State courts are best avoided in international trade and business; we don’t need them anymore. As with most things, the truth is not that simple. Arbitral tribunals, irrespective of their seats and the arbitration institution standing behind them, lack the competence and power to preserve the full spectrum of a party’s rights in commercial disputes. Procedural aspects of commercial disputes are as diverse as their subject matter and, as the case may be, may require the participation of state courts before or during arbitration. This Working Session addresses a selection of highly interesting topics, where arbitral proceedings and state court proceedings – for better or for worse – co-exist and form part of the broader global dispute resolution system. This Working Session which focuses on the pre-arbitral and arbitration phases, will help practitioners identify possible risks in international arbitrations and will also highlight certain tools and instruments in various jurisdictions that may help a party win its case.