First Edition International Arbitration Conference
14 y 15 de Mayo 2026, New York City
In May 2026, the First UBA–Columbia–NYCBA International Arbitration Conference brought together, for the first time, the University of Buenos Aires, Columbia Law School, and the New York City Bar Association in a shared space for dialogue — launching what has since become a permanent bridge between practice, academia, and the next generation of international arbitration.
The May 14 session took place at the headquarters of the New York City Bar Association, featuring four panels devoted to the leading current challenges in international arbitration, and closed with a conversation with the Argentine Ambassador to the United States, Alec Oxenford, who reflected on arbitration's role in strengthening economic ties between Argentina and the rest of the world.
The following day, May 15, the conference continued at Columbia University, where four further panels deepened the discussion with contributions from internationally renowned academics and practitioners.
Two days, two landmark New York institutions, and one shared conviction: that the future of arbitration is built by bridging divides. These images capture that first edition.
May 14
Panel 1: "Litigation-Ready" Contracts in Strategic Sectors. This panel examines how to design complex contracts in the energy, infrastructure, and digital economy sectors to anticipate and manage disputes, focusing on arbitration-related clauses, contract governance, adjustment mechanisms, and remedies.
Speakers:
Nahila Cortés — BakerHostetler
María Beatriz Burghetto — Independent Arbitrator; Board Member, Arbitral Women
Agustina Alfaro — Chaffetz Lindsey
Moderator: Gianella Ramírez Fantín — Founder, Mujeres en Derecho
Panel 2: Enforcement and Judicial Review of Arbitration. This panel addresses arbitration's critical final stage — the path from award to actual recovery — with particular attention to the role of state courts. It focuses on award annulment, public policy, and cross-border enforcement, from a comparative Argentina–U.S. perspective.
Speakers:
Sebastián Briceño — Debevoise & Plimpton
Santiago Vernaza — Rincón, Castro Abogados
María Curuchet — Independent Attorney
Moderator: Michael Fernández — Cozen O'Connor
Panel 3: Innovations and Trends in the Arbitration System. This panel examines how the arbitration system is evolving to meet new economic, technological, and financing realities, focusing on third-party funding, emergency arbitrators, expedited procedures, technology, and transparency — and their impact on cost, timing, and strategy.
Speakers:
Santiago Gatica — Freshfields
Marija Ozolins — Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP
William T. O'Brien — Eversheds Sutherland
Alexander G. Malyshev — Carter Ledyard & Milburn
Moderator: José E. Arvelo — Covington
Panel 4: Arbitration as the Architecture of Risk Between Argentina and the U.S. This panel explores arbitration as an ex ante tool for structuring transactions and efficiently allocating risk, focusing on bankability conditions, regulatory stability, and the role of award enforcement as a condition for economic viability.
Speakers:
Lucila Hemmingsen — Sagiance LLP
Ezequiel Vetulli — Sagiance LLP
Daniela Páez — Herbert Smith Freehills
Moderator: Emanuel Reyes — FJ Carrega & Asociados
Conversation with Alejandro "Alec" Oxenford, Ambassador of Argentina to the United States: The Strategic Bilateral Relationship Between Argentina and the United States.
May 15
Panel 5: Argentine Regulatory Framework and International Standards. This panel addresses how Argentina's current regulatory framework interacts — and at times conflicts — with international standards applicable to investment and cross-border contracts, focusing on the RIGI, the Civil and Commercial Code, BITs, and arbitrability as variables of predictability, risk, and contract structuring.
Speakers:
Leandro Vergara — Dean, University of Buenos Aires School of Law
Andrés de la Cruz — Professor of Law; Independent Attorney
José García Hamilton — Legal and Administrative Affairs, Argentine Ministry of Economy
María Inés Sola — General Counsel, Pan American Energy
Moderator: Joaquín Vergara Fornari — Legal Counsel, APM Terminals Buenos Aires; Member, CARAT (FORES)
Panel 6: Investment Arbitration and Macroeconomics. This panel examines how regulatory and macroeconomic shifts affect contract compliance and arbitration dynamics, focusing on currency controls, emergency measures, sector-specific regulation, and compliance as typical dispute triggers.
Speakers:
María Inés Corrá — Bomchill
Noiana Marigo — Freshfields
Nicolás Bianchi — PBX Law
Kabir Duggal — Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Moderator: Catalina Maldonado Zabala — FJ Carrega & Asociados
