British Institute of International and Comparative Law

08/09/2026

How can international organisations remain effective actors rather than arenas for interstate rivalry?

Sixty-five years ago, in his celebrated lecture The International Civil Servant in Law and in Fact, UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld argued that the integrity and independence of international officials were integral to institutionalised cooperation between States. He warned that compromising the international civil service threatened the future of international organizations and risked worldwide instability.

Today as international organizations confront geopolitical fragmentation, challenges to their legitimacy, institutional and financial retrenchment, the relevance of this argument is renewed. On 6 October, this event asks what secures the future of international organisations as effective and enabling international actors, rather than merely an arena for interstate rivalries? The hundred-year-old encounter between the treaty-based attributes of international officials and the administrative authority of international organisations - referred to as 'international administrative law' - offers one answer: a tested but neglected legal framework empowering international organisations to act independently, legitimately and impactfully.

Chair
🔹Sir Tim Eicke KC, Barrister, Essex Court Chambers and former Judge of the European Court of Human Rights

Speakers:
🔹Peter Quayle, Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution, King's College London
🔹Alice Lacourt, Legal Counsel, Commonwealth Secretariat
🔹Dorota Lost-Siemińska, Director, Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, International Maritime Organization

Free for BIICL members.
For non-members, the registration fee is £50, (in person or online attendance).

Register here 👇👇

6 October 2026, BIICL, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London and Online

07/09/2026

BIICL is delighted to welcome Judge Theodor Meron for the Institute's 2026 Weinrebe Event, taking place on 8 October at the BIICL office in London.

A distinguished jurist and scholar, Judge Meron will join Catherine Amirfar, Co-Chair of Debevoise & Plimpton’s International Law Group, for a wide-ranging conversation on his new book, A Thousand Miracles: From Surviving the Holocaust to Judging Genocide.

Drawing on a remarkable life journey, from surviving the Holocaust as a child to serving as a legal adviser, diplomat, academic and international judge, Judge Meron will reflect on the experiences and ideas that have shaped his engagement with law and justice.

The discussion will explore the development of international criminal justice, the work of international courts and tribunals, accountability for genocide and war crimes, and the resilience of international institutions in an increasingly complex world.

This promises to be a thought-provoking conversation offering unique insights into the evolution of the international legal order and the challenges it faces today.

This event is kindly sponsored by Debevoise & Plimpton with the support of the Dorset Foundation.

Register here: https://www.biicl.org/events/12133/harry-weinrebe-memorial-event-2026-judge-theodor-meron-in-conversation-with-catherine-amirfar

02/09/2026

📘 We are pleased to share that Professor Yarik Kryvoi's book, "Educating Lawyers in the Digital Age: From Theory to Practice", is now available in open access.

The book explores a practical question: How can legal education become more relevant to professional practice, more effective through digital technologies, and more accessible and affordable? Drawing on the changing landscape of legal education and technology, the book offers practical insights into how we can better prepare the next generation of lawyers for a rapidly evolving profession.

📖 Read or download the full book free of charge: https://www.biicl.org/publications/educating-lawyers-in-the-digital-age-from-theory-to-practice

06/08/2026

💡 Are the amendments to section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery Act (i.e. the supply chain transparency provisions) proposed in the Immigration and Asylum Bill sufficient to increase corporate transparency and accountability?

The amendments are likely to lead to more entities publishing their statements but not necessarily to better quality reporting and greater accountability.

The UK government should consider i) the unintended consequences of addressing supply chain transparency in immigration policy, ii) the inadequacy of some reporting amendments, and iii) the need for stronger accountability mechanisms beyond transparency reporting only.

✍ Read more in our latest blog by Dr Sofía González De Aguinaga, PhD: https://www.biicl.org/blog/134/strengthening-transparency-in-supply-chains-in-the-immigration-and-asylum-bill

03/08/2026

⚖️ How do courts uphold the rule of law during times of extraordinary pressure?

Join us on 18 September for Judicial Resilience: Why Judicial Independence Matters in Times of Polycrisis, where eminent judges from the European Court of Human Rights will reflect on the role of supranational adjudication in safeguarding the rule of law during periods of armed conflict, democratic backsliding, public health emergencies, and political polarisation. The discussion will explore how courts protect fundamental rights, strengthen institutional resilience, and uphold public trust during times of extraordinary pressure.

We are delighted to welcome:
🔹 Judge Anna Adamska Gallant, European Court of Human Rights
🔹 Judge Mykola Gnatovskyy, European Court of Human Rights

Opening remarks will be given by Rt. Hon. Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Former President of the UK Supreme Court and President of BIICL.

📅 18 September 2026
🕑 14:00–15:30 (Registration from 13:30), followed by a reception
📍 BIICL, Russell Square, London & Online

Find out more and secure your place: https://www.biicl.org/events/12122/judicial-resistance-why-judicial-independence-matters-in-times-of-polycrisis

31/07/2026

An estimated 28 million people live under forced labour conditions worldwide, generating around $236 billion in illegal profits each year. As governments introduce mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (mHREDD) and forced labour trade ban laws, a critical question remains: how are these measures impacting the people they are designed to protect?

