Conference programme

The panel will explore the growing trend to arbitrate disputes emerging from compliance investigations related to potential criminal conduct and will discuss the varying ways national courts review and accept any arbitral decisions in this area.

Blue carbon mitigation has been in the spotlight as a potential mitigation tool and solution to climate change. The projects and technologies are still in development phase but have been discussed in the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate. This panel will discuss the challenges and opportunities of these projects.

Do law firms know and present sufficiently their role in rule of law?

In this interactive session we will analyse trends, coverage and regulatory issues of this increasingly popular instrument in M&A and other transactions. We will discuss with leading industry players, including insurers, brokers and private practitioners representing the various parties involved, which are the main aspects to be considered: types of policies, pricing, expected coverage and exclusions, underwriting process, claims notices and procedures and all relevant process matters any private practitioner should be aware of when advising its client

Tax authorities around the world are applying more resources in their assessment of a MNE’s transfer pricing practices and policies, often leading to costly and time-consuming challenges, disputes and controversy.  A number of tools are available to MNEs in order to obtain certainty before a challenge or dispute arises, or otherwise resolve conflicts in a fast and efficient manner.  This panel will explore the tools and processes that MNEs and tax authorities have at their disposal in order to achieve a modicum of certainty in a MNE’s transfer pricing, or otherwise reduce the resources required to satisfactory resolve any related disputes.  This panel will discuss some of these processes and their advantages and disadvantages, including participation in the International Compliance Assurance Programme (ICAP) compared against Advance Pricing Arrangements (APA), as well as provide a practical overview of a number of the mandatory binding arbitration models available and agreed upon between countries for resolving disputes ranging from final offer arbitration to independent option arbitration under the Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP).

Join us at the awards breakfast where the IBA Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights, the IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, and the IBA Pro Bono Award will be presented.

The IBA Judges’ Forum has organised a tour of the Paris Commercial Court and Court of Appeal taking place during the IBA Annual Conference.

Spaces are limited and are assigned on a first come, first served basis. Registration is only possible onsite, and registered conference delegates can sign up at the Speakers‘ Desk by the IBA Registration Desk, where they will receive further information on transport and security requirements. However please note that all attendees should have with them their passport for the appropriate security checks at the Courts.