California Arbitration

Korea as a Hub for International Arbitration
2025-12-19 11:45 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | LimNexus LLP, Aon Building, 707 Wilshire Blvd. 46F, Los Angeles, CA, 90017, United States
KCAB International and LimNexus LLP are pleased to invite you to a lunch meeting featuring a fireside chat with Prof. Seung Wha Chang (Chairman, KCAB International) and Grant Kim (Partner at LimNexus LLP and CalArb member) to explore Korea’s growing role as a hub for international arbitration.

Nuts and Bolts of International Arbitration
2025-11-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Webinar
Join us and learn about the ongoing expansion of international arbitration in California. The webinar will cover what lawyers need to know about international arbitration and when it should be utilized. This webinar is essential to anyone in California involved with cross-border business transactions. Learn how to avoid disputes, how international arbitration works and why it is completely different than domestic arbitration.
Speakers:
Jeffery Daar | Daar & Newman (CalArb President)
Katie Connolly | Norton Rose Fulbright (CalArb Officer at Large)
Ghada Audi | Ghada Qaisi Audi ADR (CalArb Treasurer)
Johanna Bracy (Moderator) | Judicate West

Cross-Border Innovation: Structuring, Regulating, and Resolving Tech-Driven Deals Between the GCC and California
2025-11-13 16:00 - 17:30 (Asia/Dubai) | #Rouse – Sheikh Zayed Road – The Maze Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
To be presented at DUBAI ARBITRATION WEEK 2025
As the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and the UAE move forward with transformative bilateral technology and infrastructure partnerships—backed by over $600 billion in announced investments—companies across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are poised to deepen engagement with Silicon Valley.
These tech-sector alliances are increasingly structured around AI infrastructure, sovereign partnerships, and access to advanced U.S. chips, creating a new commercial and legal corridor between California and the Gulf. As such, Silicon Valley is becoming the commercial and legal hub for these deals. With most contracts governed by California law and calling for arbitration seated in San Francisco or Santa Clara, it is essential that GCC companies and investors understand the legal, regulatory, and dispute resolution landscape that underpins their partnerships with U.S. tech and finance. Yet many GCC-based companies, investors, and counsel remain unfamiliar with the intersection of California’s legal, regulatory, and dispute resolution frameworks.
This 60-minute panel brings together voices from technology, venture capital, and international arbitration to discuss what GCC companies, startups, investors, and legal counsel need to know when entering deals with U.S. tech partners—particularly as artificial intelligence, fintech, green tech, semiconductors, and dual-use R&D drive cross-border collaboration. The conversation will also examine emerging risks that threaten deal execution and contract stability, including jurisdictional complexity, regulatory shifts, and sovereign counterparty concerns.

Keeping Business Moving: Risk, Dispute Resolution, and Innovation
2025-10-27 13:30 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Cooley, Palo Alto, 3175 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, United States
Join us for the first time in Palo Alto for our annual half-day California program. Special guests include ICC Court President Claudia Salomon. The event will feature two panel discussions and a cocktail networking reception.

TechCred
2025-10-16 11:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
TechCred is a dynamic, three-part competency certificate program that equips global legal professionals, policymakers, and business leaders with cutting-edge expertise in digital innovation and technology dispute resolution. Built by international legal experts, TechCred blends legal rigor with technological insight to meet the demands of a fast-changing digital economy.
TechCred is an independent credential that demonstrates the capability to address disputes arising in connection with a digital world.
Whether you resolve disputes with any contracts with smart supply chains, digital infrastructure, cryptocurrency or you advise on AI governance, have contracts with cross-border data, TechCred delivers the knowledge and credentials you need to lead. Show your competency with Tech Cred – certified by the New York Law School.

Australian Arbitration Week: International Arbitration Conference 2025
2025-10-13 08:30 - 18:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, 61-101 Phillip Street, Sydney, Australia
This flagship event, the International Arbitration Conference (hosted and organised by ACICA and co-hosted by Ciarb (Australia Branch)), will take place on Monday 13 October (IA Conference). The IA Conference is Australia’s premier international arbitration event and routinely attracts speakers and delegates from across Australia and globally. The IA Conference enjoys the support of national and global institutes, law firms, government, business, judiciary and academia.

