Twentieth Annual Investment Treaty Arbitration: A Debate & Discussion

12-13 November, 2026

Hosted at the Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill
525 New Jersey Ave NW
Washington, DC

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Annual Investment Treaty Arbitration Conference — one of the longest-running and most respected gatherings in the investment arbitration community — as we return to Washington DC for a special two-day event
hosted at the Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill.

One of the defining features of this conference over the past two decades has been its commitment to promoting and
mentoring young lawyers in the arbitration field. The conference model provides emerging practitioners with the
opportunity to write published articles, and to develop oral advocacy skills by serving on panels alongside leaders in the
field. Join us as we continue these traditions and bring together a dynamic, interactive program full of thought-provoking exchanges.

Registration

Registration includes two-day attendance, refreshments, lunch, reception, and a digital copy of the upcoming Volume 20 from the Investment Arbitration and International Law series. This series of volumes compile the papers and proceedings of this annual conference on investment treaty arbitration.

Register Here

* Discounted registration rates are available to full-time academics not affiliated with a law firm, government employees, and full-time in-house corporate counsel. For details, please contact events@jurispub.com.

Continuing Legal Education: 10 hours of NYS CLE credit (transitional and non-transitional) in the Areas of Professional Practice. A NYSCLE certificate of attendance will be provided upon request which may be used when applying for credit in other jurisdictions.

Student Rate: For traditional full-time students with current student ID; Contact JURIS Conferences at: events@jurispub.com for current rate.

Cancellations: 50% of the Registration fee will be refunded for any cancellation received in writing by JURIS Conferences after Sunday 13 September 2026. No refund can be made for cancellations received after October 13, 2026. You are welcome to send a substitute at any time. Please notify us if you plan to send a substitute since updated registration materials will be required.

Financial Aid:
Our Financial Aid policy is available here

Program Topics

We are honored to welcome Gary Born of King & Spalding as this year’s keynote speaker and look forward to his insights at a pivotal moment for the international arbitration community.

The full program schedule will be available soon. Each panel will spotlight two talented investment arbitration “rising superstars” from around the globe, each championing an opposing side of a contentious issues. They will author and present their argument paper, followed by a panel of experienced and distinguished professionals who will debate and discuss the authors’ positions and the broader issue.

1. True or false? The legitimacy crisis in investment treaty law can only be resolved through the establishment of a consolidated international court and appellate body rostered exclusively by host States.
   
2. True or false? Third-party funding has been a necessary force for good in investment treaty arbitration.
   
3. The Most Favoured Nation clause is a trade law tool that has never belonged in investment treaties.
   
4. The proposition that corruption in the establishment of an investment necessarily deprives a tribunal of jurisdiction is both wrong as a matter of law and detrimental to investment protection policy.
   
5. Ethical use of generative AI tools poses no threat whatsoever to the practice of international arbitration.
   
6. The 2025 ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change will be a boon to investment treaty arbitration.

This program will include a Q&A with the speakers of each session.

*JURIS Conferences are a forum for public debate. The views expressed by the authors and speakers may not reflect the opinions of their organization, JURIS, or our partners, and supporters.

Faculty

Conference Co-Chairs

Todd Weiler launched JURIS’s Investment Treaty Arbitration conference and book series on international investment law and arbitration in 2006. He is a a highly regarded international commercial arbitrator and leading expert on international investment law and arbitration, as well as a pathbreaking advocate for disability inclusion in the practice of international dispute settlement. Dr Weiler holds a M.A. in public policy and a LL.B. from Western University (Canada), a LL.M. in international trade law from the University of Ottawa, and a LL.M. in international investment law and S.J.D. in public international law from the University of Michigan. In addition to his work as counsel, expert, and arbitrator, he has also pursued doctoral research in transnational history and the history of international law. Dr Weiler’s name has appeared on the Lexology (formerly Who’s Who Legal) list of leading international arbitration lawyers since 2007.

Kabir Duggal is a partner in Akin’s international arbitration practice based in New York. He has extensive experience as counsel in complex, high-stakes investor-state and international commercial arbitrations across regions and industries. His practice spans disputes arising under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties and sophisticated commercial contracts, involving states, state-owned entities and multinational corporations, in the energy, infrastructure, construction, mining and telecom, media and technology (TMT) sectors. Alongside his work as counsel, Kabir has served as arbitrator in more than 70 disputes. He is a Chartered Arbitrator, a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) accredited mediator and is listed on, or appointed to, the rosters of leading arbitral institutions worldwide. Kabir has taught international arbitration at Columbia Law School for over 15 years, where he serves as a Senior Fellow and Advisor to the Center for International Commercial and Investment Arbitration. He is also an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School, and has been a visiting professor to the University of São Paulo, Universidad de Los Andes, Universidad Externardo de Colombia and the National Law School of Jodhpur.

Camilla Gambarini is a Special Counsel at Withers in London. She is dual qualified in Italy and England & Wales as a Solicitor Advocate and specialises in public international law and international arbitration. Camilla represents investors and sovereign States in investment treaty arbitrations under the main arbitration rules and industry sectors, including energy and infrastructure, in EMEA, CIS and Latin America. She is listed as “Rising Star” (Public International Law) by Legal 500 UK, “Future Leader (Non Partner)” by Who’s Who Legal – Arbitration, and Best Lawyers ranked her as “Ones to Watch – Arbitration” in the UK.

Accommodations

While hotel accommodations are not included with registration, we are happy to extend recommendations to the following hotels. For delegates traveling by train, the conference hotel is a 5 minute walk from Union Station.

Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill (Conference Hotel)
Address: 525 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: +1 (202) 628-2100

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill (3-minute walk)
Address: 400 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: +1 (202) 737-1234

Washington Marriott Capitol Hill (5-minute drive)
Address: 175 L St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: +1 (202) 972-9800

Sponsors

Interested in sponsoring the conference? Contact events@jurispub.com to receive the sponsorship prospectus and explore available opportunities.