Calendar of Events

This lively debate will tackle the provocative question: should English law disputes be determined only by English-qualified lawyers? With barristers arguing both sides of the motion and commentary from an experienced arbitrator or judge, the event will deliver sharp insights, memorable advocacy, and practical takeaways for practitioners

Selecting the tribunal is one of the most consequential steps in arbitration.  This session will explore the practical and strategic considerations involved in constituting an arbitral tribunal. 

This panel will combine recent case examples with institutional perspectives and reform initiatives, offering both technical guidance and strategic insights for counsel and parties.

This dynamic panel brings together legal and technical experts to explore how international arbitration is responding to the growing challenge of climate-related disputes.

From the legal weight of the ICJ Advisory Opinion to the practical realities of quantifying environmental harm, the session will unpack the complex question: who bears the cost of climate change?

Breakfast is included. 

This panel session will examine the disputes landscape arising from these capital-intensive infrastructure projects. Specific to data centres, the panel will discuss emerging construction and energy supply issues, supply-chain challenges, damages/valuation, contractual disagreements, and procedural aspects in international arbitration.

Breakfast and registration from 08:15.

Section 44, Arbitration Act 1996 provides for important Court powers exercisable in support of arbitral proceedings. These range from freezing injunctions, to orders for preservation of property. The readiness of the Commercial Court to assist in London arbitrations, often with considerable urgency, is one of the reasons making England such an attractive seat for arbitration.

This seminar offers the opportunity to consider the types of relief that are available under Section 44, including the changes made by Arbitration Act 2025.

WE HAVE ADDED EXTRA SEATS SO PLEASE EMAIL US DIRECT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND events@7kbw.co.uk. 

Unfortunately, we are now at full capacity for spaces available for students.

Timing:

• 8.15 – 9.00 – Registration and breakfast
• 9.00 – 10.00 – Presentation and Q&A
• 10.00 – Refreshments

To register to attend remotely via ZOOM PLEASE CLICK HERE

The speakers will explore how well contractual clauses are standing up to and subsequent arbitrations are dealing with contract performance and satisfaction of other obligations considering increasingly disruptive geopolitical events and other crises; the doctrine of frustration and force majeure clauses;  practical challenges of managing unexpected risks within projects on quantum and delay; the longer term impact of unexpected geopolitical events on assessing political risk; and the impact of geopolitical events and crises on litigation funding.

Light breakfast options will be provided, arrival from 08:15.

In an era of peak uncertainty, this session charts how geopolitical events of recent years and changing policies around renewables are redefining the international energy disputes landscape. Expect candid insights, market leading perspectives, and actionable takeaways. The session will feature a scene-setting speech from Katja Yafimava of the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies, and a panel discussion between market-leading experts Peter Cameron (Chair in Energy and Climate Law at Queen Mary University), Oisin Brady (independent expert in the renewables sector) and Thalia Tholot (economic expert at Brattle). 

Has the impossibility of cost-effective arbitration been overstated? Have some disputes been priced out of arbitration?

Looking at recent data, our panel of practitioners and users will seek to answer these questions by examining the key drivers of costs in arbitration, including institutional fees and unnecessary hearings. Are there more innovative and radical approaches to make arbitration more efficient and cost-effective, such as designing bespoke sector-specific rules, or encouraging the use of expedited procedures?

Join us for an engaging discussion that offers a unique opportunity to hear candid insights directly from the members of the arbitration community to help shape the future of international arbitration for the benefit of our users.

A deep dive into the growing trend of award monetisation, with key discussion points to include: the distinction between the financing of an arbitration and award monetisation; the reasons for the rise in the monetisation of arbitration awards: perspectives of the award holder and purchaser; deal structures and case studies.

** Please note that the event is now fully subscribed. To join us online, please register via the following link: https://idrc-co-uk.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IzF-ATGIQUeFTe5baL9Aww

This timely panel explores how investor-state and commodity disputes are being reshaped by global forces, from geopolitical tensions and resource nationalism to ESG imperatives and treaty reform. As governments recalibrate their energy strategies and regulatory frameworks, arbitration practitioners and experts are facing new complexities in resolving high-stakes disputes over natural resources and infrastructure.

