40th School of International Arbitration Anniversary Conference

Sponsorship opportunities for this event are still available. For further information or to express interest, please contact: ccls-arbitration@qmul.ac.uk.

We are delighted to announce that the School of International Arbitration (SIA) will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a landmark conference, Arbitration in Context, on 10 and 11 September 2025 held at the main QMUL Campus at the ArtsTwo Lecture Theatre.

The Gala Dinner will be held at the Old Hall, Lincoln's Inn on the 10th of September. (Please note that we will not be able to accommodate dietary requirements submitted after 3 September. Guests who do not provide their preferences by this date will be served the set menu, which includes lamb as the main course.)

Established in 1985 the SIA was the first academic institution dedicated to teaching and research of international arbitration as a distinct discipline. Over the last four decades, the SIA has been recognised globally as a leading academic centre for international commercial and investment arbitration. Notably, the influential SIA led international arbitration surveys, the 14th edition was published in June 2025. Over the years we have had more than 3000 alumni from more than 120 jurisdictions.

The anniversary conference is an innovative event will explore arbitration as an academic discipline in the context of economy, sociology, philosophy, regulation and history. This insightful event will bring together academics and practitioners and other stakeholders who will also explore how arbitration has adapted to evolving global events - geographic, economic and technological. The programme will be largely focused on the future and the broader evolution of arbitration.

We will be filming and/or taking photos during this event to use for marketing and promotional purposes by Queen Mary University of London. If you prefer not to be filmed/photographed, please let us know by speaking to a member of the CCLS Events Team or contact ccls-events@qmul.ac.uk.

Wednesday 10 September 2025

12:30 – 13:30: Registration and Coffee

13:30 – 14:00: Opening and Keynote Speech

14:00 – 15:30: Session 1: Arbitration and Economy

- Economics of Arbitration (efficiency models)

- Arbitration as a Market (competition amongst institutions, seats, law firms)

- Contribution of Arbitration to Economy

- Impact of Arbitration on (State) Justice System

15:30 – 16:00: Coffee break

16:00 – 17:30: Session 2: Arbitration and Sociology

- Is Arbitration an (Eco-) System

- Actors in International Arbitration

- Arbitration Sub-systems

- Arbitration and Network(s)

17:30 – 18:30: Roundtable of International Luminaries on the evolution of Arbitration in the last 40 years

Thursday 11 September 2025

09:00 – 09:30: Coffee

09:30 – 11:00: Session 3: Arbitration and Philosophy

- Restorative Justice (Aristotelian Approach) v State Interests

- Arbitration and Moral Justice, Arbitration as Justice

- Arbitration and Ethics

- Cultural approaches

11:00 – 11:30: Coffee break

11:30 – 13:00: Session 4: Arbitration and Regulation

- ISDS and the quest for (more) regulation

- The hardening of Soft Law – the Formulating Agencies

- Is there an Erosion of Party Autonomy or Who Calls the Shots

- The Re-emergence of ad hoc arbitration

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch

14:00 – 15:30: Session 5: Arbitration as Academia

- Teaching of Arbitration Theory and Practice

- Research and Scholarship

- Experiential Learning (Moots and teaching of skills)

- Empirical Research 2.0

15:30 – 16:00: Coffee break

16:00 – 17:30: Session 6: Arbitration and Technology

- A pioneer in use of technology

- Automation and I

- Why has ODR not succeeded so far?

- Privacy, Security and Tech-savviness

17:30 – 18:00: Keynote Speech II: Loretta Malitoppi, 39 Essex Chambers

18:00: Closing and Drinks Reception and alumni-driven activities

Confirmed Speakers and Moderators:

Dr Crina Baltag, SIA, Queen Mary University of London

Saadia Bhatty, Partner, Gide, London

Professor Andrea Bjorklund, McGill University, Montreal

Hugh Carlson, CEO, Three Crowns, Washington DC

Professor Debbie De Girolamo, SIA, Queen Mary University of London

Professor Diane Desierto, Notre Dame University, United States

Professor Kun Fan, UNSW, Sydney

Dr Maria Fanou, SIA, Queen Mary University of London

Greg Falkof, Partner, Partner, Mishcon de Reya, London

Clement Fouchard Partner, Reed Smith, Paris

Norah Gallagher, Director, SIA, Queen Mary University of London

Dr Remy Gerbay, SIA, Queen Mary University of London, Partner, Hughes Hubbard, Washington, DC

Professor Bernard Hanotiau, Hanotiau & van den Berg, Brussels

Dominique Hascher, Singapore International Commercial Court and Independent Arbitrator

Hilary Heilbron KC, Brick Court Chambers, London

Professor Moshe Hirsch, Hebrew University, Jerusalem

Professor Stefan Kröll, Bucerius Law School

Professor Julian Lew KC, Head, SIA, Queen Mary University of London and Twenty Essex

Dr Mohamed Mahayni, Acting Executive Director, MIDS, Geneva

Professor Loukas Mistelis, SIA, Queen Mary University of London and Partner, Clyde & Co, London

Dr Mary Mitsi, SIA, Queen Mary University of London

Alan Redfern, retired, One Essex Court, London

Nania Owusu-Ankomah Sackey, Partner, Bentsi Enchill, Accra

Professor Maxi Scherer, SIA, Queen Mary University of London and Founding Partner, ArbBoutique

Dr Mikael Schinazi, Senior Associate, Jones Day, Paris

Professor Thomas Schultz, University of Geneva and King’s College London

Audley Sheppard KC, Twenty Essex

Dr Laurence Shore, Partner. Seladore Legal, Milan

Dr Eduardo Silva Romero, Partner, Wordstone, Paris

Sylvia Tonova, Partner, Pinsent Masons, London

Ana Vermal, Partner, Proskauer, Paris and New York

Matthew Weiniger, KC, Partner, Linklaters, London

Guled Yusuf, Partner, AO Shearman, London

Dominic Spenser Underhill, Spenser Underhill Newmark