issue #01, 30 March 2015
Prepared by TDM
TDM News Digest
provides a condensed overview of recent events of interest to the international arbitration community.
Comments, suggestions, news?
If you have news, comments or suggestions feel free to send them.
Archived issues
TDM
Young-OGEMID virtual symposia
Young-OGEMID is a free listserv associated with our Transnational Dispute Management law journal for Students and (junior) Associates - you can apply for your free membership here: www.transnational-dispute-management.com/young-ogemid/
Call for contributions
- Special Issue on Project Finance in International Arbitration
Editors: Seabron Adamson and Tiago Duarte-Silva - Special Issue on International Arbitration and the Space Industry
Editors: Alexandra van der Meulen, Kate Gough, Joshua Kelly, Annie Pan, Veronika Timofeeva - Special Issue on Dispute Prevention in ISDS: Comparative Approaches, Institutional Innovations, and Digital Tools
Editors: Dr. Yulia Levashova, Agata Zwolankiewicz, Dr. Pascale Accaoui Lorfing, Kiran Nasir Gore - Special Issue on One Century of Arbitration in the United States: The Federal Arbitration Act at Home and Abroad
Editors: Björn Arp and Kiran Nasir Gore - Special Issue on Sanctions and International Arbitration: Impact on Substantive and Procedural Issues
Editors: Ali Burney, Rinat Gareev, Kiran Nasir Gore, Prof. Joel Slawotsky, May Tai - Call for Papers: TDM Law Journal 2026
TDM Editorial Team
Recent issues:
- TDM 5 (2018) - Strategic Considerations in Energy Disputes
- TDM 6 (2018) - FDI Moot 2018
- TDM 5 (2018) - Regular issue
- TDM 4 (2018) - Time and Cost Issues in International Arbitration
- TDM 3 (2018) - Sir Elihu Lauterpacht QC
- TDM 2 (2018) - International Commercial and Investment Disputes in and with India
- TDM 1 (2018) - Regular issue
- TDM 5 (2017) - FDI Moot 2017
- TDM 4 (2017) - Comparative and International Perspectives on Mediation in Insolvency Matters
- TDM 3 (2017) - One Belt One Road (OBOR)
- TDM 2 (2017) - Non-Legal Adjudicators in National and International Disputes
- TDM 1 (2017) - Regular issue
- TDM 6 (2016) - FDI Moot 2016
- TDM 5 (2016) - Latin America (vol. 2)
- TDM 4 (2016) - Africa
- TDM 3 (2016) - Three Centuries of Arbitration for Peace
- TDM 2 (2016) - Latin America
- TDM 1 (2016) - CETA
- TDM 7 (2015) - FDI Moot 2015
- TDM 6 (2015) - Regular issue
- TDM 5 (2015) - Yukos Special - OGEL 5 (2015) - Yukos Special
- TDM 4 (2015) - ArbitralWomen/TDM: Dealing with Diversity in International Arbitration
- TDM 3 (2015) - Renewable Energy Disputes - OGEL 3 (2015) - Renewable Energy Disputes
- TDM 2 (2015) - Arbitration in the Middle East: Expectations and Challenges for the Future
- TDM 1 (2015) - The Pacific Rim and International Economic Law: Opportunities and Risks of the Pacific Century
- TDM 6 (2014) - Dispute Resolution from a Corporate Perspective
- TDM 5 (2014) - FDI Moot 2014
- TDM 4 (2014) - CILS - 8th Biennial Symposium on International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
- TDM 3 (2014) - Regular issue
- TDM 2 (2014) - The New Frontiers of Cultural Law: Intangible Heritage Disputes
- TDM 1 (2014) - Reform of Investor-State Dispute Settlement: In Search of a Roadmap
- TDM 6 (2013) - FDI Moot 2013
- TDM 5 (2013) - Art and Heritage Disputes in International and Comparative Law
- TDM 4 (2013) - Ten Years of Transnational Dispute Management
- TDM 3 (2013) - Corruption and Arbitration
- TDM 2 (2013) - EU, Investment Treaties, and Investment Treaty Arbitration - Current Developments and Challenges
- TDM 1 (2013) - Aligning Human Rights and Investment Protection
- TDM 5 (2012) - Legal Issues in Tobacco Control
- A Liber Amicorum: Thomas Wälde - Law Beyond Conventional Thought
- TDM 5 (2011) - Resolving International Business Disputes by ADR in Asia
- TDM 4 (2011) - Contingent Fees and Third Party Funding in Investment Arbitration Disputes
- TDM 3 (2011) - Intersections: Dissemblance or Convergence between International Trade and Investment Law
News
- India: Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms a boon: former CJI
- EFTA and Philippines hold first round of negotiations
Reminder: TDM 1 (2015) - The Pacific Rim and International Economic Law: Opportunities and Risks of the Pacific Century - Maynilad takes Philippine gov't to another arbitration case
Reminder: TDM 1 (2015) - The Pacific Rim and International Economic Law: Opportunities and Risks of the Pacific Century - Russia Said to Prepare for Exxon Arbitration Claim This Week
