The U.S. National Association of Securities Dealers and the London-based Chartered Institute of Arbitrators are opening an arbitration and mediation hearing location in London.

The service willl allow British and European residents that do business with NASD-registered firms to resolve their disputes involving the U.S. securities markets without traveling to the U.S.

NASD hopes the service will help investors save the time and expense involved in having their dispute resolved in the U.S.

“Establishment of this London hearing location continues NASD’s efforts to respond to the growing geographical diversity of investors and their needs,” said Linda Fienberg, president of NASD’s Dispute Resolution division. “Working with the CIArb enables us to expand our services internationally while maintaining the high quality, independence and integrity that is so important for our forum.”

The CIArb will provide a panel of arbitrators and mediators who will resolve disputes between investors, securities firms and individual NASD registered representatives in Britain. NASD’s standard procedures will be applied in all cases. NASD member firms electing to use the voluntary London Portal service will pay a daily Hearing surcharge to cover the higher fees paid to arbitrators.