Fatema Al Zayed Al Jalahma, Senior Case Manager at the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR), participated as a panelist in the "Art.bit.ration: Talks on Regional Updates in Investment " event, which took place on November 14, 2024, as part of Dubai Arbitration Week 2024.
The event, which took place at the Capital Club in Dubai International Financial Centre, brought together leading experts from the MENA region, Asia, the EU, and the UK to discuss regional perspectives on investment arbitration highlights from 2023-2024. It featured a keynote speech by Anna Zeitlinger, Managing Partner of LGP Group, followed by an engaging panel discussion moderated by Anna Avdulova of Ivanyan & Partners.
The panel explored critical topics shaping the landscape of investment protection and arbitration in 2023-2024, including:
- Ongoing reform of the ISDS system and addressing its "legitimacy crisis"
- The impact of sanctions on investment arbitration
- Diversification of arbitrator pools and arbitral seats
- The role of Asian and MENA arbitral institutions in investment disputes
As a panelist, Ms. Al Jalahma shared valuable insights on recent developments in investment arbitration from a MENA perspective. She highlighted initiatives related to investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) reform and the recent work of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) working group III and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), drawing from her experience at the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution. Ms. Al Jalahma also provided perspectives on treaty-making practices and trends in the MENA region.
Ms. Al Jalahma's participation in this event emphasizes BCDR's commitment to remaining at the forefront of international arbitration developments and contributing to key discussions shaping the future of investment arbitration.