Webinar: Behind the Scenes at the ICDR
2025-10-07 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Webinar
Join us on October 7 for Behind the Scenes at the ICDR and hear from six leaders in international arbitration:
👤 Tom Ventrone – VP, AAA-ICDR, overseeing global arbitration and ADR operations.
👤 Erin Brennan – ICDR Director, administering international arbitration cases from Los Angeles.
👤 Fernanda Flores – ICDR Director of ADR Services for North America, managing cases across the U.S., Canada & Mexico.
👤 Gary L. Benton – Internationally recognized arbitrator, founder of SVAMC and CalArb.
Moderators:
👤 Yanett Quiroz Valdovinos – VP, ICDR-AAA, leading outreach across North America and the Energy sector.
👤 Marcus Quintanilla – Arbitrator, mediator, and counsel with expertise in construction, energy & technology disputes.

TechCred
2025-09-25 08:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
TechCred is a dynamic, three-part competency certificate program that equips global legal professionals, policymakers, and business leaders with cutting-edge expertise in digital innovation and technology dispute resolution. Built by international legal experts, TechCred blends legal rigor with technological insight to meet the demands of a fast-changing digital economy.
TechCred is an independent credential that demonstrates the capability to address disputes arising in connection with a digital world.
Whether you resolve disputes with any contracts with smart supply chains, digital infrastructure, cryptocurrency or you advise on AI governance, have contracts with cross-border data, TechCred delivers the knowledge and credentials you need to lead. Show your competency with Tech Cred – certified by the New York Law School.
Online synchronous learning using an executive education micro-credential format:
– 30-minute lectures
– Followed by small group discussions, assignments, or moderated expert panels

Session One: Digital Technologies and the Modern Tribunal – September 25, 2025
Session Two: Data Privacy, AI Evidence, and Digital Security – September 26, 2025
Session Three: Ethics, Consent, and Enforceability in Digital Disputes- October 16, 2025

The content of this program does not meet requirements for continuing legal education (CLE) accreditation. You will not receive CLE credit for participating.
The program, developed by ABA International Law Section, does not qualify for CLE, but accreditation (and exam during Module Three) will be provided by New York Law School.

9th Annual USC-JAMS International Arbitration Symposium
2025-09-10 09:00 - 17:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, 333 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90071, United States
Join us in Los Angeles on September 10, 2025, for the highly anticipated 9th Annual USC-JAMS International Arbitration Symposium: “Arbitration in the Pacific Rim” in collaboration with California Arbitration (CalArb), Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA) and Centro de Arbitraje de Mexico (CAM). Enjoy a full day of networking and interactive programming, including a keynote address titled “Using all the tolls at our disposal” by David Rivkin, Former President of the International Bar Association (IBA), Co-Chair of Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and Deputy President of the Anti-Doping Division of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS).

We invite you to join distinguished practitioners for a full day of in-depth panel discussions, thoughtful exchange on emerging developments in international arbitration, and meaningful networking with peers from across the field.

Arbitral Foresight in Arbitration Proceedings - Views from Around the Globe
2025-07-29 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Atlanta International Arbitration Society, 171 17th St NW, Unit 2100, Atlanta, GA, 30363, United States
CalArb Officer at Large Ghada Qaisi Audi will take part in a panel discussion during the Atlanta International Arbitration Society’s July Plenary Session. She will be joined by other international arbitration practitioners to provide valuable insights from multiple perspectives.

Schiefelbein Global Dispute Resolution Conference
2025-06-27 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Geneva Cetnter for International Dispute Settlement, Rue de Lausanne 120 B 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
Confronting Climate Change:
Evolving Strategies in Dispute Resolution

International dispute resolution is complex and constantly evolving due to the fast pace of the global economy and technological innovation. The Seventh Annual Schiefelbein Global Dispute Resolution Conference will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2025. This year’s co-sponsors are ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Schiefelbein Global Dispute Resolution, and the Geneva Center for International Dispute Settlement. Apropos to Geneva’s status of being a leader on climate change issues, this year’s theme is climate change and its impact on disputes and dispute resolution. At the conference, leading dispute resolution lawyers, government representatives, business executives, corporate counsel, and academics will discuss climate change and explore evolving strategies for resolving climate-related disputes. We hope you can join us in person or online.

