Stewarts at London International Dispute Week 2026

The seventh London International Disputes Week (LIDW) will take place from Monday, 1 to Friday, 5 June 2026. Stewarts is once again co-hosting a series of events across the week alongside LIDW member organisations. Topics will cover the latest trends in fraud, international arbitration, securities litigation, artificial intelligence and global financial fraud, with a focus on cross-border disputes in Latin America, India, Asia and Africa.

This year, Sherina Petit, Head of International Arbitration and the India practice, joined the board of LIDW. Sherina has long been committed to strengthening collaboration across litigation, arbitration and ADR and supporting the global disputes community. The appointment reflects her contribution to the evolution of LIDW as a truly international forum. Sherina comments: "LIDW has become a truly global forum for dispute resolution, and its next chapter is an exciting one to help shape."

In addition, Sophie Lalor-Harbord, a partner in our Commercial Litigation team, is a member of LIDW's strategy group and Chair of LIDW's In-House Committee.

More information on each of our Stewarts co-hosted events, along with registration links, can be found below.

It's coming home: why and how parties secure English jurisdiction in cross-border disputes

Wednesday, 3 June, 09.00 - 10.30

Stewarts speakers: Tom Clark, Alex Jay

(with One Essex Court)

This session explores why England remains the forum of choice for complex cross-border disputes, and the procedural and strategic routes by which parties can secure English jurisdiction to maximise certainty, enforceability and access to powerful interim remedies.

London as a seat for Latin America-related arbitrations: challenger or default?

Wednesday, 3 June, 09.00 - 10.30

Stewarts speaker: Alejandro Garcia

(with Gatehouse Chambers)

London's position as a seat for Latin America-related arbitrations is shifting under the combined force of legislative modernisation, predictable court supervision and a mature funding ecosystem.

This interactive panel discussion will consider how the Arbitration Act 2025 and recent Supreme Court guidance have impacted London's appeal, while addressing common user concerns around governing law, bias, speed, cost and funding enforceability. The panel will also explore current economic and regulatory triggers across key Latin American jurisdictions and how funding dynamics are increasingly shaping seat selection.

Is the current UK securities litigation regime fit for purpose?

Wednesday, 3 June, 9.00 - 10.30

Stewarts speakers: Lorraine Lanceley and Elaina Bailes

(with Freshfields)

Join us for a panel discussion that will evaluate the current UK securities litigation regime more than a decade on from its debut cases and reflect on whether it is fit for purpose as an investor protection mechanism that delivers access to justice in a proportionate way, or whether change is required. If so, what might the future look like for s90/s90A and Schedule 10A Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 disputes in England and Wales, including in the context of the wider macro-economic and political environment? The panel will consider the securities litigation regimes in other jurisdictions by way of comparison and/or for inspiration, and examine recent case law developments in England and Wales and their potential impact on the regime as a whole.

Funding the fraud fight: data and insights from lawyers and funders

Wednesday, 3 June, 11.30 - 13.00

Stewarts speakers: Alex Jay and Charlie Mercer

(with Solomonic)

Stewarts and Solomonic present the third edition of their Commercial Fraud Report, using data and market insight to examine trends in UK fraud disputes. This session focuses on the funding of fraud claims, with leading funders discussing current developments and how these will shape the future of fraud litigation.

In conversation: perspectives from the bench and the bar - India, Asia and the future of international arbitration

Wednesday, 3 June, 11.30 - 13.00

Stewarts speaker: Sherina Petit

(with the LCIA)

This session will take the form of a fireside chat featuring the Director General of the LCIA, Kevin Nash, and LCIA board member, Sherina Petit, in conversation with a leading figure from the legal community in India. The discussion will explore the interaction between national courts and international arbitration, regional developments in Asia and the future direction of global dispute resolution.

General counsel - or global counsel?

Wednesday, 3 June, 14.00 - 15.30

Stewarts speaker: Sherina Petit

(with Brick Court Chambers)

This event will explore how the role of GCs has evolved internationally, how counsel from across the world manage their cross-border disputes, the current challenges faced by GCs and what significant changes could happen for GCs in the next five years.

