Brian opens with a sit-down interview featuring Kevin Nash, the LCIA’s new Director-General , for an inside look at where the institution, and London as a seat, are heading. Kevin shares his roadmap for updating the LCIA Rules, harnessing technology, and broadening the caseload beyond its traditional strongholds, while reflecting on why he believes London remains arbitration’s global crossroads [TIME 07:22]. In Happy Fun Time, Brian and Sadia park the pleadings and talk real life. How to keep fr...
Jul 08, 2025
No Happy Fun Time this week, just a deep-dive. Brian sits down with Dimitriy Mednikov , an international-arbitration specialist at Habib Al Mulla & Partners in Dubai, together they decode the UAE’s three-tier system: on-shore courts, the DIFC, and the ADGM [TIME 01:56]. Expect candid takes on why the DIFC often serves as a “conduit” for enforcing foreign awards and on how ADGM’s wholesale adoption of English statutes (contrasted with the DIFC’s more hybrid approach) informs counsel strategy....
Jun 24, 2025
Brian and Sadia kick things off with Ayse Yazır ACII of Bench Walk Advisors for a beginner-friendly masterclass on third-party funding: what it is, why you might want it, and how to land it without losing control of your case [TIME 07:57]. In Happy Fun Time, the co-hosts turn a critical eye to The Economist ’s “ Conference Survival Handbook ,” separating smart advice from questionable hacks and sharing their own battle-tested tips for thriving on the arbitration-conference circuit [TIME 44:41]....
Jun 03, 2025
Brian kicks things off by welcoming David Hunt of Boies Schiller Flexner to unpack the ever-spicier topic of anti-suit injunctions, using the UK Supreme Court’s decision in UniCredit Bank GmbH v RusChemAlliance LLC as a springboard [TIME 13:18]. They explore how the case intersects with the proposed revisions to the Arbitration Act 1996, revisit Enka v Chubb , and debate whether the English courts’ approach is evolving. If anti-suit injunctions and jurisdictional gateways are your thing, this on...
May 13, 2025
In our season opener, Sadia welcomes back Professor Loukas Mistelis, a senior international‑arbitration partner at Clyde & Co, professor of transnational dispute resolution at Queen Mary University of London, and newly appointed co‑chair of London International Disputes Week (LIDW), to talk about how this year’s programme was designed, the thinking behind its themes, and the innovative approaches shaping one of the world’s leading legal events [TIME 05:39]....
May 06, 2025
We are back!
Apr 23, 2025
In this festive special episode, Brian and Joel welcome a notable guest, Hon. Charles N. Brower, to their book club gathering [TIME 05:12]. The episode centers around Judge Brower’s memoir, "Judging Iran: A Memoir of the Hague, the White House, and Life on the Front Line of International Justice." The hosts engage in a deep dive into the Judge's rich experiences and perspectives, exploring his significant journey through various international legal spheres.
Dec 19, 2023
Saadia is back! To welcome her back, Brian discusses the relatively recent UK Supreme Court judgement that has caused a shake-up for third-party funders [TIME 02:52]. But are the consequences as far reaching as originally expected? For HFT, Brian and Saadia discuss the "who, what, when and why" for requesting extensions in arbitration [TIME 20:26].
Dec 06, 2023
We are happy to welcome Joel back into your ears - albeit briefly - for another great episode. Brian interviews Mark Tushingham from Twenty Essex about two simultaneous decisions handed down by the UK Supreme Court and Privy Council grappling with the interpretation of Section 9 of the Arbitration Act [TIME 04:40]. For HFT, we welcome back Jon Passaro who will coach us on how to invest time now to save time in the future [TIME 28:04]....
Nov 21, 2023
In this episode, Brian and Jan delve into the nuances of early dismissal applications in international arbitration. They discuss the ethical and strategic considerations that emerge from such applications [TIME 03:05]. During the Happy Fun Time segment, Brian offers his insights on conditional fee arrangements and explores other innovative fee arrangement types between arbitration lawyers and their clients [TIME 20:00].
Nov 08, 2023
Brian and Jan are back for another entertaining episode. Brian first interviews Duncan Pickard about recent challenges concerning the representation of Member States at the United Nations [TIME 04:13]. Brian and Jan then react to the contribution from our listenership as they complete the sentence: “You know you work in arbitration when…” [TIME 36:03].
Oct 24, 2023
In this packed episode, Brian dives into a thought-provoking discussion with Tim Robbins , exploring the intricacies of efficiency in arbitration [TIME 05:49]. We’re also joined by Simon Camilleri , who brings us keen insights into the Law Commission’s final report on the reform of the English Arbitration Act 1996 [TIME 36:58]. And stick around for our Happy Fun Time segment, where Brian and Jan demystify the utility of programming in our professional undertakings [TIME 59:34]....
Oct 10, 2023
Groove back into gear, Arbitration Nation, because we are rolling back after our sunny summer siesta! First up, Brian speaks to Andrew Fulton KC and Manuel Casas , as they dive deep into a tale of politics intertwining with international law, the Maduro Saga [TIME 05:22]. For Happy Fun Time, Brian and Jan will be discussing the latest shifts in the WFH policies which are making waves in the legal industry [TIME 30:55]....
Sep 26, 2023
Aug 25, 2023
We hope everyone is enjoying their summer holiday (if you're fortunate enough to have one)! As you relax, we have another great episode for you. First, Brian treats us to a review of the partial annulment of the Khudyan v. Armenia award concerning issues of dual nationality [TIME 6:35]. For HFT, we invite back Jonathan Passaro for another great interview concerning the dreaded annual reviews [TIME 26:47]. Don't forget to register for the 20th Anniversary ICAL Conference in Stockholm here: https:...