- Vedanta serves notice of claim against govt for tax demand on Cairn India
For those interested in such cases we would like to remind you of our call for papers: OGEL International Taxation in the Energy Sector - Transactions fall under Section 9 of I-T Act: CBDT on Cairn India
For those interested in such cases we would like to remind you of our call for papers: OGEL International Taxation in the Energy Sector - Speech: TTIP: Why Ireland needs it - Speech by Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Trade delivered in Dublin – Launch event, Report on Ireland and TTIP, 27 March 2015
- Pakistan: Notice served on Austrian firm for defying court’s stay orders [OMV Maurice Energy Limited]
- Ghana To Lose €25m: Waterville Drags Ghana To Int. Court Over €25m [International Court of Arbitration]
ICSID Updates
- ConocoPhillips Petrozuata B.V., ConocoPhillips Hamaca B.V. and ConocoPhillips Gulf of Paria B.V. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ICSID Case No. ARB/07/30
the Respondent files a proposal for disqualification of arbitrator Kenneth Keith and further observations on the proposed disqualification of arbitrator L. Yves Fortier on March 25, 2015
Reminder: Call for papers TDM Special Latin America - Burlington Resources, Inc. v. Republic of Ecuador ICSID Case No. ARB/08/5
the Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 30 concerning the site visit on March 25, 2015
Reminder: Call for papers TDM Special Latin America - Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited v. Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited ICSID Case No. ARB/10/20
on March 26, 2015, the Claimant files a response to the Respondent's observations of February 13, 2015 - Longreef Investments A.V.V. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ICSID Case No. ARB/11/5
the Tribunal consents to the resignation of arbitrator Alexis Mourre pursuant to ICSID Arbitration Rule 8(2) and the Centre notifies the parties thereof on March 18, 2015
Reminder: Call for papers TDM Special Latin America - Masdar Solar & Wind Cooperatief U.A. v. Kingdom of Spain ICSID Case No. ARB/14/1
the Tribunal admits on the record the non-disputing party's written submission pursuant to ICSID Arbitration Rule 37(2) on March 25, 2015
Reminder: OGEL 3 (2015) - Renewable Energy Disputes
Events
2026
May 2026
- Executive Course: International Commercial Arbitration (Application deadline: 03 May 2026)
Join leading global arbitration experts for King's College London's Executive Course on International Arbitration, online, starting on 15 May 2026. Develop your skills and grow your network with this CPD accredited course. Taught by the leaders in the field, learn the key elements of practice, from drafting effective arbitration agreements to enforcing arbitral awards around the globe. CPD Recognised, and supported by the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).
15 May 2026 - 19 June 2026. Online,
More information is available at the organisers website - Dispute Resolution in M&A Transactions
Over the past decade, this biennial event has gained an undisputed reputation as the largest conference dedicated to arbitration in M&A transactions in the CEE region. It is addressed to arbitrators, in-house counsel as well as M&A legal and business advisors. The conference has attracted approximately 250 participants in successive editions, including lawyers specializing in arbitration and M&A transactions, as well as experts and business representatives.
21 May 2026 - 22 May 2026. Warsaw, Poland,
More information is available at the organisers website - Ethics in International Arbitration - 4th Annual Bocconi Int'l Arbitration Conference
Ethical issues shape appointments, disclosures, party representation, expert participation, third-party funding, the conduct of proceedings, and, ultimately, the legitimacy of and trust in the arbitral process itself. This year’s program has been carefully curated to bring together leading experts from across the arbitration community in a discussion-oriented and intellectually rigorous setting. As with past years, we anticipate this year's conference will be an opportunity for sustained engagement in a more focused and intimate setting. The keynote speakers are a dream team on these topics: Toby Landau KC, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab CIArb, FCIArb, and Cesar Pereira CIArb, FCIArb.
