central Bank’s Basic Decision No 13729 of 1 July 2025 regulating foreign-currency transfers by Lebanese banks from accounts opened or funded prior to 17 November 2019.
For further insight into these and other legal developments in Lebanon, please refer to our most recent Trends and Developments chapter.
