London International Disputes Week: ICSID Secretary-General Meg Kinnear to give closing keynote address at core conference

Meg Kinnear, the Secretary-General of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), and Vice President of the World Bank Group, will deliver the closing keynote address at this year’s Core Conference of the London International Disputes Week (LIDW) on Tuesday, June 4.

The Core Conference is poised to be a platform for networking and knowledge-sharing among legal professionals and high-profile participants. Discussions and keynotes led by internationally renowned judges, arbitrators, and lawyers will occur throughout the day to offer insights into the most topical issues of the moment.

LIDW24 will host delegates across five days from June 3 to 7.

Under the theme, Uniting for Global Challenge and Opportunity, this year’s series will showcase London’s role as the leading centre for international dispute resolution.

The keynote speaker for the closing session of the LIDW24 Core Conference, Meg Kinnear joined ICSID in June 2009.

She worked as Senior General Counsel (2006-2009) and Director General of the Trade Law Bureau of Canada (1999-2006). Prior to this, Kinnear also worked as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Justice of Canada (1996 -1999) and as Counsel at the Civil Litigation Section of the Canadian Department of Justice (1984-1996).

She has frequently spoken on and published on subjects concerning international investment law and procedure, including as a co-author of Investment Disputes under NAFTA (Kluwer Law Publications, June 2006; updated editions released January 2008 and June 2009).

She holds degrees from the University of Virginia (LL.M.) and McGill University (LL.B.). She is admitted to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario) and the District of Columbia Bar.

Commenting on the LIDW24, Meg Kinnear said:

“Innovation and inclusivity are the hallmarks of London International Disputes Week. LIDW24 promises to continue that tradition at a time when the rule of law and peaceful dispute resolution are essential in confronting our current global challenges. I look forward to sharing perspectives from ICSID—the leading institution for the resolution of international investment disputes—and learning from colleagues with their own unique insights and solutions.”

Meanwhile, details of LIDW’s International Arbitration Day, which will be held on June 3 before the Core Conference, have also been unveiled.

International Arbitration Day will be hosted across the offices of Clyde & Co, Covington & Burling, and Kirkland Ellis, to kick-start LIDW24. It will feature keynotes from industry leaders such as Lord David Wolfson, KC. Panel discussions will span a wide range of topics in key jurisdictions, from India to Saudi Arabia, and from Africa to North and Latin America.

The topic for India Panel session is 'India's review of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act and arbitration ecosystem - India's Push for Regional Prominence?'

The panel includes: Dharshini Prasad (Wilkie Farr), Gopal Subramanium (3 Verulam Buildings), Nitesh Jain (Trilegal) and Nitin Banerjee (Covington & Burling).

Networking drinks at Kirkland & Ellis will be followed by the LIDW opening reception at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms. Tickets for the reception can be found here.

Luiz Aboim, International Arbitration Day lead for LIDW, said,

“I am delighted to launch the agenda for International Arbitration Day, which will feature keynotes from distinguished arbitral experts, and panel discussions geared towards exchanging insights from jurisdictions across the globe. I am also thrilled that one of the most respected figures in global arbitration, Meg Kinnear, will be the closing keynote speaker at this year’s Core Conference.”

For more information and updates, visit https://lidw.co.uk/, as well as LIDW’s social channels on Twitter (@LIDW_) and LinkedIn (@London International Disputes Week) 

Tickets are available to purchase at https://2024.lidw.co.uk/