LIDW26: Africa’s growing global impact on agenda as London International Disputes Week kicks off 

Leading figures from across the global dispute resolution community, including speakers and delegates from Africa, are gathering at various venues across Britain’s historic capital across 1-5 June for London International Disputes Week (LIDW26).

The future of international dispute resolution is being written, and Africa’s voice at the table has never mattered more. With its young, dynamic population, resource riches, and technological leaps, Africa is set to play a growing role in how the world responds to energy transition, climate change, and other pressing challenges. 

Following International Arbitration Day, which began this morning with keynote addresses from Lord Neuberger, Karyl Nairn KC, and Toby Landau KC launching a range of discussions hosted across three hub venues: 3 Verulam Buildings, Debevoise & Plimpton, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, the centrepiece LIDW26 Main Conference begins tomorrow, Tuesday 2 June, at the QEII Centre in Westminster. 

Sean West, an expert on the intersection of technology, law, and politics, will give the Main Conference’s opening keynote tomorrow, before a panel discussion on “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. 

Other panels, interviews, and addresses throughout tomorrow’s LIDW26 Main Conference will address topics including The Rise of Mass Claims: Balancing Investor Confidence with Access to Justice; Law at the Frontiers; The Great Costs Debate;; the importance of pro bono work; The Intersection of Law and Politics - the Rule of Law under Pressure; the General Counsel perspective; and Access to Justice Internationally - Tradition and Transformation, before a networking drinks reception.

The expert panel discussions 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.

Professor Onyema, a dual-qualified Nigerian lawyer, arbitrator and academic, is among several African dispute resolution experts who will be speaking across various sessions throughout LIDW, at events focused on Africa and more generally. 

With Africa set to become a global powerhouse in future years, its vital that African nations build trust and confidence in their judicial systems, arbitral laws and institutions, and that disputes can be resolved in a timely, cost-effective manner, leading African lawyers Jonathan Sahli of Bowmans, Eric Gumbo of G&A Advocates LLP, Gwendy Bannerman of ALN Ghana, and Soibi Ovia of Duale, Ovia & Alex-Adedipe told Africa Legal ahead of their session on Thursday discussing “From Trust to Transformation: Strengthening Africa–UK Dispute Resolution Partnerships”. 

That practical, solutions-driven session, hosted by Lewis Silkin, in collaboration with Africa Legal and with participation from the UK Ministry of Justice and the The Law Society, is one of several LIDW26 member-hosted events focused on Africa. 

On Wednesday, Poupak Anjomshoaa, an international arbitration expert with a focus on Africa and the Middle East, will moderate a discussion on “Mining Disputes in Africa: Expect the Unexpected” with Colin Johnson of Alvarez & Marsal, Yolanda Walker of DWF, Christiane Deniger of Burford Capital, and Toby Hewitt of Gemfields. 

That afternoon, White & Case and Raedas will host a session discussing “The billion-dollar question: how will African mega disputes evolve over the next decade?”, with barrister and arbitrator Abdul Jinadu, newly appointed LCIA Vice President Nania Owusu-Ankomah, Anjarwalla & Khanna partner Aisha Abdallah, Raedas director William Teddy, and Opeyemi Longe of White & Case. 

“I'm looking forward to joining a very distinguished panel of African disputes practitioners and experts to explore shifting strategies in some of Africa’s most complex disputes and what lies ahead in the next decade,” shared Longe. “The session will examine emerging trends, challenges and opportunities shaping dispute resolution across the African continent.”

Other African panels on Wednesday afternoon include “Africa at the Crossroads: Shaping the Future of International Commercial Dispute Resolution”, hosted by Hogan Lovells and Olaniwun Ajayi, with a keynote address from Ghana’s ambassador to Italy and panelists from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, and the UK, before Professor Onyema and other experts on Africa discuss “Africa’s infrastructure boom and the evolution of complex construction arbitration” at Fladgate LLP’s offices. 

Following Africa Legal and Lewis Silkin’s Thursday event, “From Trust to Transformation: Strengthening Africa–UK Dispute Resolution Partnerships”, Professor Onyema will make another appearance at “Whose Mine Is It Anyway? Investor Protections, Sovereign Priorities and Sustainability in Africa” hosted by Stewarts LLP. 

Stewarts partner Daniel Wilmot will chair that discussion, which also features Senegalese Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines legal advisor Dr Papa Amadou Fall, Philile Mhlongo of Anglo American, and Jean-Marie Van der Elst of Econ One. 

For the full London International Disputes Week 2025 programme,

see here

.