40th School of International Arbitration Anniversary Conference

When: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 - Thursday, September 11, 2025, 12:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: Arts 2 Lecture Theatre, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS

Programme: Programme [PDF 42,118KB]

Click here for the photo gallery. 

We are delighted to announce that the School of International Arbitration (SIA) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a landmark conference, Arbitration in Context, on 10 and 11 September 2025 held at the main QMUL Campus at the ArtsTwo Lecture Theatre.

Established in 1985 the SIA was the first academic institution dedicated to teaching and research of international arbitration as a distinct discipline. Over the last four decades, the SIA has been recognised globally as a leading academic centre for international commercial and investment arbitration. Notably, the influential SIA led international arbitration surveys, the 14th edition was published in June 2025. Over the years we have had more than 3000 alumni from more than 120 jurisdictions.

International Arbitration, Queen Mary University of London.

There are two main events:

- a landmark conference, Arbitration in Context, on 10 and 11 September 2025 held at the main QMUL Campus at the ArtsTwo Lecture Theatre. The conference explores arbitration as an academic discipline in the context of economy, sociology, philosophy, regulation and history. This event also explored how arbitration has adapted to evolving global events - geographic, economic and technological.

• a Gala Dinner at the Old Hall of Lincoln’s Inn on 10 September 2025 

Confirmed Speakers and Moderators:

• Dr Crina Baltag, SIA, Queen Mary University of London
• Saadia Bhatty, Partner, Gide, London
• Professor Andrea Bjorklund, McGill University, Montreal
• Hugh Carlson, CEO, Three Crowns, Washington DC
• Professor Debbie De Girolamo, SIA, Queen Mary University of London
• Professor Diane Desierto, Notre Dame University, United States
• Professor Kun Fan, UNSW, Sydney
• Dr Maria Fanou, SIA, Queen Mary University of London
• Greg Falkof, Partner, Partner, Mishcon de Reya, London
• Clement Fouchard Partner, Reed Smith, Paris
• Norah Gallagher, Director, SIA, Queen Mary University of London
• Dr Remy Gerbay, SIA, Queen Mary University of London, Partner, Hughes Hubbard, Washington, DC
• Professor Bernard Hanotiau, Hanotiau & van den Berg, Brussels
• Dominique Hascher, Singapore International Commercial Court and Independent Arbitrator
• Hilary Heilbron KC, Brick Court Chambers, London
• Professor Moshe Hirsch, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
• Professor Stefan Kröll, Bucerius Law School
• Professor Julian Lew KC, Head, SIA, Queen Mary University of London and 20 Essex Street
• Dr Mohamed Mahayni, Acting Executive Director, MIDS, Geneva
• Professor Loukas Mistelis, SIA, Queen Mary University of London and Partner, Clyde & Co, London
• Dr Mary Mitsi, SIA, Queen Mary University of London
• Alan Redfern, retired, One Essex Court, London
• Nania Owusu-Ankomah Sackey, Partner,  Bentsi Enchill, Accra
• Professor Maxi Scherer, SIA, Queen Mary University of London and Founding Partner, ArbBoutique
• Dr Mikael Schinazi, Senior Associate, Jones Day, Paris
• Professor Thomas Schultz, University of Geneva and King’s College London
• Audley Sheppard KC, 20 Essex Street
• Dr Laurence Shore, Partner. Seladore Legal, Milan
• Dr Eduardo Silva Romero, Partner, Wordstone, Paris
• Sylvia Tonova, Partner, Pinsent Masons, London
• Ana Vermal, Partner, Proskauer, Paris and New York
• Matthew Weiniger, KC, Partner, Linklaters, London
• Guled Yusuf, Partner, AO Shearman, London
• Patricia Shaughnessy, Associate Professor Stockholm University, President of the William C. Vis Moot
• Mike McClure KC, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer 
• Dominic Spenser Underhill, Spenser Underhill & Newmark LLP & Hon. Professory QMUL
• James Castello - Arbitration Chambers