38th 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

Dr. Crina Baltag
Queen Mary University of London
London, UK

Elliot Friedman
Freshfields US LLP
New York, New York, USA

Silvia Marchili
White & Case LLP
Miami, Florida, USA

Workshop Overview - The Fragile Foundations of International Arbitration: Consent Contested, Capacity Questioned, Legitimacy at Stake

Consent is the bedrock of international arbitration, yet it is now under significant strain. In both commercial and investment arbitration, fundamental questions about who actually agreed to arbitrate, what they agreed to arbitrate, and how that agreement is interpreted, limited or expanded keep resurfacing. Corporate groups, shareholders, funders, and affiliates are increasingly drawn into proceedings despite never signing an arbitration agreement. States withdraw from or reshape treaties, resist consent in contracts, and challenge the jurisdiction of tribunals to resolve disputes touching on sovereignty-related issues. Meanwhile, proposals such as a multilateral investment court seek to replace or reframe consent entirely. Click-wrap, browse-wrap, and AI-generated terms test whether consent formed online is really consent. And domestic courts diverge on how these issues are reviewed when arbitration agreements or awards come up for enforcement, straining the predictability of the entire enterprise.

All of this has the potential to raise legitimacy concerns: if arbitration is no longer clearly rooted in the voluntary agreement of the parties, can it still be trusted as a dispute resolution mechanism? By examining consent across all stages of arbitration and taking a comparative approach across jurisdictions, the 2026 ITA Workshop will address whether arbitration can adapt to modern realities without losing the legitimacy and party autonomy that have long made it attractive.

Young Lawyers Roundtable Co-Chairs

Enrique Jaramillo
FBFK Law
Houston, Texas, USA

Mevelyn Ong
Sidley Austin LLP
Hong Kong

Roundtable Overview - Consent: Cornerstone of Arbitration, or a Legal Fiction (Debate)

This panel aims to set the scene and provide a broad overview of common consent-related controversies that arise in arbitration, from the pre-arbitration phase through to enforcement. The panelists will consider whether consent is truly the foundation of arbitration where an arbitration agreement is unclear, when non-signatories may be joined to an arbitration, when arbitral institutions may have powers that override party objections, where non-parties may be permitted to make submissions in an arbitration, and when arbitral awards may be enforced against assets of non-parties to an arbitration. It will canvass both commercial and investor-state arbitration situations as well.

Schedule and Faculty

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10

2:30- 3:30 pm - Registration

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

3:40 – 3:50 pm - Welcome to the Roundtable

Young ITA Roundtable

3:50 – 4:50 pm - Consent: Cornerstone of Arbitration, or a Legal Fiction (Debate)

This panel sets the stage by providing a broad overview of consent-related controversies that arise in commercial and investor-state arbitration, from the pre-arbitration phase through enforcement. Panelists will consider whether consent is truly the foundation of arbitration where arbitration agreements are unclear, when non-signatories are joined, when arbitral institutions have powers that override party objections, where non-parties can make submissions, and when awards may be enforced against assets of non-parties.

4:50 – 5:45 pm - Authority and Consent: Navigating Corporate Commitment to Arbitration Across Legal Traditions

This panel will explore how civil law and common law jurisdictions approach the authority of individuals to bind corporations. Experts will examine key differences in legal standards, formalities, and judicial interpretations that affect enforceability of arbitration agreements. Discussion will emphasize practical insights on how these factors affect arbitral jurisdiction, recognition of arbitral agreements, and enforcement of awards. Panelists will consider how variations in national laws governing agency, representation, and corporate authority influence the validity of arbitration clauses in multi-party and cross-border contexts. These distinctions are particularly relevant in disputes involving corporate entities, affiliates, agents, or third-party beneficiaries, where consent and authority are often contested.

5:45 - 6:00 pm - Day 1 Closing Remarks

THURSDAY, JUNE 11

Workshop

8:00 am – Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 am – Welcome Back

9:10 – 9:15 am – Introduction to the Program

9:15 - 10:15 am - Keynote Conversation: Are tribunals and courts too focused on the technicalities of consent, or not focused enough?

Consent lies at the heart of arbitration, but is often contested. Speakers will consider whether arbitral tribunals and reviewing courts have gone too far- or not far enough - in scrutinizing consent. Should they adopt a more exacting approach when jurisdiction is challenged, or does flexibility better serve legitimacy and effectiveness of arbitration?

10:20 - 11:20 am – Arbitrating Consent in Contract Disputes with States and State-Owned Entities

Arbitrations involving States and state-owned entities raise sensitive questions of consent because they are subject to constitutional, administrative, and public law constraints that may affect their authority to arbitrate. This panel will examine disputes arising where arbitration clauses intersect with changing government policies or state interference in investor–SOE relationships. Using LCIA-administered cases to illustrate how questions of State and SOE consent are handled in practice, the panel will take a comparative perspective on how different legal systems reconcile consent with public law constraints.

11:25 am – Coffee Break

11:40 am - 12:40 pm – Treaty Claims vs. Contract Claims: Old Debate, Continuous Relevance?

The distinction between treaty and contract claims has long preoccupied arbitration practitioners, but does the debate continue to have relevance? This panel will revisit the controversy in light of recent jurisprudence and shifting investment protection. For States, the coexistence of treaty and contract claims can mean defending on multiple fronts. For investors, the choice of framing claims raises strategic questions of jurisdiction, remedies, and enforcement. Panelists will discuss whether the distinction is now settled or continues to have practical significance, and what it reveals about the perceived fragility of consent in investment arbitration.

