Astana Hosted Leading Global Experts for IAC Eurasia Arbitration Week 2026

Astana became the focal point for discussions on international dispute resolution this summer as
the world’s leading international arbitration experts and legal professionals gathered for the fourth
annual IAC Eurasia Arbitration Week 2026 (EAW26) from 30 June to 3 July 2026. The event was
organised by the AIFC International Arbitration Centre (IAC), which was nominated for the
prestigious Global Arbitration Review (GAR) Awards – one of the leading global distinctions in
the field of international arbitration – reflecting its established reputation among the world’s leading
international dispute resolution institutions.
IAC EAW26 brough together over 600 delegates and 65 speakers, including leading policymakers,
judges, arbitrators, academics, in-house counsel, private practice lawyers, and dispute resolution
professionals from more than 30 jurisdictions across Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and North
America. The event provided a platform for examining the legal and commercial challenges
shaping international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution practices. This event highlighted
the IAC’s and Kazakhstan’s growing role as regional centres for international business and dispute
resolution, bringing global expertise to Astana and supporting efforts to create a transparent,
predictable, and investor-friendly legal environment.
This year, the four-days IAC EAW26 programme addressed the most pressing issues facing the
global arbitration community, including the impact of artificial intelligence on arbitration,
enforcement of arbitral awards, investor protection, cross-border dispute resolution, evolving user
expectations, and the future of arbitration education and practice.
A highlight of IAC EAW26 was the participation of Mr. Gary Born, Partner at King & Spalding
and one of the world’s foremost authorities on international arbitration. Mr. Born has acted as
counsel in some of the most significant international commercial and investor-State disputes and
is widely regarded as one of the leading global figures in the development of modern international
arbitration.
The IAC EAW26 programme also featured Professor Loukas Mistelis, Professor of Transnational
Commercial Law and Arbitration at Queen Mary University of London, an internationally
recognised arbitrator, and one of the leading scholars in the field of international dispute resolution.
Professor Mistelis is known globally for his contributions to arbitration research and practice,
including his leadership of the influential Queen Mary International Arbitration Survey, widely
regarded as one of the most authoritative studies of trends and user perspectives in international
arbitration.

On 30 June, a dedicated IAC EAW26 Training Day, organised in collaboration with the Turkic
Arbitration Association, provided participants with practical guidance on the work of arbitrators
through a dedicated training programme “The Arbitrator’s Toolkit: From Appointment to Final
Award”. The programme focused on tribunal management, evidentiary issues, drafting enforceable
awards, and other practical aspects of arbitral practice.
The main conference programme of IAC EAW26 took place during 1–2 July 2026 at the IAC
premises in Astana.
On July 3, IAC EAW26 concluded with the “Young Lawyers’ Day: Arbitration Leaders of
Tomorrow”, organised in collaboration with the U.S Department of Commerce Commercial Law
Development Program (CLDP). It brought together leading academics and professors from
Harvard University, Columbia University and the University of California Law School, law
students, and early-career practitioners to explore emerging trends in dispute resolution and career
pathways into international legal practice.

Reference:
The International Arbitration Centre (IAC) is a key institution for the Astana International
Financial Centre, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the entire Eurasia region. It provides an
independent, economical and expeditious alternative to court litigation, operating to the highest
international standards to resolve civil and commercial disputes in the AIFC. The IAC has its own
panel of outstanding international arbitrators and mediators who are highly experienced,
independent and impartial. IAC arbitration awards are recognised and enforceable in Kazakhstan
and internationally. The IAC has its own Training Centre and cooperates with leading
international education institutions to provide professional legal education that contributes to
efficient case management by training lawyers, arbitrators and mediators in the Republic of
Kazakhstan and wider Eurasia region. https://iac.aifc.kz/
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction where investors
and businesses meet emerging opportunities of Kazakhstan and Central Asia in a transparent and
sustainable environment backed by the principles of English Common Law. https://aifc.kz/