Aug 01, 2023•54 min•Season 7Ep. 6
In Episode 5, Saadia introduces a news-worthy update about the multi-jurisdictional saga regarding the recognition and enforcement of a USD 15 billion arbitration award issued between the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu and Malaysia [TIME 06:16]. Then, for HFT, Brian recounts the trials and tribulations of file sharing and how institutions are adapting their technology to facilitate case management [TIME 25:15].
Jul 18, 2023
With a full suite of co-hosts, we tackle a question that has bothered us all: why do people confuse arbitration with arbitrage [TIME 34:12]? But before that, we engage in another Arbitration Book Club discussion, this time based on our reading of Mikaël Schinazi’s book The Three Ages of International Commercial Arbitration [TIME 03:31]. For those who, like us, remain confused please see the following dictionary definitions: Arbitration : “[t]he formal process of having an outside person, chosen ...
Jul 04, 2023
In Episode 3, Brian welcomes the first interview of the season, Simon Camilleri [TIME 06:40], who introduces the proposed reforms to the English Arbitration Act of 1996. We discuss the consultation process and our personal views on the need and adequacy of the reforms. Then, for HFT [TIME 27:24], Brian and Saadia discuss how close is too close in the arbitration community - are we victims of challenge paranoia?
Jun 21, 2023
Jun 07, 2023•Season 7Ep. 2
We’re back in business, with a slightly changed format: shorter, snappier, and a semi-retired Joel. In this first episode, we discuss how different aspects of recent technology advancements influences the practice of arbitration. Brian first discusses the development toward decentralised autonomous organisations [TIME 05:27], before the season’s first Happy Fun Time addresses how AI tools are changing how we conduct arbitration work [TIME 20:08].
May 24, 2023•Season 7Ep. 1
Kluwer Arbitration Blog Quiz: According to arbitration historian Derek Roebuck, what practice was widely used during the reign of her majesty Queen Elizabeth I to avoid the involvement of the Crown in disputes? This was one of the questions asked at the first ever live Kluwer Arbitration Blog Quiz. If you are scratching your head for the answer, fear not, we captured the whole event live!
Dec 20, 2022
ICCA 2022 Mini-Series - Part 6: Last but certainly not least, Saadia interviews Mahnaz Malik , barrister at Twenty Essex in London. Saadia and Mahnaz discuss whether arbitration is suffering from a mid-life crisis, how the field has evolved since its inception and the key changes we can expect to see in the future.
Dec 13, 2022
ICCA 2022 Mini-Series - Part 5: In our fifth instalment, we interviewed a Scottish local (well, sort of). James Hope , a Partner at Vinge in Stockholm, sits down to discuss the progress of fairness and diversity in arbitration. He specifically reflects on the importance of the rule of law, even in war times, and arbitration as being a tool for peace.
Dec 06, 2022
ICCA 2022 Mini-Series - Part 4: In our fourth instalment, we spoke to the only sociologist in the room…well, at least one of very few. We sit down with Florian Grisel , Associate Professor of Socio-Legal Studies at Oxford University, who spoke to us about some sociological perspectives of international arbitration. Can arbitration practitioners learn from a dialogue with sociology? Listen to this episode and let us know!
Nov 29, 2022
ICCA 2022 Mini-Series - Part 3: In our third instalment, we interview Wolf Von Kumer, a leading independent arbitrator/mediator with Arbitra International . Wolf spoke with Brian about recent developments in the energy sector and how the energy transition will create new opportunities for the use of (mixed mode) mediation in Investor-State disputes.
Nov 22, 2022
In our second instalment, we shift our focus to another region - Latin America. Eduardo Zuleta joins us to discuss certain actions of constitutionality that have shaped the practice of both commercial and investment arbitration in the region.
Nov 15, 2022
Welcome to the ICCA 2022 Mini-Series! Similar to our broadcast from Sydney, we were kindly invited by the organizers of the ICCA 2022 Congress in Edinburgh to participate as media sponsors and broadcast interviews of panelists who spoke at the conference. In the first episode, we wanted to give you an interview that was emblematic of the Congress' theme - the Age of Enlightenment. We interviewed Professor Emilia Onyema about the significant reforms in Africa that have been and will be necessary ...
Nov 08, 2022
We could not help ourselves – we had to come back with a mid-season special. In this special episode, we talk to Krystyna Khripkova regarding the current state of play for Ukrainian arbitration firms and practitioners, both in Ukraine and abroad [Time 07:42]. We also wanted to take this opportunity to invite anyone and everyone to register for the 2022 ICCA Congress in Edinburgh on 18-21 September 2022 ( Register - ICCA 2022 (icca2020.scot) ). The podcast is happy to participate as a media spons...
Sep 06, 2022
Five years and 99 episodes later, three co-hosts and one producer/editor sit down to evaluate what we have done so far. We look back to high and low points from earlier episodes, enjoy a few messages from listeners and hear Brian speak offensive mock-French at least three times. Warning - consider the episode a summer bonus, because there’s very little fresh arbitration content in this one! We will be back after the summer with more of that.
Aug 12, 2022•1 hr 2 min
The Arbitration Station is getting very close to the big three digits - Episode 100 is just around the corner. For now, we discuss ordre public/public policy/public order/IPO (there’s some terminology confusion on this point) as well as standard of review based on a recent French court decision on the review of an investment treaty award [TIME: 9:15]. The second topic is related, and concerns how to handle advocacy in arbitrations that involve elements of criminal law [TIME: 32:52]. This week’s ...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 6Ep. 14
