London International Disputes Week 2026 Convenes in June with NERA, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Pinsent Masons, and Monckton Chambers Anchoring Expert Sessions on Carbon, Competition, and Cross-Border Tax
London International Disputes Week (LIDW) 2026 is scheduled for the first week of June, positioning London as the global hub for international dispute resolution and celebrating the city's commitment to the rule of law. NERA Economic Consulting is co-hosting three sessions at the event, bringing together leading lawyers and economists across litigation, competition, ESG, and tax. Session highlights include a seminar on carbon offsets and corporate carbon neutrality claims, led by NERA Senior Managing Director George Anstey alongside Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Of Counsel Louise Barber and Partner Craig Tevendale, South Pole General Counsel Kushal Bhimjiani, and Marsh Carbon Credits Senior Advisor Lara Whitmore. A competition law and international arbitration crossover session will feature NERA's Grant Saggers and Monckton Chambers barrister Kassie Smith KC. A dedicated session on international tax disputes and cross-border tax controversies will involve Pinsent Masons partners Jake Landman and Sylvia Tonova alongside tax barristers and academics. LIDW's platinum sponsor is EY; gold sponsors include FTI Consulting, HKA, and Teneo.
Why this matters
LIDW is a direct signal of London's sustained ambition as the premier seat for international dispute resolution, a status under periodic challenge from Singapore, Paris, and the DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre). The subject matter of the 2026 sessions — carbon credits, competition economics in arbitration, and cross-border tax — maps onto the highest-growth areas of international disputes practice. Carbon neutrality claims, in particular, are an emerging litigation frontier as corporates face scrutiny over ESG (environmental, social, and governance) representations, creating a pipeline of complex valuation and quantum work for City disputes teams. The cross-over of competition law economics and international arbitration reflects a structural trend of larger, more complex claims requiring integrated legal and expert economic analysis.
On the Ground
A trainee supporting an international arbitration matter highlighted at LIDW would coordinate cross-border legal opinion requests from local counsel, draft and update the case chronology for witness statement bundles, and assist with the preparation of costs schedules for tribunal filing.
Interview prep
Soundbite
Carbon neutrality claims are the next wave of international arbitration — quantifying damages where ESG representations are contested.
Question you might get
“A client faces an international arbitration claim arising from a carbon offset purchase agreement where the counterparty alleges the credits were not genuine. What legal and expert resources would you assemble to defend that claim, and which arbitral rules and seat would you recommend?”
Full answer
London International Disputes Week 2026 convenes in June with sessions anchored by NERA, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Pinsent Masons, and Monckton Chambers across carbon credits, competition law, and international tax disputes. The event matters for City lawyers because it reinforces London's position as the preferred seat for high-value international arbitration at a time when Singapore and Paris are actively competing for that status. The thematic focus on carbon offset valuation disputes and cross-border tax controversies signals where sophisticated international disputes are heading — both areas demand integration of legal argument and expert economics. This suggests firms with strong international arbitration benches and established expert networks will see growing mandates in ESG-adjacent disputes through the remainder of 2026.
Sources
My notes
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