London International Disputes Week 2025

There has been an extraordinary run of global events and developments over the past decade, giving rise to possible insurance claims for Covid losses, losses from war and conflict, wide-spread cyber attacks, losses connected to climate change, more frequent natural catastrophes and environmental damage, and increasing insurance backed M&A risks. With new events and risks arising all the time our panel will consider how parties are looking to insurance to cover some or all of these risks, the approach of the courts (and arbitral tribunals) so far, as well as how insurance will be relevant to the risks businesses will face in coming years.

Date: Wednesday 4 June 2025

Time: 09:00 - 10:30

Venue: Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Exchange House

Hosts: Herbert Smith Freehills, 7KBW, Solomonic

Speakers: Sarah McNally - Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills, David Edwards KC - Barrister, 7KBW, Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC - Barrister, 7KBW

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Global dealmakers expect more M&A deals and disputes in the remainder of this year as geopolitical turmoil, private equity involvement and other pressures cast a persistent shadow over the deal landscape, as revealed in BRG's M&A Disputes Report launched in March 2025. These conditions are wreaking havoc on business calculations, deepening the risk of disputes over purchase price adjustments, termination clauses and other provisions as parties seek to limit risk or recover value from transactions.

Join us for a panel discussion featuring lawyers and market experts discussing M&A deal and disputes activity, deal structure, and mitigation, as well as what potentially lies ahead.

• High-level findings about M&A deal trends
• Macroeconomic lay of land in 2025
• Industries where disputes are observed / expected
• Deal structures / mechanisms which increase the risk of disputes
• Mitigation

Date: Wednesday 4 June 2025

Time: 14:00 - 15:30

Venue: Lecture Theatre & Breakout Space, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, Crown Office Row, London, EC4Y 7HL

Hosts: BRG, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Latham & Watkins

Speakers: Danny Ryan – BRG, Matt McSheaffrey – BRG, Sophie Lamb KC - Latham & Watkins, Mike McClure KC - Herbert Smith Freehills, Manthi Wickramasooriya - Quinn Emanuel, Kevin Hagon - BRG

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A wave of competition class actions has been certified to proceed to trial in the UK in recent years, fuelled by a very low bar to certification, increased availability of litigation funding, broad disclosure rules and the willingness of the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) to engage in detailed consideration of complex legal tests and economic analysis. Join us as we examine the latest developments in this area, including:

• Riefa v Apple: the first outright refusal of certification by the CAT since Merricks v Mastercard and the first refusal of certification on the grounds of unsuitability of the proposed class representative
• Le Patourel v BT: the first substantive judgment in an opt-out competition class action - including the CAT's approach to excessive pricing as an abuse of dominance, and practical insights from BT's legal team
• Key themes emerging from settlement agreements approved by the CAT
• The CAT's approach to scrutinising funding arrangements at the certification stage

We will focus on the practical implications for future cases and the development of the UK regime going forward, and address critical questions relating to the effectiveness and balance of the certification process.

Date: Wednesday 4 June 2025

Time: 16:00 – 17:30

Venue: Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Exchange House

Hosts: Cornerstone Research, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

Speakers: Sophie Thompson - BT Group, Charlotte Thomas - Brick Court, Tristan Jones KC - Blackstone Chambers, Kim Dietzel - Herbert Smith Freehills, Liam Colley - Cornerstone Research

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International courts and tribunals are in increasing demand as the world navigates an era marked by growing geopolitical uncertainty and new challenges. Join us as we consider the roles of the International Court of Justice, ITLOS, and other international courts and tribunals during these turbulent times.

We will discuss the reasons for this growing demand for adjudication in international law, how these judicial bodies have responded, and the effectiveness of advisory opinions, provisional measures, and intervention. We will also look more broadly at the future of these international courts and tribunals, their capacity to adequately respond in the face of the new challenges, and the broader implications for states and non-state actors.

Schedule:

We will commence at 8:30 with a networking breakfast, followed by the seminar at 09:00.

08:30: Networking Breakfast

09:00 - 10.30: Panel Discussions and Interactive Q&A

Date: Thursday 5 June 2025

Time: 09:00 - 10:30

Venue: Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Exchange House

Hosts: Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Twenty Essex

Speakers: TBC

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Use of expert evidence is an essential part of most construction disputes – quantum, delay and engineering experts are frequently instructed.  The role of the expert witness is meant to be objective and their effectiveness in persuading a Tribunal to accept their opinions will depend in large part on their credibility as genuine independent experts in their field, and not for example as just another advocate in disguise. This interactive panel session explores client, expert, tribunal and counsel perspectives on these issues.

Date: Thursday 5 June 2025

Time: 14:00 - 15:30

Venue: Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Exchange House

Hosts: Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Accuracy

Speakers: Tayo Okunade – Accuracy, Andrew White KC - Atkin Chambers, Daniel Gething – Uniper, James Doe - Herbert Smith Freehills

More information and registration