Join us on 7 October for the launch of a new BIICL research report examining the impacts of these laws on rightsholders.

Drawing on desk-based research, interviews and roundtables with multiple stakeholders across jurisdictions, the report examines how these laws are working in practice and identifies critical evidence gaps to help inform more effective policy design, implementation and evaluation.

📅 7 October 2026
🕒 15:00–17:00 (registration from 14:30) followed by a reception
📍 BIICL, Russell Square, London and online

Find out more and register: https://www.biicl.org/events/12117/launch-and-discussion-of-report-on-impacts-on-rightsholders-of-human-rights-and-environmental-due-diligence-and-forced-labour-trade-ban-laws

30/07/2026

🌍 Attending LCIL 2026? Don’t forget to visit the BIICL stand!

The London Conference on International Law is fast approaching, with just two months to go until it takes place at the QEII Centre on 1–2 October. Don't miss the opportunity to connect with leading practitioners, academics and policymakers from across the international law community.

Our Director and CEO, Sonya Sceats, will be speaking on careers in international law, and the BIICL team will be at the exhibition stand throughout the conference. We would love for you to stop by, meet the team and find out more about our work.

Places are limited, so register now to secure your place: https://thelondonconference.org/

24/07/2026

✍️ No Walkovers - Humans Are Irreplaceable In AI-Assisted Human Rights Impact Assessments

In our latest BIICL insight, Dr Rowena Rodrigues draws on our Business and Human Rights Forum roundtable held on 10 June 2026, exploring Artificial Intelligence Regulation and Business and Human Rights.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into human rights impact assessments (HRIAs), Rowena argues that meaningful human oversight remains indispensable. While AI can improve efficiency and support analysis, human assessors must retain responsibility for critical judgments, stakeholder engagement and accountability to ensure HRIAs remain credible and effective safeguards for human rights.

Read the full post: https://www.biicl.org/events/12113/artificial-intelligence-regulation-and-business-and-human-rights

21/07/2026

📢 Call for Papers | 11th Small States Conference: AI, Technology, and Small States: Opportunities and Challenges

The British Institute of International and Comparative Law, in partnership with the Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS), invites submissions for the 11th Small States Conference, taking place in London on 9 November 2026.

This year's theme explores Small States, Artificial Intelligence, and Emerging Technologies, examining how AI is reshaping the legal, political, economic, social, and security landscapes for small states.

We welcome contributions from scholars, policymakers, and practitioners across law, political science, international relations, economics, development studies, public policy, technology studies, and related fields.

Topics include:
🔹 AI governance and global norm-setting
🔹 Digital sovereignty and data governance
🔹 Cybersecurity and digital resilience
🔹 AI in public administration and access to justice
🔹 Digital trade, innovation, and economic development
🔹 Human rights and AI
🔹 Climate technology and sustainability
🔹 Disinformation, democracy, and electoral integrity
🔹 International cooperation on AI regulation
…and many more.

📅 Abstract deadline: 31 August 2026
📅 Conference: 9 November 2026
📍 BIICL, Russell Square, London

Find out more and submit your abstract 👉 https://www.biicl.org/events/12130/ai-technology-and-small-states-opportunities-and-challenges-11th-small-states-conference-call-for-papers

We look forward to receiving your submissions and welcoming you to London for what promises to be a timely and thought-provoking discussion!

20/07/2026

📢 Join leading experts for the latest developments in ICSID arbitration

On 16 October 2026, the Investment Treaty Forum at BIICL will bring together leading practitioners, academics and policymakers for a conference exploring the past, present and future of ICSID arbitration.

Featuring introductory remarks from Martina Polasek, Secretary-General of ICSID, and a keynote address by Meg Kinnear, former Secretary-General of ICSID, the event will include three expert panels exploring ICSID’s institutional development, evolving procedural and substantive rules, and emerging trends in annulment, enforcement and the future of investment dispute settlement.

This event is essential for anyone looking to stay informed about the latest developments shaping ICSID arbitration and international investment law.

📅 Friday, 16 October 2026
📍 BIICL, London and online
🔗 View the full programme and register: https://www.biicl.org/events/12116/forty-sixth-itf-public-conference-icsid-arbitration-at-60-past-present-and-future

Speakers include:
• Martina Polasek, Secretary-General of ICSID
• Meg Kinnear, Low & Kinnear and former Secretary-General of ICSID
• Prof. Yarik Kryvoi, Director of the Investment Treaty Forum, BIICL
• Prof. Attila M. Tanzi, University of Bologna and 3 Verulam Buildings
• Sylvia Tonova Noury KC, Freshfields
• Camilla Gambarini, Withers
• Prof. Robert Volterra, Volterra Fietta and UCL
…and many more leading voices in investment arbitration.

16 October 2026, BIICL, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5JP and Online