37th Annual ITA Workshop and Annual Meeting

Overview

The ITA Workshop and Annual Meeting is widely recognized as the leading conference in the field in the United States.  Make your plans now to join us, our renowned faculty, members of the ITA community and other colleagues from around the globe for what is sure to be an important set of discussions and a memorable experience for all attendees!

Workshop Co-Chairs

Stavros Brekoulakis
National University of Singapore
Singapore

Michael Ostrove
DLA Piper
New York

Natalie Reid
Debevoise & Plimpton
New York

Schedule and Faculty

Arbitration is a trusted and popular system of justice that is well-suited for resolving complex, cross-border disputes. But the process of arbitration has largely remained the same for several decades and is not without problems. Concerns remain about high costs, procedural inefficiency and quality of decision-making. Parties, counsel, arbitrators, funders, and institutions increasingly question whether we could and should rethink the procedural paradigm of arbitration to develop innovative tools, techniques, and technologies to improve the process and its outcomes.

Innovative approaches to advocacy on the part of counsel and case management on the part of tribunals may offer solutions to these perceived issues. Innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can also help us to redesign parts of the arbitration process and contribute to improved outcomes. Whether driven by counsel, tribunals or institutions, innovation is crucial to international arbitration’s continuing as an attractive alternative to litigation – an alternative that responds to and even anticipates the needs of its participants.

The 37th Annual ITA Workshop will include both speaker sessions and practical workshops on innovations in advocacy, innovations in case management, and technological innovations such as the use of AI. This Workshop will invite all attendees to participate in developing tools that they can take away and implement directly in their own practices.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11

2:30- 3:30 pm - Registration

3:30 -3:40 pm - Welcome to the Workshop

• Charles H. (Chip) Brower II, Miller Canfield / Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

YOUNG ITA ROUNDTABLE

Presented by
YOUNG ITA

3:40 – 3:45 pm - Welcome to the Roundtable

• Karima Sauma, Chair, Young ITA, DJ Arbitraje, San José, Costa Rica

3:45 – 4:40 pm - Innovating Beyond Efficiency: Shaping Depth and Clarify

This panel comprises a roundtable which will bring together diverse voices from across the arbitration field to examine how arbitrators, external counsel, and in-house counsel have different perspectives and approaches to innovation in international arbitration, focusing on matters beyond mere procedural efficiency. Three panelists – each assuming a different role – with the coordination of a moderator, will explore how the various participants in the arbitral process can contribute towards a more effective process, from innovation, to better teamwork, clearer communication, deeper insight into complex issues, and stronger reasoning in awards. The panel’s goal is to share the perspectives and experiences of lawyers. The perspective of expert witnesses will be addressed during the second panel.

Moderator: Matteo Angelini, WilmerHale, London, UK

Panelists:

• Stephanie Cohen, Independent Arbitrator, New York, NY, USA
• Catalina Echeverri Gallego, Wordstone Dispute Resolution AARPI, Paris, FRA
• Meredith Craven, Chevron, Houston, TX, USA

4:45 – 5:40 pm - Innovation from the Perspective of Experts

This panel will delve into cutting-edge approaches to the preparation and presentation of expert evidence in international arbitration. The speakers will discuss advancements in substantive methods (such as new valuation techniques or economic models), methodological tools (such as data analytics, artificial intelligence or other digital tools), and procedural innovations (such as novel evidentiary practices or expert interactions) that can refine and enhance their work. The speakers will share their experiences and insights on how these innovations are influencing clarity and persuasiveness in expert evidence.

Moderator: Rob Landicho, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Houston, TX, USA / Dubai, UAE

Panelists:

• Casey Ballard, Stout, Houston, TX, USA
• Anamaria Popescu, Ankura, Denver, CO / Houston, TX, USA
• Tim Rooney, Baker & O'Brien, Dallas, TX, USA

5:40 – 5:45 pm - Closing Remarks

5:45 - 6:45 pm - Workshop Welcome Reception

JW Marriott Houston by the Galleria

THURSDAY, JUNE 12

8:00 – 9:00 am - Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 – 9:10 am - Welcome Back and Introduction to the Program

Charles H. (Chip) Brower II, ITA Chair, Miller Canfield / Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

Workshop Co-Chairs:

• Stavros Brekoulakis, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SG
• Michael Ostrove, DLA Piper, New York, New York, USA
• Natalie Reid, Debevoise & Plimpton, New York, New York, USA

9:10 am – 12:45 pm - Part One: Exploring Innovations in International Arbitration

The morning sessions will include moderated discussions, during which speakers will set out the ideas and innovations that will be further discussed and applied during practical workshops in the afternoon.

