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World Neutrals Summit 2026 — Barcelona · August 2026 · 89 spots remaining

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Standards & Governance — Sector Neutral Standards™

The qualification standard
for every sector.

Sector Neutral Standards™ are the formally published minimum qualification criteria for neutral practitioners operating in each of the 12 TheNeutrals.ORG™ sectors. Trade associations, procurement bodies, arbitral institutions, and government frameworks adopt them as their selection criteria — transforming certification from a professional choice into a market requirement.

View the standards →Adopt a standard
What Sector Neutral Standards™ are

Regulatory influence without regulatory power.

No institution can mandate who a party appoints as their neutral. But an institution can publish the standard that tells procurement bodies, trade associations, and institutional frameworks what a qualified neutral in their sector looks like. When those bodies adopt that standard, the market does the rest.

The ISO 9001 standard does not inspect every factory. The Michelin Guide does not own restaurants. What they do is define what quality looks like — and let the market respond. Sector Neutral Standards™ work the same way. TheNeutrals.ORG™ defines the standard. Associations and procurement bodies adopt it. Practitioners meet it. The profession advances.

Each standard is sector-specific, publicly published, and independently reviewed. Any organisation — trade association, procurement body, arbitral institution, government framework — may adopt a Sector Neutral Standard™ as their minimum qualification criteria for neutral appointments.

Adopt a standard for your sector →
What happens when a standard is adopted
1
The association publishes that neutral appointments in their framework must meet the TheNeutrals.ORG™ Sector Neutral Standard™.
2
Practitioners who wish to work in that framework must hold the relevant certification — creating direct demand for your bench.
3
Corporations and law firms specifying appointments under that framework default to certified neutrals — without needing to research credentials independently.
4
Every adoption strengthens the standard's authority. Every certified practitioner in that sector becomes evidence that the standard produces quality.
The flywheel effect

One adoption creates conditions for the next.

Each time a trade association or procurement body adopts a Sector Neutral Standard™, the effect compounds. More practitioners certify. More clients specify certified neutrals. The standard gains authority. The next adoption becomes easier to secure.

01
TheNeutrals.ORG™ publishes a Sector Neutral Standard™
A formally documented, publicly available standard for neutral practitioners in a specific sector — criteria, methodology requirements, grade minimums, and sector knowledge requirements.
↓
02
A trade association or procurement body adopts it
The association publishes that their framework requires practitioners to meet the standard. This is their choice — not a mandate. But it creates immediate market demand.
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03
Practitioners certify to meet the market requirement
Neutrals who wish to work under that framework certify at the required grade. Not because of marketing — because the market requires it. This is the most powerful form of demand generation.
↓
04
Corporations specify certified neutrals by default
Clients operating under the adopted framework specify a "TheNeutrals.ORG™ certified neutral" in their contracts. The credential becomes a baseline expectation, not a differentiator.
↓
05
The institution's authority grows with each adoption
Every adoption adds to the institutional weight of the standard. A standard adopted by 10 associations in 3 sectors carries fundamentally more authority than one adopted by one. The flywheel accelerates.
The published standards — 2026 edition

Eight published. Four in sector consultation. Twelve sectors covered.

Each Sector Neutral Standard™ is developed in consultation with practitioners, associations, and institutional bodies in that sector. Published standards are reviewed annually. Standards in consultation are open for written submissions from relevant associations and practitioners.