Refreshments included.

Geopolitical tensions and strategic conflicts are reshaping the arbitration landscape. This session will examine how disputes linked to resource nationalism, critical infrastructure, and armed conflict intersect with pressures on the arbitral process—such as sanctions regimes, enforcement hurdles, and arbitrator challenges. The discussion will also consider strategies for managing politically sensitive disputes in this evolving environment.

Registration from 10am.

Agenda: 

10:00 – 10:30: Registration 

10:30 – 12:00: Panel

12:00 – 13:00: Networking lunch

A panel discussion on the impact of recent decisions relating to anti-suit injunctions in the arbitration context, including the Court of Appeal decision in Renaissance Securities (Cyprus) Limited -v- ILLC Chlodwig Enterprises & Ors; and the impact of the Arbitration Act 2025.

What do tribunals actually value in advocacy, and what wastes time? This candid panel session from leading arbitrators and counsel at One Essex Court separates signal from noise: submissions, evidence, cross-examination, time discipline and tone. Expect frank views, real examples, and practical tips you can use immediately.

Please join an all-female panel hosted by ArbitralWomen's London based Board Members during which we will hear from a range of users of arbitration about current hot topics and expectations for 2026 in the sectors most popular for arbitration - commodities, energy, banking & finance, construction and technology. 

If you have any queries, please contact sophie.emberson@bakermckenzie.com

A discussion of areas in which arbitration might learn lessons from the practices in court litigation.

As geopolitical tensions escalate and sanctions reshape the global business landscape, legal teams are under pressure to quantify damages, assess liability, and navigate shifting regulatory frameworks. 

This panel will explore how lawyers and experts respond to the legal and commercial fallout of geopolitical turmoil, from asset freezes and trade restrictions to reputational harm and disrupted contracts.

Refreshments included.

This is a French-speaking seminar on “Good Faith in International Arbitration” organised by Francarbi and Enyo Law. 

Le séminaire abordera le thème de la bonne foi dans l’arbitrage international, notamment sa signification et ses limites tant sur le plan matériel que procédural, ainsi que la manière dont ce principe juridique est utilisé, perçu et appliqué par les parties et tribunaux dans les procédures arbitrales. 

Le débat se tiendra de manière informelle, la participation de l’assemblée étant vivement encouragée. Les intervenants s’exprimeront en langue française sans traduction. Les contributions en anglais ne seront pas interdites et tous les francophones et francophiles sont les bienvenus (sous réserve du nombre de places qui est limité) ! 

Le séminaire est organisé sous l’égide de Francarbi, une association internationale francophone dont l’objet et principe fondateur consistent à défendre le pluralisme culturel et linguistique dans l’arbitrage international. 

Join Jeremy Wilson, Co-Chair of Covington & Burling's International Arbitration and Disputes Practice, and Marcus Fishburn, Global Head of S-RM's Disputes & Investigations Practice, at Covington & Burling's offices for a panel discussion focussing on intelligence gathering in the context of disputes, exploring its movement into the mainstream and the opportunities this presents for disputing parties, as well as the inherent risks.

This panel will aim to draw out insights into how intelligence firms and legal teams can work most effectively to gain the upper hand in arbitration by unearthing and deploying critical intelligence in an admissible form. The panel will draw on the experience of the participants, bringing the session to life with examples and stories from the field.  

The duration of the panel will be 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for the audience to ask questions, and lunch will be provided. 
Please note that you will need to register in order to receive a QR code to gain access to 22 Bishopsgate and the event.

The panel will share their insights on the evolving and sometimes divergent role of national courts of leading arbitral seats in supporting or intervening in the arbitral process.

As arbitration continues to grow in complexity and global reach, courts are increasingly called upon to exercise their supervisory powers (whether through anti-suit injunctions, worldwide freezing orders, or the set aside and enforcement of final and/or partial awards). Yet, the approaches taken by courts in different jurisdictions are far from aligned.

