19th Annual Bar Leaders' Conference

20 May - 21 May 2026

Session information

Ethics and international arbitration: what bars need to know

Description

International arbitration is a gigantic global operation, both in terms of number of cases and their commercial value. It takes place in institutional and non-institutional settings, involving both lawyers and non-lawyers. In certain cases, such as in Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) cases, lawyers have come in for criticism from the UN and the EU. In other cases, there is a patchwork of ethical obligations, sometimes conflicting. The IBA has taken a central role in promoting ethical guidelines. This panel will look at some of the ethical issues arising, which do not appear to be on the radar of the Bars whose members are participating in international arbitration. 

Session / Workshop Chair(s)

Jonathan Goldsmith European & International Legal Services Consultant, Canterbury, England; Member, Bar Issues Commission Policy Committee
Iain David Duncan Sandford Iain Sandford Legal & Dispute Resolution, Nyon, Switzerland

Speakers

Petr Bříza Bříza & Trubač, Prague, Czech Republic
Nadine Debbas Independent Arbitrator, Beirut, Lebanon
Dietmar Prager Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York, New York, USA; Co-Chair, Arbitration Committee