Presentation

The symposium entitled ‘Current Institutional Issues in International Arbitration’ will be held on 30 January 2026 in Annecy. On this occasion, academics, practitioners and experts from various jurisdiction will discuss major institutional developments affecting both international commercial arbitration and international investment arbitration.

The main objective of the symposium is to analyse the institutional agitation currently affecting international arbitration and to discuss the paradigm shifts underway in this field. Presentations will focus on recent developments and their practical implications, with particular attention paid to the reform of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). The speakers will address two broad themes : the implications on ISDS of the creation of an appeal mechanism in investment arbitration ; and the how the issue of impartiality and ethics of arbitrators in international arbitration is developing.

Program

9.30 : Welcome (coffee & croissants)

10.00 : Opening words
Christophe Hadjur, Vice Rector for Research, Entreprise and Innovation
Michel Cannarsa, Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Law
Marjolaine Monot-Fouletier, Professor, Head of the UCLy Research Group #6

10.30 : Introduction
Louis Bertier Associate Professor, Lyon Catholic University
Noam Zamir, Associate Professor, Lyon Catholic University

Morning session - An appeal mechanism for international investment arbitration

Chairperson : Krista Nadakavukaren, Vice-Director of the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law

11.00 : Jurisdiction, scope and standard of review by the WTO Appellate Body
Carlo Gamberale, Counsellor, World Trade Organisation

An Arbitration Court for ISDS ? Lesson from WTO Dispute Settlement ?
Fernando Pierola, Lawyer and Arbitrator, Advisory Centre on WTO Law

Which lessons should the MIC learn from the WTO dispute settlement system ?
Nikos Lavranos, Secretary General, European Federation for Investment Law and Arbitration (online)

A policy perspective on ISDS reform within UNCTAD’s work on investment treaties
Diana Rosert, Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD

Discussions and Q&A

13.00 : Lunch break

Afternoon session - Impartiality and ethics of arbitrators

Chairperson : Nathalie Potin, Associate Professor, Lyon Catholic University

14.30 : Arbitrator Ethics in Investor-State Arbitration : Select Recent Case Law in light of the ICSID/UNCITRAL Code of Conduct for Arbitrators
Nicole Cleis, Legal Advisor, Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs

Arbitrators’ Ethics : a Few Basic Principles Based on the Law, Practice and Morality
Denis Mouralis, Full Professor of Law at Aix Marseille University, Attorney at the Paris Bar, Arbitrator

Arbitrator ethics : whose subjective or objective ethical considerations ?
Tunde Ogunseitan, Founder and Arbitrator, Ogunseitan Arbitration

Are there really arbitrator duties to anyone other than the parties ?
Philip Landolt, Managing Partner, Counsel and Arbitrator, Landolt & Koch

Discussions and Q&A

16.30 : Conclusions
Gabriele Ruscalla, Attorney at the Paris Bar, Le 16 Law

16.45 : Closure

Contact UCLy Alpes Europe : 04 58 98 00 71 - alpeseurope@univ-catholyon.fr

The event will be available to follow online upon registration.

Register online at : https://ypl.me/OV0/t