21 May 2026 - 22 May 2026. Milan, Italy,
More information is available at the organisers website - Forty-Fifth ITF Public Conference: The ILC Articles on State Responsibility at 25: Role in International Investment Law and ISDS
To mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the ILC Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, the Investment Treaty Forum will host a one-day conference in London, held in hybrid format, dedicated to examining the continuing relevance and evolving role of the ILC Articles in international investment law and investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS). * KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Prof. Johannes Klabbers. * CLOSING REMARKS: Prof. Andrea Bjorklund. * PANELS: General Principles and the Existence of Breach; Attribution of Wrongful Acts; Nature of Wrongful Acts and Reparation.
22 May 2026. London (UK) Online,
More information is available at the organisers website - ILI Training: Arbitration and Mediation
The Arbitration and Mediation seminar familiarizes participants with alternative methods of dispute resolution (ADR). The first part of the seminar introduces participants to the goals and techniques of mediation; the second focuses on the legal issues involved in international commercial arbitration. Emphasis throughout is placed on the development of practical skills through lectures and hands-on exercises. Course Advisor: Anne Marie Whitesell, Professor and Faculty Director of the Program on International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution at Georgetown University Law Center and Director of the ILI Center on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
25 May 2026 - 5 June 2026. Washington, D.C., USA,
More information is available at the organisers website - Sixth Edition of the World Arbitration Update (WAU) 2026
WAU 2026 brings together counsel, arbitrators, academics, and practitioners from across the globe to discuss key developments in investment arbitration, international commercial arbitration, and public international law. Reflecting the growing decentralisation of the field, the programme highlights perspectives from both traditional and emerging arbitration hubs. This year's panels will feature concise expert updates followed by interactive discussions among practitioners, arbitrators, State representatives, and academics. The programme will explore, among others, the implications of the ICJ's climate change advisory opinion, alongside developments under the Energy Charter Treaty in Europe, including intra-EU disputes, infringement proceedings, court orders and arbitration solutions beyond the European Union, as well as the broader challenge of navigating geopolitical fracture through EU law, interim measures, and the future of arbitration.
25 May 2026 - 29 May 2026. Bogota; The Hague; Budapest,
More information is available at the organisers website - International Arbitration Summer Institute 2026 - Center on International Commercial Arbitration
An intense four-week certificate program consisting of six courses in English and six in Spanish, that addresses foundational and practical aspects of international commercial arbitration. Participants can take all courses, or select only the ones in either language or just pick out the ones of their individual interest Topics incl: * Evidence; * Damages & Compensation; * Mediation; * Solving Complex Choice-of-Law Issues; * Corruption, Illegality, and Misconduct; * Construction Arbitration; * Las mesas de resolución de conflictos (Dispute Boards); * Arbitraje Inversionista-Estado; * La organización del procedimiento arbitral; * Arbitraje Comercial; * Arbitraje de construcción; * Introducción al arbitraje Deportivo. Networking activities such as special lectures, coffee hours, luncheons, and site visits to D.C. law firms and institutions provide participants with ample opportunities to network beyond the classroom setting. Each courses has a duration of 14 hours.
26 May 2026 - 18 June 2026. Washington, D.C, United States,
More information is available at the organisers website - 20th CEIA International Conference: International Arbitration and Economic Value: From Financial Strategy to Effective Enforcement
The conference will have simultaneous translation spanish-english-spanish. Topics include: * Keynote Speaker; * Economic Design of Arbitration: Cost Management; * Decisions on Costs: Compensation or Sanction?; * Digital Assets and Arbitration; * Compliance and Enforcement: From the Award to Economic Value; * LATAM 360 Perspective: Strategic Economics of Latin American Arbitration; * Cases of the Year; * 20 Years of CEIA: Past, Present and Future / Closing Ceremony; * Award Ceremony - 5th Arbitration Articles Competition; * An Afternoon with CEIA Women.
31 May 2026 - 2 June 2026. Madrid, Spain,
More information is available at the organisers website
June 2026
- Bucharest Arbitration Days 2026 - Evidence in International Arbitration: Evolving Principles and Practices
The 7th edition of Bucharest Arbitration Days will examine the evolving role of evidence in international arbitration and its impact on legitimacy, efficiency, and due process. The conference will address admissibility, privilege, standards of proof, and tribunal discretion across legal traditions, while exploring emerging issues such as digital and AI-assisted evidence, data integrity, and cybersecurity. Discussions will also engage with ongoing reform efforts, including the UNCITRAL Working Group III (ISDS Reform) Draft Provisions on Evidence, reflecting a broader movement toward greater transparency and consistency in evidentiary standards. Under the guiding concept of recalibration, the 2026 edition will consider how evidentiary practice can adapt to technological and procedural transformation while remaining faithful to arbitration’s core values.