Cultural intelligence in arbitration: practical skills for young practitioners

Wednesday, 3 June, 16.30 - 18.00

Stewarts speakers: Louis Peacock-Young, Nishant Nath Singh

(with Orrick)

Join us for a practical discussion designed specifically for young arbitration practitioners. Our panel will consider how different legal cultures influence the way hearings unfold, the presentation of evidence, tribunal and party dynamics, and procedural expectations.

The new face of fraud: deepfake threats to corporate governance

Thursday, 4 June, 09.00 - 10.30

Stewarts speakers: Ed Holmes

(with Taylor Wessing)

This session will explore the evolving landscape of deepfake and identity-manipulation fraud, examining how these attacks are constructed, where corporate vulnerabilities lie and what organisations can do to stay ahead of emerging risks. Our panel will address the legal, regulatory and ethical implications, from liability questions and evidentiary challenges to obligations under data protection and fraud legislation.

Evolving arbitration: rethinking processes for a more effective future

Thursday, 4 June, 09.00 - 10.30

Stewarts speakers: Sherina Petit

(with JSA Advocates & Solicitors)

This session will look at how arbitration can best serve its users in an increasingly complex and international disputes landscape.

Our panel will reflect on aspects of procedure and practice that may no longer meet parties' needs, consider where rules could evolve to enhance efficiency and discuss how counsel and institutions alike can contribute to a smoother, more responsive process.

Whose mine is it anyway? Investor protections, sovereign priorities and sustainability in Africa

Thursday, 4 June, 14.00 - 15.30

Stewarts speakers: Daniel Wilmot

(with SOAS/SADRC and EconONE)

Across the African continent, a new wave of mining-related disputes is testing the balance between sovereign optimisation and investor certainty.

This session brings together leading practitioners and sector experts to unpack the drivers, from fiscal resets and licensing changes to resource nationalism, energy transition pressures and ESG. We'll examine the friction between international investor protections and development priorities, and how sustainability can reshape risk, renegotiation and strategy on both sides of the table.

Join us and contribute to the discussion as we explore one of the continent's many challenges.

Global financial fraud

Thursday, 4 June, 14.00 - 15.30

Stewarts speakers: Alex Jay

(with Interpath)

Fellows of the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators on this panel will discuss current events and trends in financial fraud.

Access to public domain documents pilot: too much information or not enough - a discussion with Lady Justice Cockerill and leading practitioners

Thursday, 4 June, 16.30 - 18.00

Stewarts speakers: Elaina Bailes

(with LSLA, Cooke Young & Keidan, Macfarlanes)

This will be a panel discussion about the new Access to Public Domain Documents Pilot, with Lady Justice Cockerill and practitioners representing the claimants' and defendants' perspectives. The pilot is a two-year scheme requiring parties in the Commercial Court, the London Circuit Commercial Court of the King's Bench Division and the Financial List to file legal documents through the HMCTS Portal, the tool we all know as CE-File, in order to make them publicly available.

Into darkness and beyond: contracts under fire

Thursday, 4 June, 16.30 - 18.00

Stewarts speakers: Rovine Chandrasekera

(with Saraf & Partners)

As tensions escalate across the Middle East and West Asia, companies are stress-testing their contracts and crisis playbooks. This panel examines how parties can navigate volatility without losing sight of what anchors effective dispute resolution.

Using past examples and a focused hypothetical scenario - an Indian contractor delivering a Middle East project under a contract providing for London-seated arbitration - the panel will discuss the key issues of invoking force majeure or frustration, managing suspension of contracts, breach and termination risk, and choosing the right dispute strategy. We also address the on-the-ground realities that determine outcomes: securing reliable human source intelligence, preserving evidence, safeguarding personnel, ensuring cash flow is maintained for projects, and planning for asset tracing and recovery from the get-go.

Expect a lively, practice-led discussion offering takeaways for in-house counsel and practitioners across the Middle East, India and the UK on how to protect value today while positioning contracts and disputes for tomorrow.

Shareholder actions - recent developments in the law

Thursday, 4 June 16.30 - 18.30

Stewarts speakers: Sophie Lalor-Harbord

(with Reed Smith, Travers Smith, Erskine Chambers)

In light of a number of interesting decisions in England and internationally, the panel will present a case study to discuss how minority shareholders might hold companies and their directors to account, with practical tips on resolving such disputes. Through the case study, the panel will present the key takeaways from recent cases.

If you require assistance from our team, please contact us.