DIFC-LCIA arbitration procedure is often considered to reflect an English-style common law procedure. However, it is in some respects quite similar to that of other arbitral institutions which are not ‘common law’-grounded at all, and it is certainly not a procedure that relies upon any sort of pure pleadings phase (without reference to documents), but rather applies a common standard in international arbitration (of producing pleadings accompanied by documents) overlaid by what might be termed the basic principles to be applied. Those principles rely heavily upon party autonomy, flexibility and consultation, as found at article 14 of the Regulations entitled ‘Conduct of Proceedings’, and backed up by specific steps in articles 15-22 of the Regulations, including default procedures.