Former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard AC and ex-UK attorney general Lord Goldsmith KC are joining Dame Sue Carr, the lady chief justice, as headline speakers at London International Disputes Week (LIDW) 2024, which runs from 3-7 June.

The trio will be speaking at LIDW’s core conference on 4 June, which is taking place at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster and will serve as a focal point during a week that will feature more than 100 member-hosted events.

The core conference will delve into critical aspects of dispute resolution, with a special focus on global challenges and opportunities, and feature a keynote opening address by Carr and a closing speech by Meg Kinnear, secretary-general of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Among the standout sessions, Gillard, now a partner at Datrys Mediation +, will engage in a fireside chat on state-related dispute resolution with Goldsmith, who has a rich history in handling prominent cases. It will be chaired by leading London arbitration lawyer Ben Giaretta of Fox Williams. 

Providing a business perspective, Josh Bayliss, CEO of the Virgin Group, will address the role of ESG investments in modern business strategies. His leadership has notably steered Virgin towards a stronger focus on sustainable practices.

Campbell Jackson, EY’s global claims and disputes leader, will chair a panel of senior in-house professionals discussing dispute resolution methods in today’s changing international business environment. The panel will include Suber Akther, principal litigation counsel at Siemens Energy, and David Connolly, head of legal, compliance and litigation, Europe & IMEA, at IHG Hotels & Resorts.

The conference will also feature a session chaired by Moira Thompson Oliver, head of business and human rights at Slaughter and May, focusing on risk and reputation in a values-driven global environment. 

Another significant panel will see High Court judge Mrs Justice Cockerill, a former head of the Commercial Court, and other experts discussing the future of dispute funding. The session is expected to draw considerable interest given the evolving landscape of litigation finance in the UK and the recently commissioned Civil Justice Council review of litigation funding. 

Joining Baroness Carr and Dame Sara Cockerill as judicial speakers at the event will be Mr Justice Henshaw, who will become head of the Commercial Court in September. He will moderate a session exploring the global landscape for enforcement of judgments and awards – a highly topical subject as the Arbitration Bill also proceeds through Parliament. 

Richard Susskind, a recognised authority on the intersection of technology and law, will address the conference on how artificial intelligence (AI) is used in legal practice. His insights will spur a robust panel discussion on how AI can transform traditional dispute resolution mechanisms.

Stewarts partner Sophie Lalor-Harbord, co-chair of the main conference committee, said: “In addition to gaining invaluable insights from our exceptional speakers, attendees will have the chance to participate in an exceptional social programme and networking opportunities.” 

The Global Legal Post is a media partner for LIDW 2024 and will be providing coverage of the core conference and other events, including a dedicated day on international arbitration shared between Clyde & Co, Covington & Burling and Kirkland & Ellis.

Click here for more details about LIDW 2024 and to book tickets.