Geopolitical Developments, ISDS, and the Emerging World Order

Speakers

, Partner | King & Spalding

, Partner | Chaffetz Lindsey

, Partner | Sidley Austin

, Partner | Foley Hoag

, Partner | Houthoff

The Agenda

Over the past decade, ISDS has moved from a niche technical regime to a flashpoint in debates over sovereignty, democracy, climate action, and global inequality. States have terminated or re-negotiated BITs, the EU has dismantled intra‑EU BITs and clashed with the investment arbitration community over energy-related awards, and states such as Spain have withdrawn from the ECT amid multi‑billion‑dollar claims. At the same time, UNCITRAL WGIII and parallel reform processes at ICSID and elsewhere are exploring how to fix ISDS while preserving cross‑border investment and the rule of law.

This session situates ISDS within a broader emerging world order marked by strategic rivalry, sanctions, supply-chain realignment, and the global energy transition. Panelists will examine how geopolitical blocks are repositioning themselves in investment treaty negotiations and dispute settlement, including patterns of exit, resistance, and redesign. The discussion will highlight pressure points around fossil fuel phase‑out, critical minerals, and infrastructure where investment treaties and climate commitments collide, generating unprecedented exposure to ISDS claims and fears of regulatory chill.

The Agenda

3:00pm: Check-In & Networking

3:30pm: Substantive Session with Audience Q+A

5:00pm: Networking Cocktails

6:00pm: Session End

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher New York International Arbitration Center (NYIAC)