LIDW26: Lord Neuberger, Toby Landau KC, Karyl Nairn KC to be keynote speakers for International Arbitration Day

London International Disputes Week (LIDW) has announced its keynote speakers for International Arbitration Day: The Rt. Hon. Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Toby Landau KC, and Karyl Nairn KC.

International Arbitration Day (IAD) is a marquee day dedicated to arbitration and is once again opening the week on Monday, 1 June 2026.

IAD will take place across three conveniently located venues, known as hubs: 3 Verulam Buildings, Debevoise & Plimpton, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Delegates can select from a range of events and move between hubs during the day. This marks the first year that a set of Chambers has hosted one of the IAD hubs. Reflecting this year’s theme, “Tradition, trust and transformation in international dispute resolution”, IAD will explore key trends shaping international arbitration and highlight London’s continued position as a leading global centre for international dispute resolution.

International Arbitration Day is free to attend, and registration is now open.

Keynote speakers:

• Lord Neuberger is an arbitrator at One Essex Court. Lord Neuberger held senior judicial positions including High Court Judge, Lord Justice of Appeal, and Law Lord, serving as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom from 2012 to 2017. Since retiring from the Supreme Court, he has practiced as an arbitrator and legal expert, while also serving as a Non-Permanent Judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal since 2010 and a judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court since 2018.

• Toby Landau KC is a barrister and arbitrator at Duxton Hill Chambers (London and Singapore) and Temple Chambers (Hong Kong). Toby is admitted to the Bars of England and Wales, Singapore, New York, the BVI, and Northern Ireland, and is registered in the DIFC. Toby practises in London and Singapore. He has argued hundreds of major international commercial, investor-State and inter-state arbitrations in the highest courts globally and was the first QC/KC permanently called to the Singapore Bar. He is a Visiting Professor at King’s College London, Vice President of the SIAC Court of Arbitration, Member of the Governing Board of ICCA, and has been instrumental in drafting major arbitration legislation, including the English Arbitration Act 1996.

• Karyl Nairn KC is an independent arbitrator with Arbitration Chambers. She was previously Global Co-Head of Skadden's International Litigation and Arbitration Group, specialising in complex international commercial and investment treaty arbitration across finance, energy, mining, and other sectors. She served as a member and Vice President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration from 1999 to 2015, and as Vice President of the LCIA Court from 2019 to 2024. Ms Nairn KC was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in England and Wales in 2023 and currently serves as Chairman of the Development Board of JUSTICE.

Philippa Charles, LIDW International Arbitration Day Co-Lead and Arbitrator at Twenty Essex said,

"We are delighted to announce Lord Neuberger, Toby Landau KC, and Karyl Nairn KC as our keynote speakers for International Arbitration Day at LIDW26. Each brings exceptional distinction and experience, spanning judicial leadership, advocacy at the highest international level, and deep engagement with international arbitration as it evolves as part of the dispute resolution landscape both in London and overseas. Their collective insights will set a compelling tone for the day, offering delegates insight from acknowledged leaders who are shaping the present and future of international arbitration.”

Loukas Mistelis, LIDW Co-Chair and Partner at Clyde & Co LLP said,

“We are excited to announce our keynote speakers for International Arbitration Day, a cornerstone of LIDW26. As a central focal point of the week, the speakers will address some of the most pressing developments shaping international arbitration today, while underscoring its importance as a consistent thread running throughout the programme alongside litigation and mediation. From the impact of AI and geopolitical tensions to an evolving risk landscape, IAD will offer a timely, forward-looking forum, firmly grounded in London’s standing as a trusted centre for international dispute resolution”

International Arbitration Day will feature concurrent sessions addressing critical developments in international arbitration, including:

• Geopolitical Shifts in Investment Treaty Arbitration – Examine how changing geopolitical dynamics are reshaping investment treaty arbitration, with particular focus on rebalancing mechanisms and evolving State interests in the international dispute resolution system.

• Enforcement and Recognition Across Borders – Consider the critical practical challenges of recognising and enforcing arbitral awards in a global context.

• Technology, AI and The Future of Practice – Explore the impact of AI on arbitration practice, questioning whether AI truly has all the answers, alongside forward-looking analysis of emerging dispute categories and horizon-scanning for the next wave of international disputes.

• Specialised Sector Expertise – Sessions focus on specialist and critical areas of practice, including energy arbitration in a changing world, the unique confidentiality, sovereignty, and strategic considerations in defence sector disputes, and experiences relating to recalcitrant parties in the extractives/mining sector.

• Arbitrator Insights and Procedural Excellence – Interactive sessions featuring leading arbitrators discussing selection criteria, persuasion tactics, and procedure, combined with exploration of bold new ideas to reimagine the arbitration process itself.

Also taking place during LIDW26, alongside International Arbitration Day, is the flagship Main Conference on Tuesday, 2 June. Sean West, renowned strategist and premier global authority on AI and geopolitical risk, has already been announced as a keynote speaker. The week will also feature the LegalTech Showcase, more than 300 LIDW Member‑hosted events, and a range of social and networking events taking place across London.

Registration for LIDW26 is now open, with tickets for the Main Conference currently on sale.