Registration Coming Soon
The Center on International Commercial Arbitration (CICA) at American University Washington College of Law and the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law are pleased to announce the forthcoming 9th Symposium on Salient Issues in International Arbitration, to be held on November 12 and 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
The Symposium continues the tradition of the biannual conferences jointly organized by the CICA and the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, which bring together scholars, practitioners, and researchers from different jurisdictions to examine significant and emerging developments in international arbitration. Previous editions have addressed broad questions concerning interpretation of rules, transnational legal orders, and the impact of nationalism on international, while providing a forum for researchers at different stages of their careers to present and discuss their work.
2026 Symposium Theme:
Due Process in Arbitration and Other Forms of International Dispute Resolution
The 2026 Symposium will focus on Due Process in International Dispute Resolution, with a particular focus on Arbitration and Due Process. Due process has long been regarded as a fundamental principle underlying the legitimacy of arbitrations as well as of court processes. At the same time, the meaning and practical implications of due process continue to evolve as arbitral proceedings become increasingly complex, technologically sophisticated, and subject to scrutiny by national courts. International arbitration adds to the pressures to understanding due process, with differences in how different legal systems view what elements are required for due process and with increasing calls for stakeholder participation.
The Symposium seeks to explore the contemporary understanding of due process in international arbitration and the ways in which due process concerns shape arbitral proceedings, judicial review, and the legitimacy of the arbitral process.
The organizers welcome submissions that approach this topic from comparative, doctrinal, theoretical, empirical, historical, or practice-oriented perspectives. Contributions addressing the interaction between international arbitration and developments in national procedural law are particularly encouraged.
Call for Research – Take Part in the Debate!
The Symposium invites researchers to submit work for presentation during a dedicated research panel on Friday, November 13, 2026.
We welcome submissions from established scholars, practitioners, early-career researchers, doctoral candidates, and other researchers working in the field of international arbitration.
Submissions may take the form of:
- Abstracts of proposed research that is still at an early stage;
- Research in progress, including work that may be presented for discussion and feedback; or
- Completed or substantially completed articles or papers.
The purpose of the research panel is to provide an opportunity for researchers to present their work to an international audience and to engage in substantive discussion with scholars and practitioners working on related questions.
Papers need not be exclusively devoted to due process. Rather, the proposed research should meaningfully engage with, or shed light upon, the broader theme of due process in international arbitration.
Submission Requirements
Applicants should submit:
- a title of the proposed presentation;
- an abstract of up to 500 words describing the research and its principal questions or arguments; and
- a 150-word biographical statement.
Applicants who are submitting an existing article or paper may indicate this in their submission and may provide a copy of the paper in addition to the abstract.
To submit a paper, the authors should email an attachment in Microsoft Word or PDF containing the abstract to [email protected].
Abstracts should reflect original research that has not been published. Please include the author’s name, title of the paper, institutional affiliation, contact information, and three to five keywords. Graduate students should identify themselves as such in the email.
Deadline
The deadline for submissions is October 12, 2026. Abstracts received thereafter will not be considered.
Submissions received after the deadline may be considered if space remains available. Authors will be notified by October 19 whether they have been selected to present at the Symposium.
Selection of Papers
Submissions will be reviewed by the Symposium organizers. Selection will be based primarily on the quality, originality, and relevance of the proposed research to the Symposium's overarching theme.
The organizers particularly welcome work that brings comparative or international perspectives to questions of procedural fairness and that contributes to the broader scholarly and professional discussion concerning the legitimacy and future development of international arbitration.
Selected researchers will be invited to present their work during the Research Panel on Friday, November 13, 2026.
Presentations should be designed to facilitate discussion and exchange among the participants. Depending on the stage of the research, presenters may receive comments and questions from panelists and other Symposium participants.
About the Symposium
The Symposium on Salient Issues in International Arbitration is a biannual academic forum organized by the Center on International Commercial Arbitration at American University Washington College of Law and the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law. The Symposium seeks to promote international dialogue concerning significant developments in international commercial and investment arbitration and to provide a forum in which scholars and practitioners from different legal systems can exchange ideas and research.
Previous editions have brought together researchers and practitioners from numerous jurisdictions to discuss contemporary questions in international arbitration. The Symposium is intended not only to showcase established scholarship but also to provide an international platform for new research and emerging voices in the field.
