Dublin is set to host its inaugural International Disputes Week in June as Ireland seeks to promote its legal industry in the wake of Brexit.

The DIDW 2022 event is due to take place between 13 and 16 June and will combine a mix of virtual and in-person events, including a one-and-a-half day conference taking place at Mansion House in the heart of the city centre.

The new forum is aimed at international legal practitioners and general counsel and will provide expert insight and discussion on litigating and arbitrating complex, cross-border disputes, in addition to a choice of networking receptions. Irish firms and law associations are also planning a series of events throughout the week to complement the conference.

Confirmed conference speakers include Ireland’s chief justice Justice Donal O’Donnell, Court of Appeal judge Justice David Barniville, Latham & Watkins antitrust partner Elizabeth Prewitt, Debevoise & Plimpton white collar defence and investigations partner Jane Shvets, Weil Gotshal & Manges restructuring counsel Debora Hoehne and High Court judge Justice Michael Quinn, alongside many more.

Agenda topics include navigating jurisdiction, enforcement and sanctions in cross-border disputes; cross-border restructurings through Ireland; cross-border challenges in IP regulation; and building a multi-jurisdictional asset recovery team, among others.

Non-conference in-person events are being hosted by Hayes Solicitors on GDPR, Eversheds Sutherland on global risk and investigations, and the Commercial Litigation Association of Ireland on Ireland’s commercial court and complex, international and intellectual property disputes. 

Virtual events are also being hosted by Clark Hill on bankruptcy and personal insolvency, McCann FitzGerald on sanctions, liability and managing risk, and BryneWallace on the rise of cybercrime and cyber war, risk protection and incident response.

A number of firms have set up in Ireland since the UK’s departure from the EU, most recently offshore firm Ogier, which announced a merger with eight-partner Dublin firm Leman in March.

That follows Addleshaw Goddard’s merger with 25-partner Dublin firm Eugene F Collins in February. Firms including Burges Salmon, Ashurst, Hogan Lovells and Bird & Bird have also all opened Ireland offices over the last 18 months.