15th Annual ITA-ASIL Conference:

Overview

The ½-day ITA-ASIL Conference is presented annually in Washington, D.C. by the ITA Academic Council with the American Society for International Law (ASIL) immediately preceding the ASIL Annual Meeting. Scholarship is a hallmark of this conference. The conference concludes with a networking luncheon.

Conference Co-Chairs

Won Kidane
Seattle University School of Law
Seattle, Washington

Caroline S. Richard
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP
Washington, DC

Download the Brochure (pdf)

For more details, download the online brochure.

Schedule and Faculty

Diversity and inclusion in international arbitration is now firmly on the agenda. There is a heightened sense that the international arbitration community must take action to address the lack of diversity, not least because of its impact on the perceived legitimacy of international arbitration as a method of dispute resolution. This will be the first major international conference to tackle this issue, with the ambitious aim of shaping the conversation and providing practical, actionable ideas to effect positive change. Featuring a keynote speech and commentary, two panels of speakers will look critically at the causes of the lack of diversity and the importance of remediating the deficit, as well as potential solutions from a practitioner, academic, and institutional vantage points.

8:00 am

Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 am

Welcome and Introduction

• Abby Cohen Smutny, Chair, ITA Advisory Board, White & Case LLP, Washington, D.C.
• Lucinda A. Low, President, ASIL, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Washington, D.C.

9:05 am

Keynote Address

The math is not hard:  the numbers readily prove that international arbitration is not diverse. (Inclusivity is another issue.)   Harder is to quantify the impact (if any) on arbitral justice.  Harder still is to identify, confront and accept our role in the causes, which is the first step in finding workable solutions.  Long experience suggests that it is caution, habit and, yes, bias that underlie our non-diverse practice.

• Lucy F. Reed, Professor and Director, Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Conference Commentator: Gonzalo Flores, Deputy Secretary-General, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), Washington, D.C.

9:35 am

Defining the Issues

It is now a fairly well settled observation that the diversity of decision-makers in international investment and high-stakes commercial arbitration matters has not kept pace with the increasing diversity of the users.  Diagnostic in essence, Panel I will closely scrutinize the causes of the continued diversity deficit in international arbitration, and set the stage for Panel II.

Introduction and Moderator: Prof. Won Kidane, Seattle University School of Law, Seattle, Washington

Panelists:

• Prof. Anna Spain Bradley, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, University of Colorado Law School, Boulder, Colorado
• Mélida N. Hodgson, Foley Hoag LLP, New York
• Prof. Anne Marie Whitesell, Professor and Director of International Dispute Resolution Programs, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.

Roundtable and Q&A

10:45 am

Break

11:05 am

A Critical Look at Solutions

Panel II will first address the role of diversity in ensuring the legitimacy, accuracy, and acceptability of both the international arbitral process and of the outcome.  It will then assess the efforts that have been made by the users of international arbitration (both private and governmental), arbitral and public international  institutions as well as academics to address the lack of diversity.  It will finally deliberate on the possible solutions going forward.

Introduction and Moderator: Caroline S. Richard, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, Washington, D.C.

Panelists:

• Lucy Greenwood, GreenwoodArbitration, Houston, Texas
• Prof. Catherine A. Rogers, Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson School of Law and the School of International Affairs, Founder and Executive Director, Arbitrator Intelligence, State College
• Prof. Nassib G. Ziadé, Chief Executive Officer, Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR-AAA), Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

Roundtable and Q&A

12:15 pm

Conculding Remarks

• Prof. Susan D. Franck, Chair, ITA Academic Council, American University Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C.

12:20 pm

Networking Luncheon

1:30 pm

Sponsorship Opportunities

Lanyard Sponsorship (Exclusive) - $3,500 - SOLD OUT

• Exposure to thousands of ITA and ASIL constituents
• Recognition as a Sponsor on the conference websites, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing and at the conference
• Name/logo on the conference name badge lanyard
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to firm/company page
• 2 complimentary registrants at the conference
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Conference Luncheon - $2,500 each

• Exposure to thousands of ITA and ASIL constituents
• Recognition as a Sponsor on the conference websites, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing and at the conference
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to firm/company page
• Recognition at the Luncheon
• 2 complimentary registrants at the conference
• Up to 3 complimentary guests at the Luncheon
• Space for promotional materials at the conference
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Conference Breakfast and Coffee Breaks - $2,000 each

• Exposure to thousands of ITA and ASIL constituents
• Recognition as a Sponsor on the conference websites, in the conference brochure, in e-marketing and at the conference
• Name/logo on the conference website with link to firm/company page
• 1 complimentary registrant at the conference
• Space for promotional materials at the conference
• Post-conference recognition at ITA’s website and in its quarterly News & Notes

Exhibitor - $1,500 each

• Space to display company/firm materials at the conference.
• Name/logo on Conference website with link to company page.
• Post-conference recognition on the ITA website and in its newsletter, News and Notes

For further information, please contact Lilly Hogarth (+1-972-244-3424).

CLE Credit

This program is approved by the State Bar of Texas for 2.75 hours, no ethics. Course ID Number: 174009593. Credit hours for other states will vary and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.

For this conference, ITA will directly apply (if requested) for course accreditation in the following states: California, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Some of these states may not approve a program for credit hours before the program occurs. Attorneys may be eligible to receive CLE credit through reciprocity or attorney self-submission in other states. ITA conferences are typically accredited by all mandatory CLE states.

Overnight Accommodations

A limited number of rooms are reserved at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill hotel in Washington, DC at the special rate of $219 plus taxes and fees.  The hotel is likely to fill up soon so you should make your hotel reservations now.  You may make your reservations directly with the hotel’s online reservation link or by calling +1.888.421.1442 (be sure to mention the “American Society of International Law” to receive the discounted group rate).

Other Information

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 or any other protected status in educational activities, scholarship programs or admissions.

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