This panel will explore the evolving intersection of competition law and sports governance, focusing on how antitrust arguments are increasingly being used in disputes involving sports organisations - both governing bodies and individual teams. Our discussion will examine landmark cases*, emerging legal theories, and the implications for arbitration and dispute resolution in sport. The panel will bring together legal experts, economists, and practitioners to unpack how these arguments are reshaping the rules of the game. 

* For example ISU v European Commission; US FTC vs PGA; Royal Antwerp v UEFA; European Super League v FIFA and UEFA 

The session will be followed by networking drinks.

The United States continues to be the global epicenter of mass tort litigation, with new waves of claims reshaping the landscape across industries: from claims arising from the use of various products, including such things as PFAS, opioids, talc, pesticides, hair relaxers, and medical devices, to sexual abuse claims and also liability claims arising out of catastrophic wildfires, among others. These large-scale claims inevitably give rise to complex insurance coverage battles involving billions of dollars, which often must be resolved through ad hoc English-seated arbitrations.

This panel will explore the leading U.S. mass tort trends, including the theories of liability being pursued and the manner in which the defendants are fighting back, and will then highlight some of the issues that both policyholders and insurers should anticipate as these disputes migrate into arbitral fora.

CDR presents a panel discussion on the arbitration of disputes arising from major international infrastructure projects, including the most ambitious of them all: China's Belt & Road Initiative. 

Our programme will focus on the practical implications for participants in international arbitration of the evolving rule of law situations and challenges in the world today. We will discuss how current and anticipated rule of law issues are affecting, and may affect, arbitration internationally, particularly in light of recent and emerging policies and practices in the U.S. and elsewhere, and how those policies and practices are affecting, and may affect, arbitration, arbitration practitioners, arbitral institutions, and arbitration education and training.

We plan to address a wide range of issues, including topics such as how the situation is affecting, and may affect, leading arbitration jurisdictions as seats and venues; representation of parties; employment opportunities for foreign lawyers in, and implications for, law firms' arbitration groups; foreign student arbitration education and training; arbitral institutions; and so on.

Keynote Orientation:

• “Addressing Rule of Law Concerns about Arbitration and Arbitration's Legitimacy” - Sir Robin Knowles CBE
• “How Arbitration Contributes to the Rule of Law” - Dr Crina Baltag FCIArb, QMUL 

To be included on the event’s waitlist, please write to juliana@justen.com.br and inform your name and email address for contact. 

Join NAI40 (NAI Jong Oranje) and Three Crowns for an engaging comparative panel discussion on the contrasting approaches to provisional relief in the Dutch and English courts – a topic of increasing relevance for arbitration practitioners operating across jurisdictions.

Pre-award attachments and other interim relief are powerful tools to safeguard rights or assets pending the outcome of an arbitration. This session will explore the forms of provisional relief available in two key jurisdictions for such measures.

A diverse panel of experts – bringing perspectives as counsel, arbitrator, and judge – will focus on key differences between the systems, consider strategic considerations when seeking or resisting such measures, and debate where legitimate use may cross into abuse.

The panel discussion will be followed by networking drinks.

Registration from 14:15 | Panel discussion from 14:30  | Networking drinks from 16:00 

To meet the world's net zero objectives, there remains an unquestionable need for an acceleration in the deployment of renewable generation capacity. Offshore wind remains set to play a central role in helping deliver this essential policy objective.  Against this backdrop, avoiding and efficiently resolving disputes on offshore wind projects will play a crucial role in their success and resulting ability to deliver this objective.  In this session, a panel of offshore wind experts, drawn from the construction and legal sectors, will examine what can we learn from the typical areas of disputes in offshore wind projects, whether we should - looking forward - anticipate any future trends in such disputes and the role of arbitration in resolving them.

Everyone's gone mad for AI. Time someone asked the awkward questions.  Legal AI promises everything. Delivers mixed results. London's arbitration community deserves better than sales pitches. 

Consider this event as a proper cross-examination.  This isn't another AI cheerleading session. It's the kind of rigorous scrutiny UK practitioners apply to everything else. Leading arbitration minds will challenge every claim, dissect every promise, and examine what AI actually delivers when the marketing veneer is stripped away.  

The questions no one's asking:  - Does AI understand arbitration complexity, or just mimic it? - Are we solving real problems, or creating expensive new ones? - When £100m disputes are at stake, is "probably right" good enough for chambers?  No softball questions. No safe answers.  

Expect the kind of frank discussion you'd have over a proper drink after chambers. Critical perspectives from practitioners who've tested AI beyond the glossy demos. Honest insights on what technology can deliver (and what it categorically cannot).  Arbitration intelligence meets healthy skepticism.  Because your reputation deserves better than hype.

Programme:

• 4 pm: Registration
• 4.30 pm: Keynote address by Professor Richard Susskind CBE KC.  
• 4.45 pm: Panel discussion
• 6 pm: One more thing...surprise announcement followed by Networking cocktail with champagne & canapés.

The event will take the form of a moot hearing, focusing on an application for interim relief. Its purpose is to explore and compare how such an application would be handled in two distinct forums: (a) before an emergency arbitrator, and (b) before a judge in court.  To illustrate the differences in approach, we will conduct two hearings using identical facts and submissions. The first will be held before an emergency arbitrator.

Following a short break, the same application will be presented before a judge in court. This format will allow the audience to observe, in practical terms, the procedural and substantive contrasts between the two forums.

This event will include a panel discussion (chaired by The Rt. Hon. Dame Elizabeth Gloster, DBE, PC, on how tribunals and practitioners should respond to party misconduct. 

From delay tactics and abusive procedures to ethical breaches, the discussion will highlight the tools available under International Laws and International Rules, as well as the balance tribunals must strike between fairness and efficiency.

The session will begin with coffee and registration, and a drinks reception will follow. 

Historically, London has benefited from the label of being a, if not the, leading arbitral seat for international arbitration. Yet, in recent years, that title has been open to question. 

With the passing of the new Arbitration Act 2025, this event will consider whether London continues to deserve such label by reference to the views of expert arbitral practitioners experienced in geographies around the world. 

The panel will explore London’s continuing role as a hub for international arbitration, assessing its strengths, challenges and future outlook. The discussion will be moderated by Sherina Petit, Head of International Arbitration at Stewarts, and Alejandro Garcia, Partner at Stewarts. They will be joined by:

• Daniel Wilmot, Partner at Stewarts
• David Joseph KC, Barrister at Essex Court Chambers
• Prof Emilia Onyema, PhD, SFHEA, FCIArb, Professor of International Commercial Law, Director of SOAS Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre, and Director of Onyema Arbitration Services
• Philippa Charles, Arbitrator at Twenty Essex
• David Obey Ament Guemez, Counsel at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)

Russian Federal Law of 8 June 2020 no. 171-Ф3 was initially enacted in 2020 but received a new lease of life after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Commercial parties across Europe had to address the suspension and termination of their contracts with Russian counterparts, all set against the backdrop of European and Russian sanctions.

The European Network, made up of Chiomenti, Cuatrecasas, Gide and Gleiss Lutz, in collaboration with Mannheimer Swartling, are uniquely placed to provide insights from their respective jurisdictions on the key measures ancillary to arbitration in this context.

Attendees will develop their understanding of the Russian law; the potential pitfalls when dealing with contracts that have been affected; the responses contractual counterparties can adopt; and will gain an update on the latest developments in terms of European sanctions.

London remains the world’s leading centre for international arbitration.  The Courts play a vital role in maintaining that status.

In this seminar, the current and immediate past Judges in charge of the Commercial Court, and the Judge in charge of the London Circuit Commercial Court, will address their courts’ roles in supporting arbitration.

A range of topics and trends will be covered including interim applications and injunctions, appeals and challenges in both the Commercial Court and the London Circuit Commercial Court.  The event is organised by the London Circuit Commercial Court Users Committee.

Join ArbitralWomen, ERA, ERE, the LCIA, REAL and OpenArbitration for a lively evening reception celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion in international arbitration. Enjoy drinks and canapes in a relaxed setting while mingling with fellow arbitration enthusiasts, advocates, and change-makers. 

