London International Disputes Week (LIDW) returns to the capital this week, taking place this year at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre for its flagship main conference, marking another record-breaking year for the prestigious event.

With more than 6,000 registrations and participation from nearly 100 different jurisdictions, LIDW24 will see double the international delegate representation compared to last year, while delegates from nearly 60 countries will attend the conference.

The conference, which takes place from today (3 June) to 7 June, will feature keynote addresses from Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, and Meg Kinnear, the outgoing secretary-general of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

 Pinsent Masons partner Michael Fletcher, co-chair of LIDW, said: “We look forward to welcoming practitioners from around the globe to discuss how they can navigate the challenges and opportunities that they face. This year’s event marks a further evolution and reflects London’s pivotal leadership role in international dispute resolution.”

LIDW24’s agenda is a testament to its comprehensive approach, offering a diverse range of topics that underscore inclusivity and environmental issues. Alongside the two female keynote headliners are senior female speakers ranging from former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard AC to Dame Sarah Cockerill, a leading High Court judge and the former head of the Commercial Court in London.

Female chairs and speakers are also well-represented across all the major member-hosted events, including International Arbitration Day on Monday 3 June, which this year is shared between Kirkland & Ellis, Covington & Birling and Clyde & Co.

A standout event is a session on ‘Disability Inclusion & Arbitration’, hosted by CMS and Brick Court Chambers. It aims to provide practical advice on implementing the ICC’s Disability Inclusion Guidelines 2023, at which Arbitra International’s Todd Weiler, one of the authors of the report, will speak alongside Brick Court’s Edward Ho and CMS partners Sarah Vasani and others.

The Young and Young at Heart programme for junior lawyers has been significantly expanded, opening up more engagement opportunities for younger participants. In addition, LIDW24 will introduce two new networking hubs to foster delegate interactions and a legal tech hub to showcase products from established and start-up legaltech organisations, further enhancing the event’s dynamic and interactive nature.

Lady Carr, appointed as the first woman head of the judiciary of England and Wales in October 2023, will deliver the keynote address. She is known for her dedication to diversity, equality and inclusion in the legal profession, both in practice and judicially. Lady Carr embodies the conference’s theme of uniting diverse perspectives in dispute resolution.

LIDW was established in 2019 to drive the future of international dispute resolution in London, including litigation, arbitration and mediation. It celebrates the city’s status as a leading centre for handling international disputes, while promoting diversity, inclusion and the rule of law.

Global Legal Post is a media partner of the event and will cover it throughout the week.