London Arbitration Week 2026

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a proud supporter of London Arbitration Week 2026, taking place 30 November - 4 December 2026. 

Bringing together leading arbitrators, practitioners and industry experts from around the world, London Arbitration Week aims to become a cornerstone of the international arbitration calendar. LAW has a focus firmly on quality over scale, and convenes thought leaders at convenient venues across the City of London, championing excellence, innovation, and global collaboration.

We are delighted to be hosting a number of events at our offices as part of LAW, further details of which are provided below:

1. The Counsel's Dilemma

Arbitration counsel often face situations where duties, client interests and procedural realities point in different directions, and decisions must be made under pressure. This interactive session explores those difficult moments through real-world dilemmas drawn from arbitration practice.

The scenarios will address issues practitioners increasingly encounter, including the use of AI and related disclosure obligations, the integrity of witness evidence and the limits of preparation, conflicts of interest arising mid-hearing, and funding arrangements surfacing only at enforcement. Each example illustrates that answers are rarely clear-cut.

The central question is: what would you do? Participants will consider a series of scenarios, discuss possible responses with peers, and then hear from leading arbitrators and senior counsel about what happened in practice. By comparing approaches, attendees will examine the professional considerations that shape decision-making in difficult circumstances.

Designed to be conversational and practical, the session will give participants an opportunity to test their instincts, exchange perspectives and draw lessons for their own arbitration practice.

Date: Thursday, 3 December 2026
Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm
Venue: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, Exchange House, Primrose St, London EC2A 2EG
Hosted by: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

More information and registration

2. Interim Measures and Cross-Border Enforcement in International Arbitration: A Comparative Global Perspective

Interim measures are indispensable in international arbitration, yet their availability and enforcement differ significantly across legal systems. In many common law jurisdictions, both arbitral tribunals and national courts may grant interim relief, while other legal traditions vest this power exclusively in courts. This divergence creates acute challenges when an interim order needs to be enforced in a different jurisdiction – can it be recognised, and under what legal basis? The New York Convention does not expressly address interim measures, leaving their cross-border effect to domestic laws and judicial discretion. This session brings together leading arbitration practitioners, judges and academics from diverse legal traditions to compare how different jurisdictions approach the enforcement of interim orders, the interplay between interim relief and final award enforcement, and the treatment of foreign arbitral decisions by local courts. We will also examine the growing use of emergency arbitrators and how various legal systems accommodate them. Through case studies and comparative analysis, the discussion will offer practical strategies for securing effective interim protection in multi-jurisdictional disputes, providing valuable guidance for in-house counsel, external advisors and arbitrators navigating today’s complex cross-border environment.

Date: Tuesday, 1 December 2026
Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm
Location: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Exchange House, Primrose St, London EC2A 2EG
Hosted by: Hainan International Arbitration Court (HIAC)

More information and registration

3. From Commoditisation to Forever Wars: How Markets and Geopolitics are Reshaping Oil and Gas Disputes

As we are in the middle of geopolitical transformations deeply affecting the energy industry, it is useful to take a step back and look at how market evolution and conflicts are combining to reshape oil and gas disputes.

Commoditisation is a recent trend in the oil and gas industry where markets are becoming more liquid, spot trade growing, and market access easier. Will the forever wars put an end to commoditisation? The new conflicts in the Middle East may threaten energy security durably which would have a deep impact on the oil and gas industry.

What can we anticipate in 2026 and 2027? The panel will look at the arising issues in the evolving context we are witnessing, and share thoughts on the wave of disputes that may be triggered.

The speakers are energy industry insiders, arbitration practitioners and academics. Their comments will be informed by their deep knowledge of the Middle East.

Date: Thursday, 3 December 2026
Time: 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Location: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, Exchange House, Primrose St, London EC2A 2EG
Hosted by: Maalouf Arbitration

More information and registration