The evening will feature a light-hearted quiz designed to spark dialogue and test your arbitration trivia - with prizes and bragging rights up for grabs! Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to the arbitration community, come raise a glass to the power of inclusion and the people driving it forward.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP and the British-Kazakh Society invite arbitration professionals, investors, and business leaders to an evening of networking and conversation focused on Central Asia. 

This informal event will bring together lawyers and non-lawyers alike who have a professional or personal interest in the region. Guests will have an opportunity to meet the HSF Kramer Central Asia team and learn more about the British-Kazakh Society's work in fostering economic, legal, and cultural links between the UK and Kazakhstan. 

Join us for drinks, canapes, and engaging discussions on the growing role of Central Asia in international arbitration and cross-border investment.

This event aims to provide an in-depth discussion on the unique challenges and nuances of arbitration involving public entities, with a particular focus on Lusophone jurisdictions, especially Angola, Brazil, and Portugal. 

Conducted in Portuguese, it will bring together experienced practitioners and academics to explore practical issues, legal frameworks, and innovative approaches in this specialised area of dispute resolution. 

The session will offer participants an opportunity to gain valuable insights, share experiences, and engage in dialogue on a topic of growing relevance in international arbitration, particularly within the Lusophone legal community. 

A light networking lunch will be served at the end of the event.

As part of London Arbitration Week, this event will bring together female arbitrators - both senior and emerging voices - for an insightful discussion on their journeys into the field of sports arbitration. Our speakers will share their personal pathways, experiences, and reflections on building careers in arbitration within the dynamic world of sport. The discussion will also explore how professional networks can help support and inspire the next generation of arbitrators. 

Following the panel, guests are warmly invited to join us for a networking reception, offering the opportunity to continue the conversation and connect with peers across the arbitration community.

Speakers:

Dr Katie Smith, Associate, Squire Patton Boggs

Amina Graham, Barrister, 2 Hare Court

Katy Stirling, Legal Counsel, International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)

This panel will explore recent legislative, case law and arbitral institution-related developments shaping international arbitration across the various jurisdictions, including the US, the UK, Netherlands and Turkiye. 

The panel (16:30 - 18:00) will be followed by a drinks and canapé reception (18:00 - 19:00).

For further information or to cancel your booked place please email Kate Matthews on km@humphrieskerstetter.com .

As part of London Arbitration Week, we are delighted to invite you to an interactive fireside chat spotlighting how arbitral institutions set themselves apart.

Cleary partner Naomi Tarawali will be joined by Asli Yilmaz, Managing Counsel at ICC and Maria Jonker, Counsel at the LCIA, who will offer candid insights from two of the world’s leading arbitral institutions. The discussion will explore how each institution positions itself in a competitive global landscape, highlighting the distinctions that matter most to users and counsel. 

 A drinks reception with light canapés will follow the panel.

The discussion will centre on the suitability and versatility of the LMAA Terms for a wide range of disputes in the marine sector. This is evidenced by the number of BIMCO standard forms that provide for LMAA arbitration, including the BIMCO Law and Arbitration Clause 2020 (e.g. SUPPLYTIME 2017, WINDTIME 2013, HEAVYCON 2007, DISMANTLECON and WRECKSTAGE 2024) and bespoke marine contracts such as offshore drilling contracts, rig building contracts, wind farm projects, shipbuilding contracts (adapted for offshore construction contracts), ship sale and purchase contracts and other services such as OSV and PSV contracts. This is in addition to traditional maritime and trade contracts such as charterparties, bills of lading and international contracts of sale.

Fintech and digital assets are reshaping the way business and investment operate worldwide. Alongside innovation and opportunity, these sectors bring new forms of risk, and with them, an increasing number of disputes. As technologies evolve faster than legal and regulatory frameworks can keep pace, conflicts are arising between platforms and users, investors and founders, and even within founding teams themselves.

This panel examines where alternative dispute resolution (ADR) stands today in this rapidly developing space. Drawing on current practice and emerging trends, speakers will explore how arbitration is adapting to the realities of fintech, crypto, and other fast-evolving industries, and what this means for parties seeking clarity, speed, and expertise in resolving complex technology-driven disputes.