4 June 2026 - 5 June 2026. Bucharest, Romania,
More information is available at the organisers website - CanArbWeek 2026 - Arbitration in an Era of Change
CanArbWeek is an annual gathering of leading organizations from across Canada and beyond, who come together to engage with arbitration professionals on topics of current and continuing interest. Along with the main conference, there will be a Ciarb Canada Accelerated Route to Fellowship Course, an ACICA/VanIAC Tribunal Secretary Course, and a Campaign for Greener Arbitration Walk. KEYNOTE: Meg Kinnear: Canada in Arbitration TOPICS include: * ADRIC: Activist or Deferential?; * WCCAS: Enforceability vs. Efficiency; * ICC Canada: Hot Topics in Arbitration; * ICDR Canada: Ad Hoc vs. Institutional; * Ciarb Canada: Cautionary Tales; * Ciarb Canada Award; * TCAS: Economic Challenges; * VanIAC: The Western Canada Story; * ArbitralWomen: Mutual Mentorship; * YCAP: Expert Evidence in Arbitration; * CPR Canada: Corporate Playbook. Early Bird Tickets on Sale Until April 27.
7 June 2026 - 9 June 2026. Toronto, Canada,
More information is available at the organisers website - Italian Arbitration Day 2026 - Arbitration in the Age of Economic and Legal Disruption: of Tariffs, Sanctions and Global Uncertainty
KEYNOTE SPEECHES: Carlo Altomonte, Alain Pellet; * What disputes? (Moderator: Michele Potestà, Speakers: Aurélia Antonietti - Turgut Aycan Özcan - Constantine Partasides - Reverse Debate conducted by Valentine Chessa); * What remedies? (Moderator: Tina Cicchetti, Speakers: Alberto Fortún - Hamed - Merah Olena Perepelynska - Reverse Debate conducted by: Gabriele Ruscalla); * A View from Our Partners: Carolyn Lamm (ICCA).
11 June 2026. Rome, Italy,
More information is available at the organisers website - London Summer Arbitration School 2026
The London Summer Arbitration School will feature an interactive five-day programme introducing participants not only to commercial arbitration, but also to less well-known types of arbitration such as maritime, construction and commodities arbitration. The participants will also engage in discussion of related career and business development opportunities with practitioners and representatives of institutions. Topics: * ad hoc arbitration; * maritime arbitration; * construction arbitration; * commodities arbitration; * commercial arbitration; * ethics in international arbitration; * banking & finance arbitration; * climate change arbitration; * outer space arbitration; * investor-state arbitration; * relationship between arbitral tribunals and domestic courts. It will also be possible to attend the school in the online format.
15 June 2026 - 19 June 2026. Online; London, United Kingdom,
More information is available at the organisers website - FIAA Expert Witness Workshop: Questioning of Expert Witnesses in International Arbitration,
The workshop is chaired by Noor Davies (White & Case), Alexander Leventhal (Quinn Emanuel), and Alexandra van der Meulen (Freshfields), as well as Marc-Olivier Langlois (King & Spalding, Paris) in his capacity as Vice Chair of FIAA's Executive Committee. This "learning-by-doing" workshop will provide international arbitration practitioners with skills and techniques for oral advocacy, including direct and cross-examination of expert witnesses, opening statement and closing argument. Participants will have a unique opportunity to observe demonstrations and presentations by experienced international arbitration practitioners and expert witnesses from FTI and EY, and to actively engage in exercises and simulations. Throughout the workshop, participants will receive immediate and tailored faculty feedback on their performances. On the final day of the workshop, participants will act as counsel in mock hearings before arbitral tribunals.
18 June 2026 - 20 June 2026. Paris, France,
More information is available at the organisers website
August 2026
- FAI 115th Anniversary Conference - From Nordic Roots to Global Reach
The Finland Arbitration Institute celebrates its 115th anniversary in Helsinki on 21 August 2026, marking more than a century of supporting business through arbitration. The anniversary conference brings together leading practitioners, arbitrators, and industry experts from across jurisdictions to reflect on recent developments in international arbitration in a changing legal and commercial environment. Registration for the FAI 115th Anniversary Conference opens Wednesday 29 April.