The Evolving Landscape of International Arbitration Awards
2025-06-05 15:30 - 17:15 (America/Los_Angeles) | Dubai
This upcoming program delves into the legal developments in international arbitration and includes a case study on a recent high-stakes international arbitration. It is designed for legal professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of international arbitration practice. The program will provide:
(1) Context in how recent court decisions have clarified the standard for vacating awards—establishing that Section 10 of the FAA, not Article V of the New York Convention, governs vacatur of U.S.-rendered awards
(2) An inside look at the defense of a very large P.R.C. state-owned enterprise against an $8 billion International Centre for Dispute Resolution
(ICDR) arbitration. This case had arbitral jurisdiction battles, a lopsided 9-member arbitral panel, District Court vacatur and confirmation motions, Fifth Circuit and SCOTUS proceedings, and complex settlement negotiations.
(3) Insight into business and cultural differences between U.S. and Chinese parties and lawyers, how this can impact arbitrations, and how arbitrators can bridge these differences.
The speakers include CalArb members Neil Popovic, Cedric Chao, FCIArb, and moderator Carla Gharibian. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4jHvQhD

This Battle of the Seats
2025-04-08 16:30 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Paris Arbitration Center, 92 rue Réaumur, Paris, 75002, France
Presented at Paris Arbitration Week by California Arbitration and the New York Arbitration Center.
We will explore the comparative advantages and disadvantages of four of the world’s leading arbitration seats – New York, Paris, California, and London – through a lively discussion. Representatives from each jurisdiction will advocate for their seat in a debate-style contest that will feature questions about procedural efficiency, enforceability, and other advantages or disadvantages that each seat may pose, including recent developments in case law and institutional rules. This session will help arbitration practitioners, in-house counsel, and other decision-makers understand the practical implications of selecting these places as their seat, and will pit new against old as the participants have the opportunity to vote for their preferred seat at the end.
This panel is moderated by Giorgio Sassine, an attorney at Musick, Peeler & Garret, LLP; Katie Gonzalez, an associate at Clearly Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Laura Abrahamson, CalArb president and an arbitrator at JAMS; Kevin Nash, director general at the London Court of International Arbitration; Alexis Mourre, a partner at MCL Arbitration; and Caline Mouawad, a partner at Chaffetz Lindsey.

2025 Peru Summit on Commercial Dispute Resolution in China
2025-03-14 | Hyatt Centric San Isidro Lima, Av. Jorge Basadre Grohmann 367, Lima, 15073, Peru
CalArb is pleased to support the “2025 Annual Summit on Commercial Dispute Resolution in China”, taking place on March 12 in Mexico City and March 14, in Lima, Peru. Hosted by theBeijing Arbitration Commission/Beijing International Arbitration Court (BAC/BIAC), the Arbitration Center of Mexico (CAM), and the Asociación de Empresas Chinas en Perú (AECP), this Summit will release the “Annual Review and Preview on Commercial Dispute Resolution in China (2025)” and feature various sessions focusing on arbitration, international trade, energy, mining, and intellectual property. We cordially invite you to join us for engaging discussions, where distinguished panelists from both China and Latin America will share the latest trends in commercial legal practices and explore strategies to address emerging challenges in various sectors.
Register Here

2025 Mexico Summit on Commercial Dispute Resolution in China
2025-03-12 | Mexico City Marriott Reforma Hotel, Av. P.º de la Reforma 276, Ciudad de México, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600, Mexico

California International Arbitration Week 2025
2025-03-10 - 2025-03-13 | Dubai
REGISTER NOW for CIAW 2025 – March 10-13, 2025 in Los Angeles
Details on the site, agenda, speakers sponsorships and registration are now available.
See the CalArb CIAW page for more information.

17th Annual Michael Thorsnes International Commercial Arbitration Pre-Moot
2025-03-01 08:30 - 2025-03-02 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA, 92110, United States
We look forward to welcoming you and your Vis Moot team to sunny San Diego for our 17th Annual Michael Thorsnes Pre-Moot at the University of San Diego School of Law from March 1-2, 2025.
Tentative Schedule of Events
With respect to booking travel, you can assume that the provided times are finalized. The locations of the socials are subject to change.
Saturday, March 1st

Check-In at Mother Rosalie Hill Hall [8:30 AM]Check-In at Mother Rosalie Hill Hall [8:30 AM]
Competition Rounds 1 & 2 [9:00 AM – 12:00 PM]
Luncheon at University Center [12:00 PM – 1:00 PM]
Competition Rounds 3 & 4 [1:00 PM – 4:00 PM]
Social Mixer at TBD [7:30 PM – onwards]

