In November 2012, the Shenzhen took the lead to adopt the Regulations on Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (For Trial Implementation) (Municipal Government Decree No. 245), the first dedicated regulations in China for a specific arbitration institution. In accordance with the legislation, the SCIA pioneered in governance structure of international arbitration institutions by establishing a corporate governance structure of statutory body centered around an international and professional Council.

On 26 August 2020, the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, the Standing Committee of the 6th Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress approved the Ordinance on the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (the Ordinance) at its 44th meeting. This was the first local legislation in China specifically designed to regulate an arbitration institution, which helps strengthen the SCIA's institutional governance structure. The Ordinance will further improve the corporate governance structure of statutory body of the SCIA, further legalize the reform achievements of international arbitration in Shenzhen in the form of regulations of Special Economic Zones. Moreover, it will consolidate the independence and credibility of international arbitration in Shenzhen and enhance domestic and foreign parties' confidence in Shenzhen's rule of law and China's arbitration.

According to the Ordinance, the SCIA shall has a Council with 11 to 15 members to serve as its decision-making body. All Council Members shall be prominent figures from legal and business community or other relevant fields, no less than one-third of which shall come from the Hong Kong SAR, the Macao SAR and foreign countries. Currently, the 3rd SCIA Council consists of 15 members, among them 9 are from overseas jurisdictions including the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR.