The International Bar Association (IBA) Arbitration Committee has announced its 25th Annual Arbitration Day, which will be held from 22 to 24 February 2024 in Singapore. Topics of discussion include arbitrability and validity of arbitration proceedings, how to ensure consent to arbitrate and expectations about arbitrators.

The International Bar Association (IBA) has announced its Arb40 Symposium, titled ‘Navigating new frontiers: technology, geopolitics and enforcement in arbitration’. The event will take place on 28 January 2026 at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Auditorium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The symposium will focus on developments in arbitration practice, including the impact of technology, geopolitical considerations and issues relating to the enforcement of arbitral awards.

The International Bar Association (IBA) has announced its upcoming Arb40 symposium, scheduled for 3 April 2025 in London. The event, organised by the Arb40 Subcommittee of the IBA Arbitration Committee, will focus on the continuous pursuit of legitimisation and optimisation of international arbitration. Key topics include the evolving landscape of arbitrators' conflicts of interest and disclosure requirements, as well as novelties in English arbitration law and concerns regarding shareholders' claims in investor-state dispute settlement. The symposium is specifically tailored for legal practitioners aged 40 and under, offering a platform for younger professionals to engage with cutting-edge developments in the field.

The International Bar Association (IBA) has expressed concern about Mexico's promotion of a far-reaching reform of the judiciary. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the current President of Mexico, has presented a legislative initiative, 'Judicial Reform'. The proposal includes the election, by popular vote, of ministers of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, federal judges and magistrates in addition to the reduction of their terms of office, the linking of their salaries to those of the executive branch and the creation of a judicial disciplinary court elected by popular vote. The proposed change has raised concerns on the independence of Mexico’s judicial branch.

The International Bar Association (IBA) has announced the launch of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute, a new initiative intended to influence and promote responsible AI governance in accordance with the rule of law and fundamental principles of justice. The Institute’s aims are to: (1) contribute legal expertise to global discussions on AI; (2) support the development of future AI governance frameworks; (3) promote the development of AI systems consistent with rule of law, human rights and democratic integrity and (4) assist the work of international organisations.

The International Bar Association (IBA) Section on Public and Professional Interest Artificial Intelligence Working Group has launched phase 2 of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Survey. This Survey seeks insights from legal professionals across a range of sectors—including academia, corporate counsel, the judiciary, and both private and public sector lawyers—on the impact of artificial intelligence in the legal field. The findings will be presented at the IBA 2025 Annual Conference in Toronto on 3 November 2025. This initiative builds on the IBA's 2024 report, ‘The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Profession’, which was developed in collaboration with the Center for AI and Digital Policy.

The International Bar Association (IBA) Arbitration Committee has launched a comprehensive survey to update its 2016 report on the reception of IBA soft law products, with the revised report scheduled for publication in 2026. This initiative is part of TERES' mission to simplify arbitration experiences and is being led by a Task Force co-chaired by María Inés Corrá, Galina Zukova, and Joseph Chedrawe KC. The survey is designed to collect practitioners' experiences with IBA soft law instruments, including questions about usage statistics and the practical applications of these tools. Recognising that not all practitioners maintain detailed records, the survey permits estimates based on participants' best recollections. Responses to the survey will be accepted until 25 October 2025.

The International Bar Association’s (IBA’s) Arb40 Subcommittee has published a guide titled Emergency Arbitration: A Practical Guide for Young Arbitration Practitioners, to provide practical and comparative guidance on the use of emergency arbitration (EA) as a means of obtaining urgent interim relief before a tribunal is constituted. The guide outlines the procedural framework governing EA, including its consensual basis, jurisdictional limits, appointment of emergency arbitrators within days, and the expedited conduct of proceedings under strict timelines. It explains that emergency arbitrators have broad procedural discretion but must balance speed with fairness, assessing factors such as urgency, irreparable harm, likelihood of success, proportionality, and necessity. The publication also analyses enforcement challenges, noting varied recognition of EA decisions across jurisdictions but high rates of voluntary compliance and settlement. In investment treaty arbitration, it highlights the limited availability of EA, complexities arising from State sovereignty, cooling-off periods, and most-favoured-nation provisions. Concluding that EA has become an integral feature of modern arbitration, the Subcommittee presents it as both a vital procedural tool and an important training ground for emerging practitioners in international dispute resolution.

The International Bar Association (IBA) has published guidelines on conflicts of interest in international arbitration. The guidelines address general standards regarding impartiality, independence and disclosure and the practical application of these general standards.

The International Bar Association (IBA) has published a report on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the legal profession. This guidance is part of the IBA's mission to support its members in developing and improving its legal services, while also promoting and protecting the rule of law globally. Some of the key findings of the report include that there is an expectation that AI will have a great impact on how law firms are structured, hiring and business models. This could include shifts towards fixed or value added fees, changes in hiring policies to prioritise AI competent attorneys and a broader cultural shift towards innovation and change. The IBA has invited individuals to complete a short and anonymous questionnaire about the use of generative artificial intelligence tools in mediation.

The International Bar Association (IBA) has published a report on insolvency and investment arbitration. The report looks into the complex relationship between insolvency and investment treaty arbitrations, exploring how they intersect and impact each other. The report builds on the IBA’s previous work on insolvency and commercial arbitration, and focuses on the challenges that arise when applying international law and investment treaties to arbitration cases.

The International Bar Association's (IBA) Arbitration Committee Task Force has published a report examining the application of res judicata in international arbitration. The study reveals significant inconsistencies in current practices, including conflicts in choice-of-law approaches and divergent interpretations of the principle's scope. Notably, the report emphasises the inadequacy of domestic legal standards in addressing the complexities of international arbitration. To address these challenges, the Task Force advocates for the development of an autonomous standard specifically tailored to international arbitration, with the aim of enhancing consistency, predictability and efficiency in dispute resolution.