Sunday, March 2nd

Check-In at Mother Rosalie Hill Hall [8:30 AM]
Quarter-Final [9:00 AM – 11:00 AM]
Semi-Final [11:30 AM -1:30 PM]
Final Round at Grace Courtroom [2:00 PM – 3:30 PM]
Closing Ceremony & Awards [3:30- 4:00 PM]

REGISTER FOR THE TOURNAMENT
REGISTER TO BE AN ARBITRATOR

CalArb New Year Celebration - Los Angeles
2025-02-18 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Everson Royce Bar, 1936 E. 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90021, United States
Please join us in Los Angeles to celebrate the New Year! We are planning a gathering in Los Angeles as an opportunity to network with our colleagues and talk about the year to come. This is a NO-HOST event and no reservation is required.

Webinar: ADR Legislative and Case-Law Update
2025-01-30 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, Singapore
The speakers will provide synopses of significant ADR cases decided and legislation introduced during 2024. The speakers include CalArb Second VP Marcus Quintanilla who serves as an arbitrator, mediator, and counsel in domestic and international disputes. Also speaking will be Paul Dubow who was trained as an arbitrator in 1972 and as a mediator in 1994, becoming a full-time neutral in December 2000, following his retirement after 26 years as director of litigation at Dean Witter Reynolds; and James R. (Jim) Madison who is an arbitrator, dispute resolution board neutral, and expert in arbitrator ethics. He specializes in construction, employment, technology, and other business disputes. Jim is a member of the Large Complex Case, Employment, International and Mediator Panels of the American Arbitration Association.

CalArb New Year Celebration - San Francisco
2025-01-09 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | One Market Street Restaurant, 1 Market Street, San Francisco, 94105, United States
Please join us in San Francisco to celebrate the New Year! We are planning a gathering in San Francisco as an opportunity to network with our colleagues and talk about the year to come. This is a NO-HOST event and no reservation is required. Both CalArb members and non-members are welcome.

Civility in the Legal Profession: Civility for Arbitration Practitioners
2025-01-07 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Dubai
This program for litigation counsel, corporate counsel and arbitrators meets the new California CLE Civility requirement. The program will address ethical guidelines and practices with respect to civility among arbitration practitioners, including the link between civility and bias, incivility directed at opposing parties, and incivility directed to administrators, arbitrators and the judiciary. Presenters include CalArb Board Members Gary Benton and Ruth V. Glick. For more information and to register, click here.

Day in the Life of an Arbitration Practitioner
2024-11-18 12:15 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | UCLA Law, 385 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
Learn about a day in the life of an arbitration practitioner in Los Angeles, in collaboration with Young California Arbitration. Featuring CalArb members TJ Auner, Giorgio A. Sassine, and Tuyana Molokhoeva.
Lunch provided with RSVP by 11/13/24. Register here.

Enforcement of Arbitral Awards: Theory and Practice - Part 5: USA (Virtual Edition)
2024-10-22 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, Singapore
The efficacy of arbitration as an effective dispute resolution mechanism depends to a large extent on whether the integrity of the award will be protected by the national courts in enforcement and annulment proceedings and treated as final and binding save in limited circumstances.
The “Enforcement of Arbitral Awards: Theory & Practice” global series seeks to provide an overview of the arbitration law in different jurisdictions, with a focus on the theory and practice of the enforcement of arbitral awards in those jurisdictions. The definition of an “arbitral award”, the grounds for non-enforcement of awards, the grounds for annulment of awards, as well as the national court’s attitude and approach in applying these grounds, will be examined. Some of the practical aspects on identification of assets of an award debtor within these jurisdictions will also be discussed.
In the fifth installment of this series, we focus on the theory and practice of enforcement of awards in the USA.

Young CalArb Happy Hour in Los Angeles
2024-10-08 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Citizen Public Market Rooftop, 9355 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90232, United States
Join Young CalArb for a happy hour in Los Angeles. Grab food and drinks from one of Citizen Public Market’s many vendors and join us on the rooftop for an evening of networking with young practitioners and law students. All CalArb and Young CalArb members are welcome. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options are available. Advance registration is encouraged but not required. We look forward to seeing you there!

