Stewarts is proud to support London International Disputes Week 2024 (LIDW24), taking place 3-7 June. Throughout the week Stewarts will host multiple events, and our lawyers will be speaking in and attending numerous others. Themes to be discussed include third party litigation funding, the arbitration landscape in India, non-performing loans, offshore trust disputes and the enforcement of intra-EU arbitral awards.
Partner Sophie Lalor-Harbord is Co-Chair of the Main Conference Committee. She comments: “Attendees can expect to gain invaluable insights from a line-up of fantastic speakers, as well as enjoy an exceptional social programme and networking opportunities.”
London holds international appeal as a global centre for dispute resolution – whether through its courts or by arbitration, mediation, expert determination or negotiation – built upon a rich tradition of English law dating back to the Magna Carta. Now in its fifth year, LIDW24 builds on the success of previous successful events and strives to be a forward-thinking and inclusive forum for discussion embracing legal London’s commitment to diversity.
Register to attend LIDW24 before Friday 31 May to secure your place. Read on for more information and registration links to individual sessions.
LIDW main conference: disputes funding predictions
The centrepiece of LIDW is the full day conference, taking place on Tuesday 4 June, which will once again bring together leaders from across the dispute resolution world to discuss the most topical issues of the moment, on a theme of “Uniting for Global Challenge and Opportunity”.
At 4.10pm, Stewarts Risk and Funding partner Julian Chamberlayne will chair a panel discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the funding market in the UK, EU and beyond, and what these mean for organisations seeking disputes finance or facing funded claims.
Emerging trends and public perceptions in class actions, funding and corporate accountability
Stewarts partner Lorraine Lanceley joins speakers from Ashurst and Portland Communications for an examination of the key trends driving the class action landscape and future of corporate accountability. Informed by new polling and data from Portland’s Commercial Courts Report, the panel will investigate what shifting public attitudes mean for practitioners and their clients.
The session will address:
- key themes and shifts in public opinions on class actions;
- awareness and acceptance of litigation funding;
- ESG litigation and corporate accountability.
Shifting attitudes towards third party funding – views from across the globe
Julian Chamberlayne and an expert panel of speakers will explore and discuss, from the perspective of both practitioners and third-party funders, the following themes:
- an overview of the current position on and attitude towards third-party funding in arbitral/court proceedings in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Singapore and India;.
- whether there are advantages to introducing arbitral/procedural rules in relation to third-party funding and, if so, which topics should fall within the scope of those rules;.
- what if any impact the introduction of formal rules/laws permitting the use of third-party funding has on the perception and popularity of a jurisdiction as a choice of forum/seat for the resolution of international disputes.
India – the International Perspective
Head of International Arbitration and India Practice Sherina Petit will speak at this interactive panel session, co-hosted by Stewarts and Stephenson Harwood.
The panel will consider the arbitration landscape and growth trends in the Indian market, and reflect on how India’s relationships with other key regions and jurisdictions may impact these trends. Audience participation is encouraged, and we will be collating questions from the audience ahead of the event for discussion during the session.
Non-performing loans – strategies for financial recovery
Sophie Lalor-Harbord joins a discussion about NPL enforcement and trends in the market across the globe. The panel will discuss how banks and other financial institutions are tending to deal with their NPL portfolios and various strategies for enforcement.
The speakers have experience of buying and enforcing NPLs globally and in particular, will speak to enforcement strategies in Europe, the Middle East and India.
Practical perspectives for young disputes practitioners
Daniel Wilmot, partner in our International Arbitration team, is a speaker at this event focusing on practical arbitration skills for junior to mid-level practitioners. Topics covered will include getting your first advocacy opportunities, working with in house counsel, working with experts and working as a tribunal secretary, follow by a Q&A.
The Anatomy of a Smear Campaign
6 Jun, 16:00
Commercial Litigation partner Lucy Ward will participate in an expert guest panel and drinks event, hosted by Schillings, which aims to explore how the media can be weaponised to influence the court of public opinion. The session will have insights from heavyweight litigators, strategic communications advisers, international investigators, and an AI expert from the Oxford Internet Institute.
This is a private event with limited spaces. Please register your interest here if you would like to attend.
Money, Power and Family Feuds – the anatomy of offshore trust disputes
This session, featuring Stewarts Trust and Probate Litigation partner Geoff Kertesz, will explore some of the current themes in offshore trust litigation including:
- Common causes of disputes
- The trustee’s perspective – what happens when a family goes to war?
- Capacity to make decisions – settlors, office holders and the scope of trustees’ powers
- Succession, fact or fiction? Trust disputes involving family businesses
- Transparency – can trust disputes ever remain private?
- Blessings, surrenders and directions – what steps can a trustee take?
The role of London in respect of intra-EU investment treaty disputes: a seat and a hub for enforcement?
International Arbitration partner Alejandro Garcia will speak at this session, co-hosted by Stewarts and 3 Verulam Buildings.
In light of the CJEU decisions of Achmea and Komstroy, and following the UK’s exit from the EU, the international arbitral community has been closely looking at London to see how the English courts deal with the enforcement of intra-EU arbitral awards.
With the advent of a number of recent decisions from the English High Court dealing with the enforceability of intra-EU arbitral awards and a highly anticipated decision from the Court of Appeal due later this year, the panel will discuss the current landscape of enforcement of intra-EU awards in the English courts and discuss whether or not London will become a global hub for enforcement of intra-EU arbitral awards. Brexit, in addition, may make London an attractive seat for intra-EU investment treaty disputes where these are not pursued under the ICSID Convention.
If you require assistance from our team, please contact us.
