HSF in London International Disputes Week 2025: key arbitration events to join

The much-anticipated London International Disputes Week (LIDW) 2025 will be taking place on 2-6 June 2025, with coverage of complex and timely issues concerning 'Innovation in dispute resolution: navigating global risks'.

As a founding member of LIDW, Herbert Smith Freehills will be hosting two arbitration-specific member-hosted events during LIDW 2025, including:

5 June (Thursday) 08:30-10:30: Growing Demand, Limited Capacity: International Courts and New Global Challenges

In a world of increased geopolitical tensions and growing economic uncertainty, international courts and tribunals have come under increasing demand (and pressure). Join an insightful panel discussion on the roles of the International Court of Justice, ITLOS and other international courts and tribunals: panellists will cover issues such as the reasons underlying this growing demand for adjudication in international law, their effectiveness (including the availability – or lack thereof – of provisional measures and judicial intervention). The panel will also take a broader view at the future of these international bodies, their ability to respond to new challenges, and what consequences that may have for both States and non-State actors.

The panel will commence at 08:30 with a networking breakfast, followed by the seminar at 09:00, an interactive Q&A, and will end at 10:30.

Speakers and Panel:

• Chair: Joan Donoghue – Independent Arbitrator, Twenty Essex and former President of the International Court of Justice
• Hannah Ambrose - Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills
• Sally Langrish – Director General, Legal, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
• Dr Federica Paddeu - Associate Professor of Law, Queens' College at University of Cambridge
• Sir Michael Wood KC – Barrister, Twenty Essex

Click here for more information and registration.

5 June (Thursday) 14:00-15:30: Expert Evidence in Construction Disputes: Theory v Practice

The importance of expert evidence can hardly be understated in construction arbitration. Experts are essential to most such disputes: quantum, delay and engineering experts are just a few examples of experts that are frequently instructed. Their role is meant to be objective and their effectiveness before a Tribunal will frequently depend on their credibility as genuine independent experts in their field, and not an advocate for a particular side. The panellists will explore client, expert, tribunal and counsel perspectives on these issues – offering their experience on how expert evidence is used in practice.

The panel will commence at 14:00 and is slated to end at 15:30.

Speakers and Panel:

• Moderator: Catrice Gayer – Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills
• Tayo Okunade – Partner, Accuracy
• Andrew White KC – Barrister, Atkin Chambers
• Daniel Gething – Head of Legal and Compliance, Uniper
• James Doe – Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills

Click here for more information and registration.

HSF is also actively participating in many other aspects of LIDW 2025. These include other arbitration-related events such as:

• International Arbitration Day: Knowledge Counsel and arbitration Practice Manager, Vanessa Naish, has co-led the programme for International Arbitration Day (2 June 2025, 0830 – 1830). The event will follow a hub format that allows participants to attend sessions across three host firms, each session covering a different topic. Kathryn Sanger, a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills, will be joining the panel discussion on Arbitration in corporate and private equity: lessons from Asia. More information and registration can be found here.
• Seat Wars (5 June 2025, 16:00 – 17:30): Panellists will consider whether London can remain competitive as a seat of arbitration against the rising popularity of various cities across Asia as choices of seat instead. Gitta Satryani, a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills, will be joining the discussion, alongside speakers such as Mr Justice Foxton (High Court Commercial judge). More information and registration can be found here.
• Arbitral Women (4 June 2025, 09:00 – 10:30): Led by ArbitralWomen's London-based Board Members, this event focuses on bringing together individuals across key representatives in the arbitration community to network and brainstorm actions aimed at making our community more inclusive. Herbert Smith Freehills is a proud signatory of both the ERA and ERE pledges. Herbert Smith Freehills' CEO, Justin D'Agostino, is currently Co-Chair of the ERA Pledge. Of Counsel Louise Barber is the co-founder of the Young Practitioners' Subcommittee of the ERA Pledge and is a member of the LCIA's Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. Partner Dr Patricia Nacimiento sits on the Advisory Council of ArbitralWomen. More information and registration can be found here.

 More information about these events, and other litigation-focused events in which HSF is involved, is available here.