Tradition, trust, and transformation: Sean West named as keynote speaker as LIDW 2026 launched

With London International Disputes Week (LIDW) providing a vital forum to discuss transformations in the legal industry and how they impact international disputes, the organisers were delighted to reveal at a launch event at the Law Society last night that technology expert Sean West would be a keynote speaker at LIDW26. 

"Sean is an expert on how the legal industry must evolve in response to ever‑changing technology, geopolitical tensions, and global risks,” says Sophie Lalor-Harbord, LIDW Main Conference Committee Co-Lead and a commercial litigation partner at StewartsLaw LLP in London. 

The LIDW organisers note that Sean is Co-Founder of The Unruly Corporation, an AI-powered global business agent helping businesses navigate an increasingly unpredictable world. He is also Co-Founder of Hence Technologies, whose AI-driven enterprise legal management platform is trusted by Fortune 500 companies. 

A noted speaker and columnist, Sean has appeared on major news networks including CNN, BBC, ABC to discuss the intersection of technology, law, and politics. He is also the author of UNRULY: Fighting Back when Politics, AI and Law Upend the Rules of Business, which examines the forces reshaping global governance. 

At last night’s launch at the Law Society in London, which hosted representatives from across the dispute resolution industry along with the LIDW Board, Strategy Group, and sponsors, Sophie and LIDW Co-Chair Loukas Mistelis, a partner at Clyde & Co LLP, unveiled the LIDW26 website and previewed key programme highlights. 

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. 

"The launch event at the Law Society was a fitting way to come together, reflect on how far LIDW has come, and look ahead to LIDW26,” says Louis, a LIDW Co-Chair. “We look forward to welcoming practitioners across the global dispute resolution community as we examine how the industry is transforming, grounded in the enduring strength of English common law and dispute resolution institutions."

LIDW26 will once again kick off with International Arbitration Day, on Monday, 1 June 2026. Reflecting London’s position as a global centre for international arbitration, keynote addresses and topical panels will be hosted at three ‘hubs’: 3 Verulam Buildings at Gray’s Inn, Debevoise & Plimpton, and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.

The flagship Main Conference will take place on Tuesday, 2 June at the QEII Centre in Westminster, with tickets now on sale at the same price as LIDW25. The centrepiece of LIDW26, it will feature senior members of the judiciary, arbitrators, business leaders, in-house and private practice lawyers, barristers, and technology specialists.

As revealed by the LIDW Co-Chairs at the Law Society in London last night, programme highlights for LIDW26 will include: 

• 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?

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

• AI, Authenticity and the Future of Evidence: Trust in a Synthetic World: how can the disputes community preserve confidence in evidence while embracing the opportunities of transformational AI?

• Access to Justice Internationally - Tradition and Transformation: comparative perspectives on key regions including Africa, Asia Pacific, and the UK.

• 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. 

• 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.

Alongside International Arbitration Day and the Main Conference, LIDW26 will also include a LegalTech Showcase, Gala Dinner and other social events, as well as a diverse programme of more than 150 member-hosted events. 

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. Organisers say the Main Conference offers “unparalleled networking opportunities”, as well as a closing drinks reception.