Arbitration in the Pacific Rim
2024-09-13 09:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, 333 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90071, United States
Join us in Los Angeles on September 13, 2024, for the highly anticipated 8th Annual USC-JAMS Arbitration Symposium with SIAC and CalArb: Arbitration in the Pacific Rim. Enjoy a full day of networking and interactive programming including a keynote address by Samaa Haridi, Global Disputes Partner at King & Spalding, Vice-President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and Former Co-Chair, IBA Arbitration.
Panel discussions will cover critical topics affecting international arbitration such as International Human Rights and Arbitration, International Sanctions and Arbitration, and the latest developments in the New York Convention—exploring whether enforcement is becoming more challenging. Additionally, we will examine Arbitration in the Pacific Rim, focusing on bridging legal landscapes between the US and Asia. Among the panelists will be CalArb President Laura C. Abrahamson, FCIArb, CalArb Second Vice President Marcus S. Quintanilla, FCIArb, CalArb Treasurer Brody K. Greenwald, CalArb Secretary Giorgio Sassine, CalArb Officer at Large Nilufar Hossain, and CalArb Board Member Dr. Nicolas Wiegand, Young CalArb Co-chair Katie Connolly, and CalArb Member Amb. (Ret.) David Huebner, FCIArb, C.Arb, FCollArb.
The Symposium will also feature the Young Arbitration Program and Opening Reception on September 12, at the JAMS Los Angeles Resolution Center, presented by Young Cal-Arb, Young SIAC, and Young ITA. Please note that separate registration is required for this event, please click HERE to register.

The Future Speaks: Young Practitioner Perspectives on the International Arbitration of TomorrowJAMS
2024-09-12 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | JAMS Los Angeles Office, 555 W. 5th St., 32nd Floor, Los Angeles, 90013, United States
A panel of dynamic young international arbitration practitioners, including CalArb members Katie Connolly and Giorgio Sassine, will explore their vision for the future of international arbitration in 2034and beyond. Panelists will cover a wide range of critical topics, providing insights into how upcoming changes and innovations will shape the field, with the objective of inspiring future conversations. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape and the role young lawyers will play in driving these transformations. Potential topics will include a brief conversation around technology, procedural updates, emerging hubs of arbitration and specialty courts, progress in diversity, and the growing role of mediation and bespoke ADR mechanisms within dispute resolution.

Future Dispute Resolution Conference
2024-09-05 08:30 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Stanford University Paul Brest Hall, 555 Salvatierra Walk, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
The American Arbitration Association® (AAA®), its international division, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution® (ICDR®), and ODR.com are proud to co-host “Future Dispute Resolution” with Stanford Law School, CodeX (The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics), System.Legal and ITECHLAW.
This pivotal conference will delve into the critical integration of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) into judicial systems, spotlighting the transformative role of generative AI and other technologies in arbitration and dispute management. Don’t miss your opportunity to hear from judges, leading in-house counsel and other experts!
Conference Highlights:

Judicial System Integration: Strategies for incorporating ADR into judicial frameworks.
Generative AI: Insights into how AI is revolutionizing dispute resolution.
In-House Counsel Perspectives: Impact of technology on dispute management.
ICDR Working Group Insights: Survey results and recommendations on tech disputes.
Online Dispute Resolution: Trends and challenges in the digital domain.

Webinar: Foreign & International Legal Research 101
2024-07-17 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
In this webinar, the speakers will unveil essential tools and rare resources for navigating the complexities of foreign and international law. Moderated by CalArb Board Member Jeffery Daar.

Webinar: Drafting US and International Arbitration Clauses for Complex Commercial Contracts
2024-06-26 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
What terms should transactional lawyers include in business arbitration clauses? And what should litigation lawyers know about arbitration clauses? Learn best practices and tips from the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and a leading independent arbitrators Aaron Gothelf and Gary Benton (CalArb board member).

2024 Arbitration Training Institute
2024-06-06 08:00 - 2024-06-07 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Miles Mediation & Arbitration, 115 Perimeter Center Place, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA, 30346, United States
Presented by nationally recognized experts, the Institute features comprehensive sessions on every stage of the arbitral process examined from the vantage point of neutrals, advocates, and in-house counsel. Substantive sessions address specific areas of arbitral practice. Small group break-out discussions follow, which allow participants to interact in depth with the faculty and each other.
Scholarships are available here but must be applied for no later than April 24, 2024.
