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    Global South and ISDS Certificate Course – Online

    The Global South and ISDS Certificate Course will take place on 24-25 April 2026 in the online format.

    The Global South and ISDS Certificate Course introduces participants to the theory and practice of investor–State dispute settlement (ISDS), while critically examining Global South perspectives on international investment law.

    In light of the oft-cited ‘legitimacy critique of ISDS’ in the Global South context, this certificate course aims to bring together leading experts, academics, and practitioners from India, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and other jurisdictions, combining doctrinal analysis with practical insight.

    Participants will explore substantive standards of investment protection, procedural aspects of ISDS, and current reform debates, including sovereignty concerns and strategic considerations for states and investors from the Global South.

    Beyond academic discussion, this certificate course places strong emphasis on professional skills and career development. Practical sessions focus on oral and written advocacy across cultures, complemented by interactive discussions on career pathways in international arbitration and ISDS.

    The certificate course provides valuable opportunities to engage directly with senior practitioners and peers. It is designed not only to deepen substantive knowledge but also to equip participants with the practical tools and international perspectives needed to succeed in global dispute resolution.

    Upon successful completion of the course requirements, including the reflective journal component, participants become eligible to receive accredited certificates by Arbitration Lab, London.

    Please find the course brochure attached, here.

    We no longer accept applications. If you wish to apply next year, please leave your information here and we will get in touch in due course.

    Faculty

    Baiju Vasani, BCL (Oxford)
    Baiju Vasani, BCL (Oxford)
    Baiju Vasani is a barrister and arbitrator with Twenty Essex in London
    Prof. Dr. Dr. Yarik Kryvoi, LL.M. (Harvard)
    Prof. Dr. Dr. Yarik Kryvoi, LL.M. (Harvard)
    Senior Fellow at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and Of Counsel at Keidan Harrison
     Prof. Dr. Bankole Sodipo, LL.M. (Lagos)
    Prof. Dr. Bankole Sodipo, LL.M. (Lagos)
    Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Senior Partner at G.O Sodipo & co, Professor & Former Dean of Law at Babcock University
     Jyoti Singh, LL.M. (Delhi)
    Jyoti Singh, LL.M. (Delhi)
    PhD candidate at the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi and an India-qualified lawyer
     George Pothan Poothicote, LL.M. (King's College London)
    George Pothan Poothicote, LL.M. (King's College London)
    Advocate, Supreme Court of India, and Legal Consultant, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
     Prof. Arif Hyder Ali
    Prof. Arif Hyder Ali
    Founder of AHALI, a boutique dispute resolution-focused law firm based in Washington, D.C. and London
     Pranay Lekhi, LL.M. (Cambridge)
    Pranay Lekhi, LL.M. (Cambridge)
    Associate in the International Arbitration team at Allen Overy Shearman Sterling LLP in London, qualified as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and as an advocate in India
     Ramya Raman
    Ramya Raman
    Associate Partner with P&A Law Offices focusing on Investor State arbitrations
    Prof. Dr. Prabhash Ranjan, LL.M. (SOAS)
    Prof. Dr. Prabhash Ranjan, LL.M. (SOAS)
    Professor of Law at Jindal Global Law School
    Shreyas Jayasimha
    Shreyas Jayasimha
    Co-founder, Aarna Law (India) and Simha ADR (Singapore)
    Prof. Dr Kabir Duggal C.Arb, LL.M. (NYU)
    Prof. Dr Kabir Duggal C.Arb, LL.M. (NYU)
    Partner, International Arbitration at Akin Gump and Lecturer in Law, Columbia Law School

    Key benefits of participation


    Learning Outcomes

    By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

    • Understand key global trends in foreign direct investment and assess their implications for Global South jurisdictions
    • Analyse substantive protections under international investment agreements and identify recent developments in treaty practice
    • Navigate procedural aspects of investor–State dispute settlement, including consent to arbitration and applicable rules
    • Evaluate how Global South States engage with ISDS, drawing on comparative perspectives and practical case studies
    • Apply effective advocacy techniques in international arbitration, including adapting to cross-cultural and different legal traditions
    • Identify career pathways in international arbitration and develop practical strategies for securing roles in the field

    Course Requirements

    Participants are expected to attend all sessions of the programme. Active participation is essential to ensure a meaningful learning experience and to benefit fully from the interactive format of the course.

    In addition, participants are required to submit a reflective journal within seven days of the programme’s conclusion. The journal will consist of short responses to a set of guiding questions and is designed to capture participants’ understanding, reflections, and ideas in relation to the topics covered during the course.

    Timely and complete submission of the reflective journal is a mandatory requirement for the award of a Certificate of Completion.

    Venue

    Online (Zoom)

    Programme and application procedure

    Global South and ISDS course brochure 

    Programme

    all times Indian Standard Time (IST)

    Day 1, Friday, 24 April 2026

    16:20 – Joining the conference via Zoom 

    16:30 – 17:30

    Welcome and Introductions (Professor Yarik Kryvoi and Malhar Satav)

    • Opening remarks
    • Overview of the workshop
    • Speaker introductions

    17:30 – 18:45  Opening Keynote: Baiju Vasani

    18:45 – 19:00  Networking Break

    19:00 – 20:00  Session 1 Professor Arif Hyder Ali: Procedural International Investment Law: Current Issues

    • ISDS clauses and the Global South
    • Forms of consent to arbitration
    • Procedural trends in international investment agreements
    • Applicable arbitration rules
    • UNCITRAL Working Group III and ISDS reform

    20:00 – 20:15: Q&A

    Day 2, Saturday, 25 April 2026

    11:00 – 12:15  Session 2 
    Professor Yarik Kryvoi: Substantive International Investment Law: Current Issues and Global South Perspectives

    • Global FDI trends and the Global South
    • International Investment Agreements: current state and emerging trends
    • Respondent States and Home States
    • Standards of protection
    • Outcomes of investor–State cases

    12:15 – 13:00 – Lunch Break

    13:00 – 14:15  Session 3
    Panel Discussion: ISDS and the Global South
    Chair: Prabhash Ranjan
    Speakers: Jyoti Singh, Bankole Sodipo

    • What makes ISDS involving the Global South distinct?
    • India’s international investment agreements: current state and trends
    • India’s experience in investor–State disputes (including case studies)
    • ISDS and African States: current developments and trends

    14:15 – 14:30 – Networking Break

    14:30 – 15:30  Session 4
    Oral and Written Advocacy Across Cultures
    In conversation: Shreyas Jayasimha & Kabir Duggal

    • Written advocacy techniques
    • Oral advocacy strategies
    • Advocacy in domestic litigation vs international arbitration
    • Common law vs civil law approaches
    • Cultural sensitivity in advocacy

    15:30 – 15:45 – Networking Break

    15:45 – 17:15  Session 5 
    Career Panel and Q&A
    Speakers: George Pothan (chair), Ramya Raman, Pranay Lekhi

    • Skills for success in international arbitration
    • Strategies for securing arbitration roles
    • Differences across jurisdictions
    • Common pitfalls
    • Practical guidance on CVs, cover letters, and interviews

    Programme subject to confirmation and adjustments.

    We no longer accept applications. If you wish to apply next year, please leave your information here and we will get in touch in due course.

    Tuition fee

    General fee: 99 GBP; reduced fee for full-time students and academics: 69 GBP.

    Group discounts are available for groups of five or more participating in the online format. For additional information and sponsorship opportunities, please mail@arbitrationlab.com.

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