Ms Teresa Cheng GBM GBS SC JP (Founder Member and Co-Chairman of AAIL) and Dr Dini Sejko (member of the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators) led a thought-provoking session on ‘International Investment Law’, focusing on the complexities of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).

Through their detailed presentations and interactive discussions, the speakers explored the challenges and opportunities faced by the ISDS system in an increasingly interconnected world, as well as the pressing need for reform in this critical area of investment protection.

Ms Cheng provided an insightful overview of the framework of international investment arbitration. Dr Sejko followed with an analysis of substantial protection issues, including key topics such as direct and indirect expropriation, national treatment, and most-favoured-nation treatment. Building on this, Ms Cheng addressed two particularly controversial standards, namely the fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security. Concluding the session, Ms Cheng introduced the audience to current developments and potential pathways for reform within the ISDS system, sparking further discussion on the future of international investment law.

This session provided participants with a comprehensive introduction to the evolving landscape of ISDS and its significant implications for international investment law.