LONDON – London International Disputes Week (LIDW) has unveiled the keynote speakers for its International Arbitration Day and launched ticket sales for the Main Conference, now available on the official event website.
International Arbitration Day will once again open the week on Monday 2 June, reaffirming arbitration’s role as an integral pillar of dispute resolution and London’s status as a global arbitration centre. This year’s high-profile keynote speakers will include Kevin Nash of the LCIA and The Honourable Mrs Justice Cockerill, setting the stage for in-depth discussions on the evolving arbitration landscape.
Kevin Nash, Director General of the LCIA and International Arbitration Day Keynote speaker said:
“Consistent with London’s standing as a leading forum for the resolution of disputes, LIDW has firmly established itself as a preeminent week on the calendar. International Arbitration Day is packed with a fantastic lineup of speakers and content that engages global perspectives on key issues. I am honoured to open the 2025 programme and look forward to a robust exchange of ideas with key stakeholders from around the world.”
The event comes at a significant moment for the sector, following the recent announcement that the Arbitration Act has been granted Royal Assent. These long-awaited reforms will reinforce London’s reputation as a world-leading seat of arbitration. The implications of this development for practitioners will be reflected in the discussions throughout LIDW25.
Luiz Aboim, of Mayer Brown, and Vanessa Naish, of Herbert Smith Freehills, co-leads of LIDW’s International Arbitration Day said:
“We are delighted to once again launch LIDW25 with the International Arbitration Day. This is a testament to the importance of international arbitration to the London disputes market, and London’s prominence as a global arbitration hub. We have now combined the original jurisdictional focus with key sectors, such as energy and mining, and arbitration practice discussions. In addition, arbitration will feature prominently throughout the week, including in the main conference, and in dozens of arbitration related member hosted events throughout the week! No doubt arbitration practitioners will be seeing a lot of familiar faces during the week.”
The International Arbitration Day sessions will be hosted by a hub formed by Linklaters, Simmons & Simmons, and Squire Patton Boggs, and are free to attend. The sessions in each hub firm will kick-off with a keynote, followed by four in-person panel sessions. The format will allow delegates to move swiftly between the hub firms located at a short distance from each other. The day will conclude with the LIDW25 opening reception at Southwark Cathedral.
The programme covers a broad spectrum of critical topics around key jurisdictions, important sectors and practice elements. Panels will explore corporate and private equity arbitration in Asia, disputes involving state-owned entities, and arbitration’s role in major Middle Eastern infrastructure projects. Regional sessions will examine arbitration in emerging and established seats, as well as disputes in Central Asia amid geopolitical uncertainty.
The programme will also cover pressing issues such as Russia-related disputes, the impact of sanctions, arbitration in renewable energy projects, and procedural efficiency. Attendees will also gain insights into the EU’s evolving approach to investor-state dispute settlement and cross-jurisdictional mining disputes across Latin America and Africa.
Now in its sixth year, LIDW25 will take place from Monday 2nd to Friday 6th June, featuring a diverse programme of keynote speeches, panel discussions and networking opportunities. Under the theme Innovation in Dispute Resolution: Navigating Global Risks, LIDW25 aims to engage a wider international audience, including in-house counsel, private practice lawyers, arbitrators, mediators and dispute resolution professionals.
Building on 2024’s sell-out year the main conference on Tuesday 3 June will once again be held at the QEII Centre in Westminster. Delegates will attend sessions on key topics such as AI, the business of dispute resolution and navigating supply chain disputes and risk.
LIDW25 will deliver a world-class programme of events, providing opportunities to engage with international peers on the issues shaping the dispute resolution landscape.
Main Conference keynote speakers, topics, and the full agenda will be announced in the upcoming weeks. For more information and updates, visit https://lidw.co.uk and follow LIDW on Twitter (@LIDW_) and LinkedIn (@London International Disputes Week).
Booking for International Arbitration Day can be found here and tickets for the Main Conference are available to purchase here.
Last year’s LIDW hosted:
- 17,000 in-person registrations across the week
- Almost 1,000 International Arbitration Day attendees
- 274 Law firms represented and 30+ Chambers
- Almost 200 Corporates
- 170 Member Hosted Events
- Participants from 102 different jurisdictions
- 1,360 international delegates