The LIDW26 Main Conference will take place on Tuesday, 2 June, at the QEII Centre in Westminster. The now finalised agenda examines the forces reshaping international dispute resolution, including the accelerating role of artificial intelligence, the rise of mass claims, the growing interplay between law and geopolitics, and the resilience of the rule of law amid global change.
Across the day, panels will bring together senior in‑house and private practice lawyers, experts, legal technologists, and leading figures from the judiciary and arbitration, including Sir Geoffrey Vos, the Master of the Rolls; the Rt. Hon. The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, President of the Qatar International Court; and independent arbitrator and mediator Paula Hodges KC.
The centrepiece of LIDW26, the Main Conference will open with a keynote address from Sean West, Co‑Founder of The Unruly Corporation and Hence Technologies, and author of Unruly: Fighting Back when Politics, AI, and Law Upend the Rules of Business. The keynote will set the tone for a day focused on trust, transformation, and the future of dispute resolution in a rapidly evolving world.
Sessions will explore:
Artificial intelligence and the future of evidence, examining how AI is reshaping disputes strategy
The rise of mass claims, and the challenge of balancing investor confidence with access to justice
The intersection of law and politics, focusing on how legal systems can uphold the rule of law in an increasingly complex global environment
Law at the frontiers, with discussion of emerging areas such as space and deepwater disputes
International access to justice, including comparative insights from key jurisdictions
With insights from in-house disputes lawyers always a highlight of LIDW, the day will also feature a fireside chat with Clare Wardle, outgoing General Counsel of The Coca-Cola Company
Jonathan Cary, Partner at RPC LLP and LIDW Co-Chair said,
“It is exciting to see the full LIDW26 Main Conference programme now live. The programme is designed to foster meaningful dialogue around the key challenges facing international dispute resolution, reinforcing London’s position not only as a global centre for disputes, but as a driving force in how the legal community responds to and leads through transformation.”
Natasha McCarthy, Counsel at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, and Sophie Lalor-Harbord, Partner at Stewarts LLP, LIDW Main Conference Committee Co-leads said,
“We are proud to unveil the full programme for the LIDW26 Main Conference. The programme tackles the defining challenges that will shape international dispute resolution in the years ahead, including the impact of artificial intelligence on evidence, access to justice, and the resilience of the rule of law, underscoring LIDW’s role in driving informed, future‑focused dialogue.”
Complementing the Main Conference, LIDW26 will feature more than 350 member-hosted events taking place across London throughout the week. These sessions will cover topics ranging from digital assets, sanctions mining and the impact of global geopolitical risk, further reinforcing London’s standing as a global hub for world class dispute resolution expertise.
The week will begin with International Arbitration Day on 1 June, and will also feature a LegalTech Showcase on the Wednesday of the week, highlighting cutting-edge innovation and demonstrating how technology is transforming the practice and delivery of dispute resolution.
Throughout the week there will be an array of social events, including a Gala Dinner at the historic Raffles London at The OWO, and events designed for and by the LIDW “Next Gen” community.
Tickets are now on sale, with prices frozen at the same level as last year.
Tickets are available for the LIDW26 Main Conference, and can be found here, alongside the full agenda: https://register.lidw.co.uk/event/579