AI, mass claims, and rule of law take centre stage as LIDW announces its flagship Main Conference programme

The full programme for the LIDW26 Main Conference, revealed today, tackles the defining challenges that will shape international dispute resolution in the years ahead, underscoring London International Dispute Week’s role in driving informed, future‑focused dialogue, say LIDW Main Conference Committee Co-Leads Natasha McCarthy of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Sophie Lalor-Harbord of Stewarts LLP. 

Taking place on Tuesday 2 June, following International Arbitration Day, the finalised agenda for the LIDW26 Main Conference will cover key issues including the accelerating role of artificial intelligence (AI), rise of mass claims, growing interplay between law and geopolitics, and resilience of the rule of law amid global change.

Tickets are now on sale, with prices frozen at the same level as last year.

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 Right Honorable The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, President of the Qatar International Court; Dr Emilia Onyema, Professor at SOAS University of London; Dr Dhananjaya Chandrachud, the former Chief Justice of India; Mark Evans, the President of the Law Society of England and Wales; and independent arbitrator and mediator Paula Hodges KC.

The flagship day of LIDW26, the Main Conference will open on 2 June 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. West’s keynote will set the tone for a day focused on trust, transformation, and the future of dispute resolution in a rapidly evolving world.

“It is exciting to see the full LIDW26 Main Conference programme now live,” says Jonathan Cary, LIDW Co-Chair and a partner at RPC LLP. 

“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.”

Following the welcome by the LIDW Co-Chairs and West’s keynote speech, the sessions throughout the day will explore: 

• AI, Authenticity and the Future of Evidence: Trust in a Synthetic World - a forward-looking conversation on how the disputes community can preserve confidence in evidence while embracing the opportunities of transformational AI; 

• The Rise of Mass Claims: Balancing Investor Confidence with Access to Justice - an exploration of how the growth of mass claims is reshaping risk assessments for businesses and investors. Do mass claims in practice enhance access to justice and consumer redress, or are they beginning to chill innovation or stifle growth?;

• Law at the Frontiers - a discussion of the trends, challenges and opportunities of law and dispute resolution in 'frontier' areas such as space and deepwater;

• The Great Costs Debate - a debate between an arbitrator and a litigator on which forum delivers more for less - and how both can make dispute resolution more cost-effective for clients;

• The Intersection of Law and Politics - the Rule of Law under Pressure - how do we maintain the Rule of Law and constitutional norms in a world of increasing challenge from political actors?; and

• Access to Justice Internationally - Tradition and Transformation - comparative perspectives from a number of key jurisdictions. 

There will also be an address on pro bono, a ‘fireside chat’ interview on ‘the GC Perspective’ with Clare Wardle, outgoing General Counsel of The Coca-Cola Company, and a networking drinks reception, running into the evening. 

Under the theme, “Tradition, trust and transformation in international dispute resolution”, LIDW26 will bring together leading figures from around the world, across litigation, arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution. Last year’s LIDW welcomed 10,000 in-person attendees (and nearly 30,000 total registrations in-person and online), including 1,700 international delegates, from 106 countries. 

Alongside International Arbitration Day on Monday, 1 June, and the Main Conference on Tuesday, LIDW26 will feature more than 350 member-hosted events taking place across London throughout the week, covering 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.

LIDW26 will also feature a LegalTech Showcase on the Wednesday, highlighting cutting-edge innovation and demonstrating how technology is transforming the practice and delivery of dispute resolution, and an array of social events, including a Gala Dinner, and events designed for and by the LIDW “Next Gen” community.

Established in 2019, LIDW is committed to diversity, inclusion, and the rule of law while serving as a forward-thinking forum that explores and contributes to the evolution of dispute resolution, and celebrates London as a global leader in arbitration, litigation, and mediation. Tickets are available for the LIDW26 Main Conference, and can be found here, alongside the full agenda.