9:10 – 10:10 am - Counsel-Driven Innovations in Advocacy

This panel will discuss the ways in which counsel can drive innovation in international arbitration, and how counsel-driven innovation may go beyond methods for a more efficient arbitral process. In particular, panelists will discuss potential methods counsel can use to improve the effectiveness of their advocacy while also reducing time and cost, such as a variety of techniques to streamline lengthy pleadings and assist arbitrators with understanding complex arguments.

Moderator: Sophie J. Lamb KC, Latham & Watkins, London, UK

Panelists:

• Dr. Christopher Boog, Schellenberg and Wittmer, Zurich, CH
• Isaiah Bozimo SAN, Broderick Bozimo & Company, Abuja, NG
• Dharshini Prasad, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Singapore, SG

10:15 – 11:15 am - Tribunal-Driven Innovations in Case Management

This panel will discuss potential methods for arbitrators to introduce innovative solutions to common problems in arbitration, including issues related to case management, document production, identifying the key issues in dispute, and understanding technical elements of the parties’ arguments. Among other techniques, panelists will discuss methods for managing experts and narrowing the scope of disputed issues prior to the final hearing.

Moderator: Fernando Mantilla-Serrano, Latham & Watkins, Paris, FR

Panelists:

• Chiann Bao, Independent Arbitrator, Singapore, SG
• Valeria Galíndez, GALÍNDEZ Arb, São Paulo, SP, BR
• Doug Jones AO, Sydney Arbitration Chambers, Sydney, AU

11:15 – 11:35 am - Coffee Break

11:35 am – 12:35 pm - Technology-Driven Innovations and the Use of AI in Arbitration

This panel will discuss the potential for using AI and other new technologies to resolve inefficiencies in arbitration, including with respect to case management, document review and translation, drafting of orders and awards, and advocacy.

Moderator: Klaus Reichert SC, Brick Court Chambers, London, UK

Panelists:

• Chris Campbell, Baker Hughes, Florence, Italy
  
• Hugh Carlson, Three Crowns LLP, Washington, DC, USA
• Whitney Stekfo, Ford, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
• Ayse Yazir, Bench Walk Advisors, London, UK

12:40 – 2:00 pm - Workshop Luncheon

A Conversation with

Lucinda A. Low
Low & Kinnear Dispute Resolution LLC (LKDR)
Washington, DC, USA

Interviewed by

Meg Kinnear
Low & Kinnear Dispute Resolution LLC (LKDR)
Washington, DC, USA

This interview is the latest in a series organized by the ITA Academic Council to record the evolution of modern international arbitration in the words of those who have led it.

2:15 – 3:50 pm - Part Two: Putting Innovations in International Arbitration into Practice

During this afternoon time slot, practical workshops will take place concurrently in four different breakout rooms. Two breakout rooms will workshop counsel-driven innovations, and the other two will workshop tribunal-driven innovations.

The aim of the afternoon workshops is to put the ideas discussed during the morning sessions into practice, including by developing practical solutions in the form of usable work product (such as model language or a draft protocol or order).

2:15 – 3:50 pm - Working Groups A & B: Counsel-Driven Innovations in Advocacy

Facilitators:

• Tafadzwa (Tafi) Pasipanodya, Foley Hoag, Washington, DC, USA
• Alex Yanos, Alston & Bird, New York, NY / Washington DC, USA
• Noradèle Radjai, LALIVE, Geneva, CH
• Kevin O’Gorman, Norton Rose Fulbright, Houston, TX, USA

Rapporteurs:

• Ernesto Hernandez, Arnold & Porter, Washington, DC, USA
• Thomas Lane, Latham & Watkins, London, UK
• Isabella Lorduy, Reed Smith, Houston, TX, USA
• Luis Sotelo, Gateway Litigation, Lima, PE

2:15 – 3:50 pm - Working Groups C & D: Tribunal-Driven Innovations in Case Management

Facilitators:

• Prof. Andrea Bjorklund, McGill University Faculty of Law, Montreal, QC, CA
• John Fellas, Fellas Arbitration, New York, NY, USA
• Ank Santens, White & Case LLP, New York, NY, USA
• Janet Walker, CM, Atkin Chambers, Toronto, ON, CA / London, UK

Rapporteurs:

• Rosario Galardi, Freshfields, Washington, DC, USA
• Sarah Lee, Debevoise & Plimpton, New York, NY, USA
• María José Monroy, Adell & Merizalde, Bogota, CO

3:50 – 4:10 pm - Coffee Break

4:10 – 5:10 pm - Practical Workshop on Technology / AI

During the final afternoon session, attendees will reconvene in one room for a presentation on technology and the use of AI in legal proceedings. This plenary workshop will involve compelling practical demonstration of AI tools and/or use cases.

Facilitator: Bridget McCormack, American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution, Detroit, MI, USA

Presenter: Stacy Guillon, Decisioncraft ADR, Denver, CO, USA

5:10 – 5:20 pm - Concluding Remarks

Overnight Accommodations

JW Marriott Houston by the Galleria
5150 Westheimer Road,
Houston, Texas, USA, 77056

• Group rate for ITA Conference 2025 - $209++/night
• Guests may use the link provided below or directly call Marriott Reservations at (800) 228-9290 or (713) 961-1500. If you choose to call, please advise guests to identify themselves as part of the ITA Conference staying at the JW Marriott Houston by The Galleria, located at 5150 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77056.

Cutoff Date: 5pm CST May 23, 2025

Book Hotel

Sponsorship Opportunities

ITA Advisory Board Reception and Dinner (June 12, 2025) - $15,000 as exclusive sponsor or $5,500 as general sponsor (up to 4)

River Oaks Country Club

• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as a sponsor of the Advisory Board Dinner at the Dinner, on the conference website, in the brochure, in e-marketing, on social media and at the conference
• 4 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including all substantive CLE programs, conference luncheon, conference breakfast, and receptions) (6 for exclusive sponsor) and 2 discounted registrations (20% off)
• Up to 4 complimentary guests at the Advisory Board Dinner (6 for exclusive sponsor)
• One reserved table at the Advisory Board Dinner, if desired
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials
• Opportunity to provide promotional gifts in conference bags
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Workshop Luncheon (June 12, 2025) - $10,000 as exclusive sponsor or $4,000 as general sponsor (up to 4)

Featuring Oral History Interview with Lucinda Low

• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as a sponsor of the Workshop Luncheon at the luncheon, on the conference website, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing, on social media and at the conference
• 2 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including all substantive CLE programs, conference luncheon, conference breakfast, and receptions) (4 for exclusive sponsor) and 1 discounted registration (20% off)
• Up to 2 additional complimentary guests at the Luncheon
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials
• Opportunity to provide promotional gifts in conference tote bags
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Conference Tote Bag - $9,000 as exclusive sponsor or $3,500 as general sponsor* - SOLD

(general sponsorship available only if 3 or more sponsors enlist)

• Company/Firm Name on one side of the Conference Tote Bag
• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as a sponsor of the Conference Tote Bag on the Bag, on the conference website, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing, on social media and at the conference
• 2 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including all substantive CLE programs, conference luncheon, conference breakfast, and receptions) (4 for exclusive sponsor) and 1 discounted registration (20% off)
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials
• Additional opportunity to provide promotional gifts in conference tote bags
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Welcome Reception (June 11, 2025) - $7,500 as exclusive sponsor or $2,500 as general sponsor

• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as a sponsor of the Welcome Reception at the reception, on the conference website, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing, on social media and at the conference
• 1 complimentary registration to the Workshop (including all substantive CLE programs, conference luncheon, conference breakfast, and receptions) (3 for exclusive sponsor) and 1 discounted registration (20% off)
• 2 complimentary guests at the Welcome Reception
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• Space for promotional materials
• Opportunity to provide promotional gifts in conference tote bags
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Workshop Coffee Breaks - $6,000 as exclusive sponsor or $2,500 as general sponsor (up to 4) - SOLD

• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as a Coffee Breaks Sponsor on the conference website, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing, on social media and at the conference
• 3 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (for exclusive sponsor) or 2 discounted conference registrations (20% off) (for general sponsor)
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• Space for promotional materials at the conference
• Opportunity to provide promotional gifts in conference tote bags
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

WiFi - $5,000 as exclusive sponsor - SOLD

• Company/Firm Name as wifi code for the conference
• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as wifi sponsor on the conference website, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing, on social media and at the conference
• 3 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including all substantive CLE programs, conference luncheon, conference breakfast, and receptions) and 1 discounted registration (20% off)
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials
• Opportunity to provide promotional gifts in conference tote bags
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Lanyard - $5,000 as exclusive sponsor - SOLD

• Company/Firm Name on one side of the conference name badge lanyard
• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as Lanyard Sponsor on the conference website, in the conference broch ure, in e-marketing, on social media and at the conference
• 3 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including all substantive CLE programs, conference luncheon, conference breakfast, and receptions) and 1 discounted registration (20% off)
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials
• Opportunity to provide promotional gifts in conference tote bags
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Conference Breakfast (June 12, 2025) - $5,000 as exclusive sponsor or $2500 as general sponsor

• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as a sponsor on the conference website, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing and at the conference
• 3 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including all substantive CLE programs, conference luncheon, conference breakfast, and receptions) or 1 complimentary registration (for general sponsor)
• Space for promotional materials at the conference
• Opportunity to provide promotional gifts in conference tote bags
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Charging Station - $4,000 as exclusive sponsor - SOLD

• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as a sponsor on the conference website, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing and at the conference
• 2 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including all substantive CLE programs, conference luncheon, conference breakfast, and receptions)
• Space for promotional materials at the conference
• Opportunity to provide promotional gifts in conference tote bags
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Full Page Conference Materials Advertisement - $4,000 as exclusive sponsor - SOLD

• Full page Company/Law Firm Advertisement on the back of the Conference Materials
• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as Conference Binder Sponsor on the conference website, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing, on social media and at the conference
• 2 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including all substantive CLE programs, conference luncheon, conference breakfast, and receptions)
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials
• Opportunity to provide promotional gifts in conference tote bags
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Young ITA Roundtable (June 11, 2025) - $2,750 as general sponsor (up to 4)

• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Recognition as a sponsor of the Roundtable at the Roundtable, on the conference website, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing, on social media and at the conference
• 1 complimentary registration to the Workshop (including all substantive CLE programs, conference luncheon, conference breakfast, and receptions)
• 1 complimentary guest at the Welcome Reception
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• Space for promotional materials at the Roundtable
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Exhibitor - $1,500

• Exposure to thousands of ITA constituents
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to company page
• Space for promotional materials at the conference
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Other Information

VISA Information

If you require a letter of invitation to obtain a visa for travel to the United States to attend our conference, registration must be completed and paid in full before a letter may be requested.  A copy of your registration/payment receipt must accompany your request.  The invitation letter will only be sent by email to the address you provide during registration.  If you apply and do not receive a visa, please send a copy of the letter from the consulate so we can cancel your registration and issue a refund.  Please email ita@cailaw.org.

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Registration for or attendance at this event acknowledges consent to be recorded or photographed. We reserve the right to use any photograph/video taken at our events, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. We may use the photograph/video in publications or other media material produced, used or contracted including but not limited to: brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, annual reports, newsletters, etc. To ensure the privacy of individuals, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the photographed subject.

Nondiscriminatory Policy

The Center for American and International Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status in educational activities, scholarship programs or admissions.

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We do not sell or rent information to any outside parties. By providing your information, you will receive postal and electronic communications from the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA) of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) in accordance with CAIL's Privacy Policy. If we co-sponsor a program with another organization, information may be shared between the parties. All such co-sponsors will be identified on the event details and registration page. At any point, you can opt-out or unsubscribe by selecting either link at the bottom of each email or call us at 972.244.3400.