London International Disputes Week (LIDW) 2026 has announced the final agenda for its flagship main conference in June, which is taking place on Tuesday 2 June at the QEII Centre in Westminster.
The programme will examine the forces reshaping international dispute resolution, including the accelerating role of artificial intelligence (AI), the rise of mass claims, the growing interplay between law and geopolitics, and the resilience of the rule of law amid global change. Tickets are now on sale, with prices frozen at last year’s level.
Throughout the day, panels will bring together senior in‑house and private-practice lawyers, experts, legal technologists and leading figures from the judiciary and international arbitration, including Sir Geoffrey Vos, the Master of the Rolls; former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, president of the Qatar International Court; and independent arbitrator and mediator Paula Hodges KC.
The conference will open with a keynote address from Sean West, co‑founder of The Unruly Corporation and Hence Technologies, which will set the tone for a day focused on LIDW26’s theme of “trust, transformation, and the future of dispute resolution” in a rapidly evolving world.
With insights from in-house disputes lawyers always a highlight of LIDW, the day will also feature a fireside chat with Clare Wardle, outgoing general counsel of The Coca-Cola Company.
Other speakers include former UK government chief of staff Fiona Hill, from the Future Resilience Forum; former Lord Chancellor David Gauke, now of Macfarlanes; and Dr Dhananjaya Chandrachud, the former Chief Justice of India.
RPC’s Jonathan Cary, LIDW co-chair, said: “It is exciting to see the full LIDW26 main conference programme now live. The programme is designed to foster meaningful dialogue around the key challenges facing international dispute resolution, reinforcing London’s position not only as a global centre for disputes, but as a driving force in how the legal community responds to and leads through transformation.”
Natasha McCarthy of Debevoise & Plimpton and Sophie Lalor-Harbord of Stewarts, the LIDW main conference committee co-leads, said: “The programme tackles the defining challenges that will shape international dispute resolution in the years ahead, including the impact of artificial intelligence on evidence, access to justice and the resilience of the rule of law, underscoring LIDW’s role in driving informed, future‑focused dialogue.”
Complementing the main conference, LIDW26 will feature more than 350 member-hosted events taking place across London throughout the week. The Global Legal Post is a media partner and participating member of LIDW and is hosting a series of roundtables during the week.
The week will begin with International Arbitration Day on 1 June and will also feature a legaltech showcase on Wednesday, highlighting innovation and demonstrating how technology is transforming the practice and delivery of commercial dispute resolution.
Throughout the week, there will be an array of social events, including a gala dinner at the historic Raffles London at The OWO, and events designed for and by the younger LIDW Next Gen community.
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
