HNLU International Conference on International Arbitration 2026
The HNLU International Conference on International Arbitration 2026 will bring together academicians, researchers, practitioners, adjudicators and policymakers to discuss emerging issues in international arbitration and dispute resolution. Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur is organising the conference on 10 and 11 October 2026.
The conference focuses on the growing relationship between public international law and commercial arbitration. It will examine issues involving investment treaty arbitration, enforcement of arbitral awards, climate-related disputes, digital technologies, trade and cross-border commercial disputes.
Researchers, law students, practitioners and other eligible participants can submit their work under the conference’s thematic areas. The conference also provides an opportunity for selected authors to present their research and have selected papers considered for publication in a peer-reviewed edited volume.
About the International Conference
Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, established in 2003, promotes legal education, interdisciplinary research and policy-oriented scholarship. For this conference, HNLU seeks to create a platform for meaningful discussion on contemporary developments in international law and arbitration.
The HNLU International Conference on International Arbitration will explore how international law and commercial arbitration increasingly overlap. Investment treaty disputes, sovereign enforcement issues, fragmented adjudication and new disputes involving climate change and digital technologies have created complex questions for arbitration practice.
The conference aims to connect doctrinal legal research with practical and policy concerns. It will also bring together different perspectives from academia, legal practice, adjudication and policymaking.
The conference has several objectives. These include examining international treaty frameworks, studying developments in commercial arbitration, exploring the institutional structure of international adjudication and considering reforms in international law and arbitration practice.
The conference will take place at HNLU, Sector 40, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh – 493661.
Themes and Sub-Themes
The international arbitration conference 2026 invites research across several broad themes. Participants must place their submissions within one of the conference themes, while the listed sub-themes remain illustrative rather than exhaustive.
Treaty Frameworks and the Future of Investor-State Dispute Settlement
This theme examines developments in investment treaty arbitration and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). Possible areas include the renegotiation of bilateral investment treaties, the balance between sovereignty and investor protection, the proposed Multilateral Investment Court and climate-related investor-state disputes.
Researchers can also explore human rights obligations in investment treaty arbitration and the changing approach to investor protection.
Domesticating the International: National Arbitration Frameworks and Their Global Dimensions
This theme focuses on the relationship between domestic arbitration laws and international standards. Topics include the UNCITRAL Model Law, its adoption across jurisdictions, enforcement of foreign awards and judicial intervention in arbitration.
Researchers may also examine India’s arbitration reforms and its objective of developing into an international arbitration hub. Domestic public policy and its effect on the enforcement of international awards also fall within this theme.
Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Across Jurisdictions
The conference also invites research on the enforcement of arbitral awards across different legal systems.
Potential areas include the New York Convention, sovereign immunity, state-owned enterprises, public policy as a ground for refusing enforcement and problems caused by parallel proceedings or conflicting awards.
Interaction of International Arbitration with Other Commercial Laws
This theme looks at how arbitration interacts with other areas of commercial law. Researchers may examine arbitrability and insolvency, competition law, corporate and securities disputes, corruption and sanctions, as well as consumer protection, employment law and data privacy.
Climate Change, Digital Economy and the Frontiers of International Dispute Resolution
Emerging technologies and global environmental challenges are creating new questions for arbitration. Suggested topics include data sovereignty, cyber operations, state responsibility, climate-related treaty claims, carbon markets and stranded assets.
The conference also welcomes research on artificial intelligence in arbitral proceedings, crypto-assets, blockchain disputes and other digital-economy issues.
Trade Regimes, Economic Sovereignty and Dispute Resolution
This theme covers the relationship between international trade and dispute resolution. Possible topics include the WTO Appellate Body crisis, arbitration under regional trade agreements, trade remedy disputes, investment arbitration and state-to-state arbitration.
Overall, the HNLU arbitration conference welcomes interdisciplinary and research-driven work that addresses current challenges in international arbitration.
Abstract and Full Paper Submission Guidelines
Participants must first submit an abstract for consideration. The abstract should contain the title of the paper, author details, institutional affiliation, designation, email address, contact number, abstract body and keywords.
The abstract must contain 300–500 words, excluding the title and keywords. Authors must also provide five relevant keywords.
The abstract should follow these formatting requirements:
- Times New Roman
- 12-point font
- 1.5 line spacing
- Justified alignment
- One-inch margins
- Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx)
- Title in bold and uppercase
Authors must submit their abstracts through the designated Google Form.
Submit Abstract for HNLU International Conference
Authors whose abstracts receive acceptance can then submit their full papers. The full paper must be original, unpublished and not under consideration for publication or presentation elsewhere. The organisers will reject submissions that contain plagiarism or other unethical academic practices.
Full papers should ordinarily contain 4,000–8,000 words, excluding footnotes. The organising committee may consider exceptional papers that exceed this limit.
Co-authorship is permitted for a maximum of two authors. If two authors work on a paper, both authors must register separately for the conference.
The similarity index should preferably remain below 10%, excluding references and commonly used legal terminology.
For formatting, the main text should use Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1.5 spacing and justified alignment, with one-inch margins. Authors should not number their headings or sub-headings.
Footnotes should use Times New Roman, 10-point font and single spacing. Authors may use Bluebook 21st Edition or the latest edition of OSCOLA, but they must apply their chosen citation style consistently throughout the paper.
Selected authors must present their papers during the conference’s technical sessions. The organisers will communicate presentation slots and session details separately.
Selected papers will also be considered for publication in a peer-reviewed edited volume with a leading publisher, subject to the applicable publication standards.
Important Dates and Registration
The HNLU International Conference on International Arbitration 2026 follows the schedule below:
- Last date for abstract submission: 15 September 2026
- Notification of abstract acceptance: 18 September 2026
- Last date for registration: 20 September 2026
- Full paper submission: 5 October 2026
- Conference: 10–11 October 2026
The conference welcomes undergraduate and postgraduate law students, academicians, research scholars, policy experts, think tanks, legal practitioners, NGOs, civil society organisations, international organisations, development agencies and doctoral or post-doctoral scholars working in arbitration.
Registration fees vary according to the participant category. For domestic participants, the fee is ₹4,000 for paper presenters and ₹2,500 for academicians/working professionals presenting papers, while postgraduate and undergraduate student paper presenters pay ₹1,500. Domestic attendees without a paper presentation pay ₹1,000.
For international participants, paper presenters pay USD 50, while attendees pay USD 35 for academicians/working professionals and USD 20 for postgraduate or undergraduate students. The registration fee is non-refundable.
Each paper can have a maximum of two authors, and each co-author must register separately. The registration fee includes access to technical and plenary sessions, a certificate, meals and refreshments during the conference, networking opportunities and a conference kit. However, accommodation and travel costs are not included, and participants must make their own travel arrangements.
Participants who want to attend without presenting a paper should contact the conference secretariat at icia@hnlu.ac.in for registration details.
The conference expects to promote research in international law and commercial arbitration, strengthen India’s position as an arbitration hub and generate policy-oriented recommendations on treaty reform and award enforcement. Selected research may also contribute to a peer-reviewed edited volume.
Conference Secretariat:
Hidayatullah National Law University
Sector 40, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur – 493661, Chhattisgarh
Email:
Website: HNLU Official Website