12:45 pm - Luncheon Interview

A Conversation with
Prof. Bernard Hanotiau
Hanotiau Tossens Goldman
Brussels, Belgium

Interviewed by

Prof Crina Baltag
Queen Mary University of London
London, UK

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 - 3:15 pm – Non-Signatories and the Expanding Web of Consent

Arbitration increasingly involves parties who have not signed an arbitration agreement. This panel examines the doctrines that regulate such extensions, including the group of companies doctrine, alter ego, veil piercing, and agency. Jurisdictions diverge sharply in their approach to non-signatories, raising concerns about fairness, predictability, and legitimacy. Drawing on ICC practice, the panel will take a comparative perspective on how seats, governing law, and legal cultures shape the treatment of non-signatories.

3:20 - 4:20 pm – Consent and Judicial Review: A Second Bite at the Apple?

Questions of consent are often revisited when arbitral awards reach domestic courts. While some jurisdictions defer to tribunals’ findings, others apply de novo review. This panel will explore the implications of these diverging approaches. Does de novo review safeguard legitimacy or undermine finality? Should courts play an active role in protecting the integrity of consent, or defer to arbitral autonomy? Discussion will take a comparative perspective on judicial review relating to consent. Recent case law suggests that standards of review have become a central, unsettled, and unpredictable issue worldwide.

4:20 pm – Coffee Break

4:40 - 5:40 pm – Consent and the Future of International Arbitration

The concluding panel will look ahead to the next decade: Will consent remain the bedrock of international arbitration, or will it become increasingly fictionalized? How will emerging trends such as opt-outs, aggregate proceedings, digital contracting, and state-driven reforms affect voluntariness and legitimacy? Discussion will address whether arbitration will continue to meet the needs of users and maintain the trust of investors, and whether it may be reshaped by alternatives to arbitration and other emerging trends.

5:45 pm – Concluding Remarks

FRIDAY, JUNE 12

9:00 am - ITA Forum - Session One

The ITA Forum is an informal, off-the-record discussion of current developments and concerns in international arbitration among ITA members, Workshop faculty, and special guests. The agenda for this open discussion is determined by the participants. Please click here to submit your questions or topics in advance for discussion at the Forum.

10:15 am - Break

10:45 am - ITA Forum, cont. - Session Two

12:00 pm - Adjourn

Sponsorship Opportunities

Workshop Tote Bag Sponsor - $9,000 (exclusive)

• Company/Firm Name or logo on one side of the Workshop Tote Bag
• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 4 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Workshop Coffee Breaks Sponsor (June 11, 2026) - $6,000 (exclusive) - SOLD

• Recognition with signage in break room on June 11, 2026
• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 4 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Workshop Dinner and Advisory Board Annual Meeting Sponsor (June 11, 2026) - $5,500 (4 allowed)

Houston Racquet Club

• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 4 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• One reserved table at the Advisory Board Dinner (optional)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

WiFi Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive) - SOLD

• Company/Firm Name as WiFi code for the conference
• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 3 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Seat Cover Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive)

• Seat Covers with Company/Law Firm Logo provided by Sponsor placed on Conference chairs
• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 3 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Lanyard Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive) - SOLD

• Company/Firm Name on one side of the conference name badge lanyard
• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 3 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Workshop Breakfast Sponsor (June 11, 2026) - $4,000 (exclusive)

• Recognition with signage in breakfast room on June 11, 2026
• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 2 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Workshop Materials Sponsor - $4,000 (exclusive)

• Full page Company/Law Firm Advertisement on the back of the Conference Materials Packet
• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 2 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Workshop Luncheon Sponsor (June 11, 2026) - $4,000 each

Featuring Oral History Interview with Beranrd Hanotiau

• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 2 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Notepad Sponsor - $4,000 (exclusive) - SOLD

• Company/Firm logo on blank notepads distributed to participants
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 2 complimentary conference registrations
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Welcome Reception Sponsor (June 10, 2026) - $3,000 each

JOEY Uptown

• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 1 complimentary registration to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 2 complimentary guests at the Welcome Reception
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Charging Station Sponsor - $3,000 (exclusive)

• Name/logo displayed at charging stations
• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 1 complimentary registration to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

ITA Forum Breakfast Sponsor (June 12, 2026) - $3,500 (exclusive)

• Recognition with signage at the Forum Breakfast on June 12, 2026
• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 2 complimentary registrations to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

ITA Forum Coffee Break Sponsor (June 12, 2026) - $2,750 (exclusive)

• Recognition in all marketing material
• Recognition with signage at the Forum Break on June 12, 2026
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 1 complimentary registration to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Young ITA Roundtable Sponsor (June 10, 2026) - $2,750 (4 allowed)

• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 1 complimentary registration to the Workshop (including the dinner and welcome reception)
• 1 exhibition table for promotional materials

Exhibitor (Non-Law Firms Only) - $2,000

• Recognition in all marketing material
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed on conference website, program, and slides
• 2 complimentary pass to the welcome reception
• 1 exhibition table for promotional material

Hotel Information

The Westin Oaks Houston
5011 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77056

Rooms are available at the rate of $179+ the nights of June 9-12, 2026. The Cutoff for booking a room is May 18, 2026, or when block sells out.

Book Hotel

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.

Photo/Audio/Video Release

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.

Privacy Policy

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.