2nd Africa Arbitration Day (Hybrid)
Date: 19 January 2023
Time: 14.00 - 18.15 (UK time) | In person registration from 13.30
Venue: BIICL, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Sq London WC1B 5JP and ONLINE
Co-organised with
Conference Outline
Today, Africa is arguably the most magnetic of the world's emerging economies with a fast-rising youthful population and enormous opportunities for international trade and investments. Disputes arising in Africa have increased more than disputes from other parts of the world in all major arbitration institutes.
The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL), in cooperation with Queen Mary University of London and Babcock University, are organising the second African Arbitration Day, an authoritative conference on recent developments and topics of interest in international arbitration in Africa. The event will bring together leading practitioners, arbitrators and academics working in the area of international arbitration related to Africa. The conference will address the most significant challenges and offer deep insights into issues that will affect strategy in dealing with disputes in future.
Join the conversation @BIICL #africaarbitrationday
Pricing and Registration
This is a hybrid event which will be held at BIICL in London in person and online
Conference Programme
14:00 - 14:15 Introduction
14:15 - 15:00 Keynote speech Aissatou Diop, ICSID
15:00 - 16:30 Panel 1: Need to reform Substantive Standards of Investment Protection in Africa?
Chair: Lise Bosman, Executive Director, International Council for Commercial Arbitration
- Topic 1: Assessing current approaches to substantive standards of protection in International Investment Agreements and Bilateral Investment Treaties involving African States.
- Topic 2: Reforming international investment protection in Africa I: Model Bilateral Investment Treaties promulgated by African States
- Topic 3: Reforming international investment protection in Africa II: Africa Continental Free Trade Area and Pan-African Investment Code
- Topic 4: Relationship between several different investment-related instruments: harmonisation or confusion?
16:30 - 16:45 Break
16:45 - 18:15 Panel 2: Need to reform Processes for Resolving Investment Disputes in Africa?
Chair: Professor Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Cairo University
- Topic 1: Assessing current ISDS rules and practices for resolving investment disputes involving African States
- Topic 2: Positions of African States towards the current discussions for reform under the UNCITRAL Working Group III: Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform
- Topic 3: Maintaining, Reforming or Abandoning the ISDS system for resolving Investor-State disputes involving African States
Speakers:
- Hannah Ambrose, HSF London
- Jacob Grierson, Asafo & Co., Paris
- Mouhamed Kebe, GENI & KEBE, Senegal
- Mounia Larbaoui, White& Case, Paris
- Tafadzwa Pasipanodya, Foley Hoag, Washington DC
- Naomi Tarawali, Cleary Gottlieb, London
- Guled Yusuf, Allen & Overy, London
Conference Convened by Prof. Stavros Brekoulakis (QMUL), Prof. Bankole Sodipo (Babcock University), Prof. Mohamed Abdel Wahab (Cairo University) & Prof. Eva Lein (Director of the Centre of Comparative Law of BIICL and UNIL)