The Context

Arbitration was meant to be fast, focused, and flexible — but somewhere along the way, it started to look a lot like litigation in disguise. Endless process, rising costs, and the same old adversarial habits.

Has arbitration lost its edge?

In a world that rewards agility, collaboration, and innovation, it’s time to ask whether arbitration can evolve — and how we can make it work smarter, not harder.

Why Hybrid?

Hybrid dispute resolution is where agility meets creativity. It’s about mixing and matching the right tools for the job — facilitation, mediation, expert determination, early neutral evaluation, arbitration — applied when they’re needed, not simply because an escalation clause says so. 

They can be used in sequence, side-by-side, or revisited throughout the life of a dispute until resolution is achieved. No rigid boundaries, no one-size-fits-all. Just the freedom to adapt as a dispute unfolds.

The goal? Better results, faster resolutions, and relationships left intact — not in tatters.

The Panel Discussion

Join a lively, no-nonsense conversation as leading practitioners tackle the big questions:

1. Is arbitration delivering?
   Has it really lived up to its promise of being quicker, cheaper, and more specialist?
2. Can a mindset shift make a difference?
   What happens when we ditch the adversarial playbook and think in hybrid terms?
3. What needs to change?
   From rules to training to attitudes — what would it take to make arbitration genuinely agile?

Expect candour, challenge, and a few uncomfortable truths — but also practical ideas for making arbitration fit for the next decade.

Why Attend

• Discover how hybrid ADR can transform the way complex disputes are managed and resolved.
• Hear straight from experts driving innovation in international dispute resolution.
• Engage in an interactive, debate-driven session — no scripted speeches, no slides.
• Leave with new ideas on how arbitration can be both credible and creative again.

This panel will touch on a wide range of markets West to East and provide insights from practitioners with very wide international energy experience on how the different types of renewables, other power, new nuclear will all be combined to feed increasing electrification, transport etc and how the interaction of power, batteries, transmission and demand as well as increasing cross investment with automotive and mining, increasing human rights and ESG requirements will all shape the arbitrations that will be coming out over the next few years.  It will also reflect how the Ukraine invasion and sanctions has fractured connections, forcing rapid reconfiguration of power and supply networks, driving energy diversification and creating disputes arising from export controls/secondary sanctions

A duo of panel discussions on international arbitration in the construction industry in the Middle East and Africa. The panel will also discuss ancillary issues such as forums and investment treaty claims. A light lunch will be provided from 12.15pm

12.15pm - Registration and refreshments

12.40pm - Introduction

12.45pm - Panel discussion on arbitration around the construction industry in the Middle East

• Moderator: Andrew Sarraf, Senior Associate at Mayer Brown
• Speakers: Prof Dr Nayla Comair-Obeid, Founding Partner at Obeid & Partners
• Maanas Jain, Barrister at Outer Temple Chambers
• Sajid Suleman, Barrister at Outer Temple Chambers

1.15pm - Panel discussion on arbitration around the construction industry across Africa

• Ahmed Elhusseiny, Barrister at Outer Temple Chambers
• Joshua Ray, Barrister at Outer Temple Chambers
• Kwadwo Sarkodie, Partner at Mayer Brown
• Sena Gbedemah, Managing Director at Secretariat

1.45pm - Discussion with the audience

2.00pm - Close

This event is now at capacity. Please email communications@outertemple.com if you would like to join this session.

Join us for a forward-looking discussion on the regulation and practical deployment of technology in arbitration. Our panel of experts, featuring leading practitioners and technologists, will examine the evolving frameworks that govern its use, how institutions and practitioners can responsibly integrate these tools, and what this means for the future of dispute resolution.
From designing governance and usage policies to navigating vendor relationships and benchmarking performance, the session will offer practical insights into how to harness technology effectively and ethically. We will also touch on how advances such as artificial intelligence are reshaping practice, and explore how to engage clients in conversations about technology use, ensuring transparency, accountability, and confidence in the arbitration process.