Arbitration & ADR Conference | Dispute Resolution: The Economic Perspective | 11-12 November 2025

Young Arbitration & ADR Forum (YAAF) –

Unpacking the New Arbitration Act: What’s Next?

The UK Arbitration Act 2025 marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of English arbitration law. Building on the robust foundation of the 1996 Act, the new legislation introduces targeted reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and legal certainty. Key changes include a statutory rule on the governing law of arbitration agreements, express powers for summary disposal, expanded court support for arbitration, and codified duties of disclosure for arbitrators.

This ICC YAAF session brings together a dynamic panel of rising arbitration practitioners to explore the practical implications of the new Act and what lies ahead for arbitration in England and Wales. The discussion will delve into how these reforms may reshape procedural strategies, tribunal powers, and the role of English courts in arbitral proceedings.

Moderator: Srishti Jain, Keidan Harrison, to be Humphries Kerstetter

Panellists:

• Isuru Devendra, 36 Stone
• Maria Yoo, Simmons & Simmons
• Imogen Jones, DAC Beachcroft
• Marcus Price, Reed Smith

Early Determination

Moderator: Nathan Searle, Partner, Hogan Lovells

Panellists:

• Paul di Pietro, Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration
• Philippa Charles, Twenty Essex
• Sarah Green, Newmans Row

Registration

Arrival teas & coffees

Welcome remarks

• Guy Pendell, Partner, CMS, and Chair of the ICC United Kingdom Arbitration & ADR Committee
• Kieron O’Callaghan, Partner, Hogan Lovells

Keynote address: The UK and the international legal order in a shifting geopolitical landscape

• The Rt Hon Lord Richard Hermer KC, Attorney General for England and Wales

The geopolitical economy and arbitration

International arbitration today sits at the crossroads of law, politics and business.  Sanctions, trade measures, supply chain shocks and regulatory change are creating new risks and reshaping how disputes are fought and resolved.  This panel will bring together leading practitioners to discuss how international arbitration is adapting to these changes, what recent cases and trends tell us, and what parties should keep in mind when drafting contracts or pursuing claims.  The discussion will move beyond sanctions alone to cover wider economic and geopolitical pressures, offering practical insights for anyone involved in cross-boarded disputes.

Moderator: Samantha Rowe, Partner, Debevoise, and Vice-Chair of ICC United Kingdom Arbitration and ADR Committee

Panellists:

• James McGlaughlin, McDermott Will & Schulte

Networking break

Arbitral economics: Is third party funding a game-changer or a Pandora’s Box?

As the costs of international arbitration continue to attract scrutiny, is third party funding a solution, or a Pandora’s Box? This panel – featuring views from practitioners, funders and arbitrators – will take a deep dive into costs and funding, including a review of how arbitral institutions and the UK government via the CJC review are tacking the issue.

Moderator: Ned Beale, Partner, Hausfeld

Panellists:

• Leilah Bruton, Partner, Three Crowns
• Geoff Nicholas, Managing Director, Buford Capital
• Audley Sheppard KC, Twenty Essex
• Omar Tahir, Kings Chambers

Fireside chat: A client perspective on navigating geopolitical risk and uncertainty

• Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL, Chairman of ICC United Kingdom, in conversation with GC of multinational UK firm

Lunch break and networking

Unconventionality in quantifying damages in the age of geopolitical instability and the energy transition

The huge sums in damages that are often awarded in international arbitration have contributed to the controversy surrounding many recent high-profile cases. Tribunals’ approaches to causation, mitigation, quantification, and other factors determining the level of damages, often follow established conventions. This might mean that damages do not accommodate the possibility of legitimate policy change during the life of a contract.

This panel will examine questions which have been raised about loss and damages calculation methods, and look at innovative and unconventional approaches and how they might be used to address concerns about imbalance between investors’ rights and states’ evolving policy frameworks.

Moderator: Duncan Bagshaw, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright and Vice Chair of the ICC United Kingdom Arbitration & ADR Committee

Panellists:

• Shivani Sanghi, Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
• Campbell Jackson, Global Claims & Disputes Leader, EY
• Judy Fu, Barrister, 3VB
• Tom Robinson, Senior Managing Director and Economist, Ankura
• Elisa Mariscal, Principal, Cornerstone Research

Networking break

The Interim Report of the ICC Task Force on Corruption in Arbitration

The ICC Task Force on Corruption in Arbitration will shortly be unveiling an Interim Report summarising the important work carried out by the Task Force and unveiling a series of recommendations. In this panel session two of the co-chairs of the Task Force will introduce those recommendations which will then be discussed and debated by representatives of the arbitration, in house and judicial community.  

Moderator: Ian Meredith, Partner, K&L Gates

Panellists:

• Dr Hélène van Lith, Secretary to the ICC Commission on Arbitration & ADR, International Court of Arbitration, ICC
• Sophie Nappert, ICC Task Force on Corruption Vice Chair
• Patrick Leonard SC, ICC Task Force on Corruption Vice Chair
• Nick Kling, UK General Counsel, Arcelor Mittal
• Annabel Maltby, Partner, Hogan Lovells

Conference close

• Guy Pendell, Partner, CMS, and Chair of the ICC United Kingdom Arbitration & ADR Committee

Networking Drinks Reception