LIDW26 Main Conference: Programme revealed

18 May 2026
London International Disputes Week
LIDW26 Main Conference: Programme revealed

With less than a month to go until LIDW26, hear from Main Conference Committee Co-Leads Natasha McCarthy and Sophie Lalor-Harbord as they share what to expect from the day, exploring the most pressing issues shaping international dispute resolution.

The conference will feature leading global practitioners from private practice and in-house, prominent members of the judiciary, arbitrators, business leaders, experts and more.

There will also be time to network and meet our sponsors.

The Programme

Registration from 8.30am

Registration is open with coffee and tea available in the Pickwick Room

Session 1 – 9.30am

  • Welcome from the LIDW Co-Chairs
  • Keynote speech by Sean West, Co-Founder of The Unruly Corporation, a geopolitical AI company, and Hence Technologies, a legal technology company, and author of Unruly: Fighting Back when Politics, AI, and Law Upend the Rules of Business
  • AI, Authenticity and the Future of Evidence: Trust in a Synthetic World – a forward-looking conversation on how the disputes community can preserve confidence in evidence while embracing the opportunities of transformational AI

Coffee break – 10.45am

Coffee/tea and networking break in the Pickwick room.  An opportunity to meet LIDW’s Platinum and Gold sponsors.

Session 2 – 11.15am

  • The Rise of Mass Claims: Balancing Investor Confidence with Access to Justice – an exploration of how the growth of mass claims is reshaping risk assessments for businesses and investors. Do mass claims in practice enhance access to justice and consumer redress, or are they beginning to chill innovation or stifle growth?
  • Law at the Frontiers – a discussion of the trends, challenges and opportunities of law and dispute resolution in ‘frontier’ area such as space and deepwater

Lunch Break – 1.00pm

Lunch and networking break in the Pickwick room and Actors room with the opportunity to meet LIDW’s Platinum and Gold sponsors as well as representatives from pro bono organisations.

Session 3 – 2.00pm

  • The Great Costs Debate – a debate between an arbitrator and a litigator on which forum delivers more for less – and how both can make dispute resolution more cost-effective for clients
  • The Intersection of Law and Politics – the Rule of Law under Pressure – how do we maintain the Rule of Law and constitutional norms in a world of increasing challenges?
    • Fiona Hill CBE, Founder (Future Resilience Forum; former Downing Street Chief-of-Staff)
    • David Gauke, Head of Public Policy (Macfarlanes; former Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor)
    • Dan Feldman, Partner (Covington & Burling; former Ambassador and Chief of Staff and Counselor to Secretary John Kerry)
    • Maeve Hanna, Partner (A&O Shearman)

Coffee break – 3.40pm

Coffee/tea and networking break in the Pickwick room.  An opportunity to meet LIDW’s Platinum and Gold sponsors.

Session 4 – 4.10pm

  • The GC Perspective – an interview with Clare Wardle
    • Clare Wardle, Former General Counsel and Company Secretary, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plc
    • Hilton Mervis, Litigation Partner (McDermott Will & Schulte)
  • Access to Justice Internationally – Tradition and Transformation – comparative perspectives from a number of key jurisdictions
  • Closing Remarks

Networking Drinks reception – 5.55pm

Drinks and canapés reception offering the chance to network with fellow delegates

Secure your place here.