The Center for Transnational Litigation, Arbitration, and Commercial Law is glad to announce that it is convening, together with Bucerius Law School, McGill University – Faculty of Law, and University of Verona School of Law, an in-person arbitration conference focusing on soft law. The event, titled “Soft Law in Arbitration: Concepts and Examples”, will take place on Friday, March 22nd, 2024, starting at 11.00 am, at the University of Vienna, thanks to the generous invitation by Professor Paul Oberhammer, the Dean of the Law School.
Over the years, many soft law instruments addressing various issues that often come up in arbitration (including evidentiary issues, party representation, conflicts of interest, etc.) have been elaborated with the goals of providing guidance to both parties and arbitral tribunals. Still, the increase of the number of these instruments has raised questions as to the impact of soft law in general, and some of these instruments in particular. The conference will address not only the underlying concept of soft law, but also the consequences of the proliferation of soft law instruments, such as their constraining power and repercussion on the flexibility of arbitral proceedings, their relationship with hard law, the role of soft law in the determination of the applicable law, the relevance of soft law for matters of procedure, the use of soft law in investment arbitration, etc.
The various topics will be addressed by Professors Marco Torsello, Friedrich Rosenfeld, Pilar Perales Viscasillas, Geneviève Saumier, Caroline Kleiner, Andrea Bjorklund, and Dr. Ajar Rab.
Opening remarks will be given by Professors Paul Oberhammer and Stefan Kröll. Professor Franco Ferrari, the Center’s Director, will act as moderator.
For the full program, see here.