IBA Asia Pacific Arbitration Group Symposium: international arbitration in a fragmented world - geopolitics, sovereign immunity, and new paths to resolution
26 Aug 2026
Session information
Panel discussion two: Sovereign immunity and enforcement constraints
Wednesday 26 August (1515 - 1615)
Description
Obtaining an arbitration award against a state or state-owned entity is often only the beginning of the dispute resolution journey. In practice, enforcement frequently becomes the most challenging phase, particularly where sovereign immunity defences, asset tracing issues and jurisdiction-specific enforcement limitations arise. This panel will examine the evolving landscape of sovereign immunity and award enforcement across key Asia-Pacific jurisdictions. It will also discuss practical enforcement strategies, including asset tracing, indirect pressure mechanisms and jurisdictional forum selection.
Session / Workshop Chair(s)
| Professor Joongi Kim | Yonsei Law School, Seoul, South Korea; Co-Chair, Asia Pacific Arbitration Group |
Speakers
| Sunil Abraham | Cecil Abraham & Partners, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Member, Asia Pacific Regional Forum Advisory Board |
| Lucas Bastin | Duxton Hill Chambers, London, England |
| Edouard Fremault | Deminor Litigation Funding, Brussels, Belgium |
| Wendy Lin | WongPartnership, Singapore, Singapore; Regional Representative South East Asia, Asset Recovery Committee |
| Shaneen Parikh | Advocate and Solicitor, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |