Season 5 Episode 9 - The Drafter of the Draft Code

Winter has come to the UK, but the Arbitration Station is full of hot takes. Saadia and Joel speak to University of Richmond law professor Chiara Giorgetti [TIME 07:13], who was heavily involved in the drafting of the Draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in Investor-State Dispute Settlement, issued by ICSID and UNCITRAL (which we first talked about on S04E15). The Draft Code has now received comments from states and other stakeholders and it’s on the table at UNCITRAL this week so the timing is great. Saadia then discusses FDI screening and its intersection with investment disputes [TIME 42:37], before the two law firm employees have a Happy Fun Time talking about filings and what happens to your life during those [TIME 01:07:32].

Season 5 Episode 2 - The Physical Hearing

The first interview of Season 5 is with Jeremy Sharpe, who talks to Joel about the investment law advisory center that is being discussed by UNCITRAL Working Group III [TIME 12:16]. Then Brian dives into an issue which is top of mind in 2020: do parties have a right to a physical hearing [TIME 39:14]. Happy Fun Time is a little gloomy, as Saadia talks about “doom scrolling” and how to avoid it [TIME 01:08:15]. Stay safe, everyone!

Season 4 Episode 4 - The Shareholder Claims

Saadia and Joel have been to Vienna for the UNCITRAL Working Group and took the chance to talk to Julian Arato about shareholder claims in investment treaty arbitration [TIME 8:48]. Brian quizzes the others about double-hatters (Joel calls in without a microphone - sorry for sound quality), [TIME 32:58] while HFT is a nerd bonanza on fonts and formatting in legal writing [TIME 1:00:33].

The paper that Julian co-wrote for the Academic Forum is here.

Season 3 Episode 15 - The Great Cost Debate

The Arbitration Station is in Washington, to debate the allocation of costs from a conference podium. In this episode, we do a dress rehearsal of our respective arguments (should cost follow the event?). We also sneak in some gossip from UNCITRAL Working Group III in New York, as well as a short interview with Alexis Mourre from the ICC. Happy Fun Time closes out the episode, focusing on the impostor syndrome that we all suffer from.

Episode 15 - The UNCITRAL Meeting

Joel is at the Working Group III Meeting in Vienna, where the possibility of ISDS reform is being discussed. He interviews Michele Potestà about a paper that was put before the Working Group, looking comparatively at how international courts and tribunals are composed. The Happy Fun Time is about mediation, or rather: why don't arbitration lawyers care about mediation? 

Episode 14 - The QCs

In this week's episode, Brian interviews Shirin Saif about witness examinations, while Joel gives an introductory lecture to UNCITRAL (prompted by the upcoming session in Working Group III - the advanced session will come in next week's episode, when Joel calls in from the Working Group meeting in Vienna). For Happy Fun Time, we display our lack of understanding - and our respect - for the UK system with barristers and Queen's Counsels and what have you.