For this episode, we have neatly given ourselves one segment per person. Saadia first talks to Sophie Nappert about ArbTech, a forum of which she is a co-founder [TIME 11:20]. Then, Joel has read and almost understood Advocate General Kokott’s opinion in Poland v. PL Holdings [TIME 42:04]. Brian closes out the episode, with a highly scientific comparative study of the world’s airports - soon, soon we can travel again [TIME 1:00:06].
Something nice happening in 2020 - the Arbitration Station is back! Seated in London - responsibly spread out - we start off with the recent UK news that international law is not that important after all [TIME 14:20]. We then look back over the summer and discuss some recent developments in treaty-based renewable cases: is Romania the new Spain [TIME 28:42]? We also engage in perhaps the silliest Happy Fun Time in the history of silly Happy Fun Times: we’re casting the ISDS movie [TIME 49:03]! Who plays Schreuer? Who plays GKK? Listen in, we’re back!
With the discipline one can only acquire in Big Law, one half of the host duo invites two guests for a holiday special. In Brian’s London office, he talks to Gloria Alvarez and Manuel Casas. First, Gloria focuses on ECT reform in the light of the Achmea judgment [12:10]. Manuel then takes on some recent ICJ case law with relevance for international (investment) arbitration [39:00]. The three then together re-brand HFT as La Hora Feliz, which is about Latin American developments in international arbitration [1:02:04].
We take on one current topic (issue conflicts) and one more historical (Iran-United States Claims Tribunal). For the latter topic, we are joined by former Tribunal clerk Jawad Ahmad, who also stays on for Happy Fun Time, during which we discuss travel tips and preferences (did you know that Brian keeps a spare double of his toiletries, solely for the purpose of travel?)