The 1st Annual Conference of the International Federation for Investment Law and Arbitration (IFILA) will explore how international arbitration navigates the ups and downs of today's volatile geopolitical and geo‑economic landscape.
The conference will open with welcome addresses from Dr José Ángel Rueda García, Chairman of IFILA's Executive Board, and Mr Andrew Cannon, Global Co‑Head of the International Arbitration and Public International Law practices at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Executive Board member of IFILA. The morning programme will feature a keynote address by Sir Christopher Vajda KC (Monckton Chambers), followed by a Q&A session.
The event will take place at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's London office. Further details of the conference programme are set out below, and tickets can be purchased here.
About IFILA
IFILA launched in 2026 as the successor of the European Federation for Investment Law (EFILA). EFILA was established in 2015 as a Brussels-based thinktank that seeks to promote knowledge of all aspects of EU and international investment law, including arbitration. The organisation tracks and analyses the scope and use of investment arbitration, and endeavours to foster objective debate about the current system of investment arbitration. IFILA seeks to expand the activities of EFILA on an international level.
Programme
Timing | Event |
|---|---|
| 08:30 AM - 09:15 AM | Registration and buffet breakfast sponsored by Control Risks |
| 09:15 AM - 09:30 AM | Welcome address by Dr. José Ángel Rueda García (Chairman Executive Board) |
| 09:30 AM - 09:40 AM | Welcome address by Andrew Cannon (Partner, Global Co-Head International Arbitration and Public International Law, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer) |
| 09:40 AM - 11:00 AM | Investment arbitration: Too little or too much law? by Sir Christopher Vajda KC Commentators: Louise Barber (Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer) and Dr. José Ángel Rueda García (Cuatrecasas) |
| 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Coffee break sponsored by Kobre & Kim |
| 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM | Panel 1 Reflections from North America and LATAM Paul M. Levine (BakerHostetler), Timothy G. Nelson (Skadden), Andrew Stafford KC (Kobre & Kim), Ankita Ritwik (Gibson Dunn) |
| 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM | Lunch break sponsored by BakerHostetler |
| 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM | Panel 2 Reflections from Asia and Africa Luke Tucker Harrison (Keidan Harrison), Laura Alakija FCIArb (Detail Dispute Lawyers), Duncan Bagshaw KC (Norton Rose Fulbright), Sorana Parvulescu (Control Risks) Moderator: Saadia Bhatty (Gide) |
| 04:00 PM - 04:30 PM | Coffee Break sponsored by Wordstone |
| 04:30 PM - 05:15 PM | Panel 3 Reflections from Europe Prof. Remme Verkerk (Houthoff), Conway Blake (Debevoise & Plimpton), Conway Blake (Debevoise & Plimpton), Noel Matthews (FTI Consulting) Moderator: Prof. Gerard Meijer (Linklaters) |
| 05:15 PM - 05:30 PM | Prize for the most popular article of the European Investment Law and Arbitration Review in 2025 |
| 05:30 PM - 05:45 PM | Closing by Prof. Nikos Lavranos (SG of IFILA) |
| 05:45 PM - 08:00 PM | Cocktails sponsored by Keidan Harrison |
Key contacts
Andrew Cannon
Partner, Head of International Arbitration, London, Paris, India Group, Nordic Group, Africa Group, Kazakhstan Group, Ukraine Group and Central Asia Group
Christian Leathley
Partner, Head of International Arbitration, US, London, New York and Latin America Group
Hannah Ambrose
Partner, London, Ukraine Group and Africa Group
Disclaimer
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