Co-sponsored by Schregenberger Law & Galadari Law & Konrad Partners.

In recent years, investments from (mainly) China and other Asian investors into Africa have significantly increased. Notably, China’s belt and road initiative (BRI) has led to massive investments. The investments relate not only to various infrastructure projects (roads, railways, ports, and airports) but also to commodity trading, natural resources and mining, agriculture, recycling and sustainability projects (renewable energy), consumer goods, and retail.

The remarkable growth also leads to complex dispute landscape across commercial contracts and, at times, treaty claims. Operating conditions remain heterogeneous, with challenges including political instability, resource dependence, regulatory uncertainty, and corruption risks. These issues underscore the need for efficient and fair dispute resolution.

The panel will discuss Switzerland’s opportunities why Switzerland may rise as an ideal hub for such disputes. Specifically, the session will focus on why a civil law based international arbitration environment without any colonial history and with a tested and proven mechanism to resolve conflicts may be of importance.

Since the 1960s but mostly since 1979, the issue of sanctions and international arbitration have been intertwined.

As of 2014 and then 2022, the Russian sanctions following its aggression against Ukraine has brought a renewed focus to it even though it has been a constant issue with a number of different sanctions regimes, including those relating to Cuba, Iran, Libya or Venezuela. The resulting sanction regimes may have had, over time, an extensive impact on disputes related to energy, commodities, cross-border investment as well as indirect consequences on construction, finance and even manufacturing ones.

The consequences for international arbitration are numerous and will have an impact on its conduct: asset freeze, payment of arbitration fees, third-party funding, counsel representation, travel bans up until the satisfaction of the arbitral award itself.

With due process issues, equality of arms and potential denial of justice, this panel aims at obtaining the views of all the actors in such a procedure (the user of arbitration, the institution, the arbitrator and the counsel) to better understand the actual consequences and risks for the arbitration process generally.

Geopolitical crises are reshaping the way companies operate across borders. From tariffs and sanctions to supply-chain disruptions and regulatory volatility, businesses face unprecedented challenges that inevitably spill over into their dispute resolution strategies. This panel will examine how these pressures affect the conduct of international arbitration—from case management to advocacy and enforcement. Bringing together perspectives from counsel, in-house lawyers, and arbitration practitioners, the discussion will explore practical consequences for parties and tribunals alike, and offer insights into how arbitration can adapt to a rapidly changing global environment.

Although “arbitration practice” is recognised as a set of best practices, it also faces criticism in certain respect, as to how proceedings unfold. The respective stakeholders in arbitrations – parties’ counsel, arbitrators, arbitration institutions, courts – often consider that processes could be improved and streamlined, but the belief of each of these groups of participants is usually that changes are more needed in another group than theirs (counsel having views on the work of arbitrators, institutions and courts, and vice versa). The best way being to confront opinions, this session will give an opportunity to all players to debate together and determine where improvements are truly warranted based on a frank and open discussion, which will also include the client’s perspective.

In this session organised by Schellenberg Wittmer, renowned arbitration practitioners from different jurisdictions, including Switzerland, France, the UK and the United States, will discuss the latest developments and practical tips in the enforcement of awards against sovereigns, which require award creditors to navigate different legal systems, domestic immunity laws and asset tracing, among others.

Closing the deal is just the beginning. Join leading arbitration and M&A experts from across Europe as they explore how smart clauses in SPAs can make post-M&A disputes more efficient and predictable. Gain practical insights on arbitration clauses, expert determination, earn-out disputes, and strategies that help resolve post-M&A disputes effectively. Cocktails will be served after the panel.

Hosted by HSFK and moderated by Partner, Catrice Gayer and Partner, Emily Fox, this event features insightful Roundtable Discussions on key topics such as Civil Law vs. Common Law, Artificial Intelligence and more. Attendees will join two focused discussion rounds, followed by an opportunity to network and enjoy refreshments.

When sanctions, tariffs, and trade turbulence strike, arbitration remains a vital forum for resolving disputes. In this 90-minute session, we will examine the procedural and practical challenges of arbitration in uncertain times – sharing lessons from recent crises and offering strategies to navigate global complexity with confidence. Expect lively discussion, fresh perspectives, and actionable insights to help you adapt to shifting trade winds!

Outsmart your next International Arbitration challenges with Artificial Intelligence: Our panelists will bring to life cutting-edge and proven IA-AI use cases and explain their implications on arbitration proceedings.

Homburger is delighted to invite you to an exclusive breakfast with a true star of the international arbitration community, Professor Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler. Join us for an open conversation with Prof. Kaufmann on the trends, ideas and global dynamics that are currently reshaping the dispute resolution landscape and defining the next era of international arbitration. A rich breakfast selection will be available from 8:30 a.m., with the conversation with our star guest beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The global shift towards renewable energy has accelerated the development of complex infrastructure projects across offshore wind farms, solar parks, and other clean technologies. With this growth comes a rise in disputes, which can include construction delays and supply chain disruptions, unforeseen risks related to the resource, and regulatory challenges, among many others. Arbitration practitioners are increasingly called upon to resolve these complex issues, often involving new technologies, novel contractual structures, and cross-border risk allocation. This panel will explore emerging trends in renewable energy arbitration, offering practical guidance on dispute resolution strategies tailored to the unique dynamics of energy transition projects.

Join us for a lively discussion featuring two of Europe’s leading dispute financiers – Olivia Furter (Nivalion, Co-Head of Switzerland, France & Benelux) and Matej Pardo (LITFIN, Head of Operations) – alongside leading arbitrator and President of the Finnish Arbitration Association, Gisela Knuts. The panel will be chaired by Nils von Hinten-Reed (Alvarez & Marsal, Head of Competition Economics EMEA) and will examine the evolving economic dynamics of arbitration.

Light breakfast will be served.