21 August 2026. Helsinki, Finland,
More information is available at the organisers website
September 2026
- Brunel Summer Programme on International Arbitration 2026
A five‑day programme designed for students, graduates, and early‑career professionals eager to explore one of the most dynamic and globally relevant fields of legal practice. Throughout the week, you'll explore the core principles of int'l commercial and investment arbitration and engage with the latest developments shaping the future of int'l dispute resolution. Hosted at Brunel, the programme combines academic excellence with practical perspectives, bringing together Brunel Law School academics and distinguished guest speakers from the int'l arbitration community. In addition to foundational topics, participants will also examine emerging issues such as the impact of AI on arbitration, as well as specialised areas of the field such as sports arbitration. Selected sessions will also be delivered on the premises of leading London arbitration law firms, providing participants with first-hand insight into the professional environments where int'l arbitration is practised.
7 September 2026 - 11 September 2026. London, United Kingdom,
More information is available at the organisers website - Istanbul Arbitration Days 2026
Istanbul Arbitration Days 2026 brings together leading arbitration practitioners, academics, arbitrators, in-house counsel, and young professionals from around the world-once again in the unique setting where continents, people, cultures, and legal traditions meet. Beyond its strong professional program, Istanbul Arbitration Days is also known for its vibrant atmosphere-where high-level legal discussions meet the rich history, culture, and energy of Istanbul. From thought-provoking sessions to memorable social events, IAD 2026 promises an experience that is as engaging as it is intellectually rewarding.
29 September 2026 - 2 October 2026. Istanbul, Türkiye,
More information is available at the organisers website
October 2026
- 2026 Taipei International Conference on Arbitration and Mediation - Geoeconomics and International Dispute Resolution
Geopolitical confrontations in recent years have had a profound impact on the international economy and industries, leading to an increase in international disputes and the development of innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and distributed ledger technology (DLT), to outcompete amid these confrontations or hedge against them. Ever-changing geoeconomics further underscore the need to reflect on the function and mechanism of international dispute resolution. Could international dispute resolution serve as a tool to mitigate uncertainties in this geoeconomic era, or would it backfire under geoeconomics? How could, and should, international dispute resolution adapt to the challenges posed by emerging technologies, such as maintaining human centrality amidst AI's widespread adoption and addressing DLT's regulatory resistance nature? (Abstract submission deadline 30 June 2026)
20 October 2026 - 21 October 2026. Taipei, Taiwan,
More information is available at the organisers website - ILI Training: Innovations in Investor-State Arbitration
The seminar features an expert examination of new treaties and agreements, such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) draft Protocol on Investment, the investment provisions of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). ICSID and UNCITRAL Reforms, as well as developments at the UNCITRAL Working Group III, are also examined. Sessions will be engaging discussions and include site visits to the U.S. Trade Representative and ICSID. The seminar will run concurrently with the Washington Arbitration Week. Course Advisors: Ian A. Laird is co-chair of Crowell & Moring LLP's Int'l Dispute Resolution Group and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center. Dr. Borzu Sabahi is a Partner in the Int'l Arbitration group of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle LLP in Washington, DC.
26 October 2026 - 30 October 2026. Washington, D.C., USA,
More information is available at the organisers website - ILI Training: Foundations of Advanced Arbitration and Mediation
The Foundations of Advanced Arbitration and Mediation seminar comprises the first week of the Advanced Arbitration and Mediation seminar and examines foundational material of arbitration and mediation, including advanced legal issues in international commercial arbitration. Participants will learn the principles of mediation through case studies and practical exercises. The seminar is an indispensable asset to all professionals seeking to strengthen their knowledge of ADR. Course Advisor: Anne Marie Whitesell, Professor and Faculty Director of the Program on International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution at Georgetown University Law Center and Director of the ILI Center on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
26 October 2026 - 30 October 2026. Washington, D.C., USA,
More information is available at the organisers website - ILI Training: Advanced Arbitration and Mediation
The ILI Advanced Arbitration and Mediation seminar examines the practical applications of arbitration and mediation and discusses advanced legal issues in international commercial arbitration. The first week explores the framework of both arbitration and mediation. The second week of the course focuses critically on developing practical skills and knowledge through a simulated arbitration process. The course is intended for lawyers, judges, and non-lawyer professionals who want to understand arbitration and mediation, as well as government officials, judicial officers, officials of judicial and legal training units, and court administrators. Course Advisor: Anne Marie Whitesell, Professor and Faculty Director of the Program on International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution at Georgetown University Law Center and Director of the ILI Center on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
26 October 2026 - 6 November 2026. Washington, D.C., USA,
More information is available at the organisers website
Note: a list of prior events can be found here.
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