Current remedies for business-related human rights abuses such as trafficking in persons, child labor, violence against labor protestors, unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, land seizures, and multiple others are patchy, unpredictable, often ineffective and fragile. This fails both victims, who have little access to justice, and businesses, which often operate in environments of legal uncertainty and where participants are not competing on a level playing field.
Arbitration offers the possibility of a consent-based remedy to victims of human rights abuses when domestic courts are unavailable due to lack of capacity, lack of impartiality or jurisdictional obstacles. There have been growing discussions on the subject, however there are several key questions, such as, whether BHR disputes meet the "commercial relationship" requirements for International Arbitration. We seek to address such issues and create a discussion on it, involving lawyers, business professionals, academics and students.
AGENDA
Protection of Investors versus Protection of Human Rights in International Arbitration
Resolving Business and Human Rights Disputes: The Experience So Far
BHR Arbitration: What's in it for the corporations?
Dealing with forum Shopping: Should only pro-human rights jurisdiction be eligible as seat?
Whether BHR disputes meet the "commercial relationship" requirements?
Partner, Co-Head (Business & Human Rights) & Global Co-Chair (Africa) Herbert Smith Freehills
NICOLE BIGBY Partner & General Counsel Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
STEPHEN JAGUSCH QC
Partner & Global Head (International Arbitration) Quinn Emanuel
SOPHIE LAMB QC
Partner & Co-Head (International Arbitration) Latham & Watkins
WAYNE JORDASH QC
Managing Partner Global Rights Compliance
JULIANNE HUGHES-JENNETT Partner Hogan Lovells
SUZANNE SPEARS Partner Allen & Overy
MICHIEL COENRAADS Partner DLA Piper
MONICA FERIA-TINTA Barrister 20 Essex Street Chambers
ROBERT VOLTERRA Founder & Partner Volterra Fietta
ALISON MACDONALD QC Barrister Matrix Chambers
KATE CERVANTES-KNOX Partner DLA Piper
SARAH MACRORY Assistant Legal Adviser Foreign & Commonwealth Office
CLARE CONNELLAN Partner & Head (Business & Human Rights) White & Case
KLENTIANA MAHMUTAJ Barrister Red Lion Chambers
ANNA KIRKPATRICK Senior Associate Clifford Chance
PRATIK BAKSHI Co-Founder World Law Forum
VENUE
DLA Piper 160 Aldersgate St, London EC1A 4HT, UK
SCHEDULE
This is a full day conference and is scheduled for 09:30 AM - 03:30 PM. The detailed schedule will be released shortly.
REGISTRATIONS
Professionals: £75 Young Professionals: £60 Students: £30
Tickets are available on a first-come first serve basis. Subsidised tickets are available for students and young professionals (under 29 years of age). Students must provide university ID card at the time of check-in. Young Professionals must provide a photo ID card at the time of check-in.