SNS-CON-2026Published
Construction & Infrastructure
The minimum qualification standard for neutral practitioners in construction and infrastructure disputes — covering NEC, FIDIC, DRB appointments, delay analysis, and extension of time claims. Adopted by procurement bodies in 3 jurisdictions.
Download standard →
SNS-BFS-2026Published
Banking & Financial Services
The minimum qualification standard for neutral practitioners in banking, lending, restructuring, and financial product disputes. Covers regulatory context, multi-party financial disputes, and cross-border enforcement requirements.
Download standard →
SNS-HLT-2026Published
Healthcare & Medical
The minimum qualification standard for neutral practitioners in clinical negligence, medical technology, and institutional healthcare disputes. Covers clinical record analysis, INDS-BF™ medical context application, and multi-party institutional disputes.
Download standard →
SNS-TIP-2026Published
Technology & Intellectual Property
The minimum qualification standard for technology and IP neutral practitioners — SaaS, AI liability, platform disputes, trade secrets, and patent licensing. Includes specific INDS™ application criteria for technical evidence.
Download standard →
SNS-MAR-2026Published
Maritime & Shipping
The minimum qualification standard for maritime neutral practitioners — charter party, cargo, salvage, and ship finance disputes. Covers cross-border maritime enforcement and the specific procedural requirements of maritime ADR.
Download standard →
SNS-ENR-2026Published
Energy & Natural Resources
The minimum qualification standard for energy sector neutral practitioners — supply contracts, joint ventures, climate liability, and regulatory disputes. Covers both conventional and renewable energy contexts.
Download standard →
SNS-INT-2026Published
International Trade
The minimum qualification standard for international trade neutral practitioners — cross-border commercial contracts, distribution, supply chain, and customs disputes. Singapore Convention compliance criteria included.
Download standard →
SNS-REP-2026Published
Real Estate & Property
The minimum qualification standard for real estate neutral practitioners — development disputes, transactional misrepresentation, leasehold, and cross-border property matters.
Download standard →
SNS-AVN-2026Consultation
Aviation
The minimum qualification standard for aviation neutral practitioners — currently in sector consultation with industry bodies. Open for comment.
Join consultation →
SNS-EDU-2026Consultation
Education
The minimum qualification standard for education sector neutral practitioners — institutional disputes, employment, and cross-border student matters. Currently in sector consultation.
Join consultation →
SNS-MES-2026Consultation
Media, Entertainment & Sports
The minimum qualification standard for media and entertainment neutral practitioners — IP licensing, talent contracts, platform disputes, and sports rights. Currently in sector consultation.
Join consultation →
SNS-ICT-2026Consultation
ICT & Telecommunications
The minimum qualification standard for ICT and telecommunications neutral practitioners. Currently in sector consultation with industry bodies.
Join consultation →
For associations and procurement bodies

Adopt a Sector Neutral Standard™ for your framework.

If your organisation appoints, recommends, or specifies neutral practitioners — in procurement documentation, contract frameworks, panel selection, or institutional appointment processes — a Sector Neutral Standard™ gives you a published, independently developed, internationally recognised qualification baseline.

Adoption is non-exclusive and carries no ongoing obligation beyond citing the standard correctly. An annual licensing fee covers the use of the TheNeutrals.ORG™ standard mark, verification access to the certified neutral registry, and annual standard updates.

Adoption fee structure
Standard adoption licence
Annual licence to specify the standard in procurement and appointment documentation
€5,000/yr
Standard mark usage
Right to display "Meets TheNeutrals.ORG™ SNS-[code]" on appointment documentation
Included
Registry verification access
Real-time verification of any practitioner's certification status and grade
Included
Annual standard update
Automatic annual update to the standard as the profession and sector evolve
Included
Co-branding opportunity
Joint announcement of adoption to relevant sector and media contacts
Included
Consultation participation — free
For standards currently in sector consultation, participation as a consulting body is free. Your organisation's input shapes the published standard — and your adoption is acknowledged in the publication.
Sector Neutral Standards™

The standard that makes certification a market requirement, not a personal choice.

Published by the world's first institution to formally codify Independent Neutral Evaluation. Adopted by associations, procurement bodies, and institutional frameworks in 12 sectors across 80+ countries.

View the published standards →Enquire about adoption
World Neutrals Summit 2026
Barcelona.
August 2026.
The global neutral profession's defining annual gathering.
$985 Neutral Pass $1095 Delegate Pass $1595 Speaker Pass
Venue
Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower
Gran Via 144, 08907
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona
View hotel → Map →
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