Published on 25 June 2025 in Newsletters
E-Newsletter – Spring 2025
Spring 2025 has seen a number of major new developments in international law.
Below, Volterra Fietta highlights recent key developments in the areas of pandemic preparedness, disarmament, climate change and foreign investment protection.
Volterra Fietta continues to be actively engaged in many of these developments on behalf of our clients around the world.
Recent developments in public international law
In May 2025, the member States of the World Health Organization adopted a new pandemic treaty. This historic step echoes Volterra Fietta’s own proposals, from the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, for a new, legally binding global treaty on pandemic suppression and preparedness.
Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania set to become first States to exit global land mines treaty
Between April and June 2025, the Parliaments of Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania each voted to approve their country’s exits from the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.
International Maritime Organization approves new net-zero regulations for global shipping
In April 2025, after nearly 10 years of negotiations, the International Maritime Organization (the “IMO”) approved new net-zero regulations for global shipping.
Revamping India’s Model Bilateral Investment Treaty
After a significant erosion of investor protections in India’s 2015 Model BIT, the Government of India has announced plans to revamp its model BIT to support growing efforts by India to encourage sustained foreign investment.
Firm news
On 12 and 13 June 2025, King’s College London’s Department of Geography and Volterra Fietta co-hosted the seventh edition of the London International Boundary Conference (“LIBC VII”). The London International Boundary Conference 2025 brought together leading practitioners and scholars to discuss complex territorial and boundary issues from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Recent and upcoming firm events
Recent:
- On 3 April 2025, Partner Gunjan Sharma spoke on a panel at the Asset Recovery CEE Conference as part of Warsaw Disputes Days in Warsaw, Poland.
- On 3-4 April 2025, Associate Rhianna Vonk participated as an arbitrator in the 18th PCA Hague Vis Pre-Moot in The Hague, The Netherlands.
- On 11 April 2025, Partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam moderated a panel, “Navigating Disputes in Times of Conflict – Focus on Africa”, during Paris Arbitration Week 2025 in Paris, France.
- On 11 April 2025, Partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam spoke on a panel, “Protection of Investments in the OIC region”, with the Secretary General of the OIC Arbitration Centre on OIC Arbitration during Paris Arbitration Week 2025 in Paris, France.
- On 16 April 2025, Partners Ahmed Abdel-Hakam and Gunjan Sharma delivered a seminar entitled “Impacts of Tariffs on Supply Contracts: Key Legal Issues”.
- On 24 April 2024, Partner Robert Volterra spoke at the UAE: 10th International Arbitration & ADR Summit in Dubai, UAE.
- On 25 April 2025, Partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam spoke at the BIICL’s ITF Annual Conference on Foreign Investments in Occupied Territories in London, UK.
- On 26 April 2025, Partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam spoke at the 10th Edition of Cambridge Arbitration Day on the impact of armed conflict on commercial arbitration in Cambridge, UK.
- On 6 May 2025, Partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam delivered an Interactive Skills Workshop for State Representatives from Europe, Asia, and South America at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.
- On 9 May 2025, Partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam spoke at the War & Peace and International Arbitration Conference at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.
- On 14 May 2025, Counsel Angela Ha and Associate Magdalena Kowalczuk Asher delivered an MBL webinar on the topic “Investor-State Dispute Settlement – The Latest Reforms Examined”.
- During the week 2-6 June 2025, Volterra Fietta delivered a series of seminars related to international disputes during the London International Disputes Week 2025.
- On 4 June 2025, Partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam spoke on a panel on the attractivity of London as a global centre for international dispute resolution at the Law Society of England & Wales as part of the London International Disputes Week 2025.
- On 5 June 2025, Partner Gunjan Sharma and Associate Magdalena Kowalczuk Asher delivered an MBL seminar on “Effective Cross-Examination in International Arbitration – Procedural, Cultural & Logistical Challenges”.
- On 10 June 2025, The Global Legal Post launched its 2025 Arbitration Guide, co-edited by Partners Robert Volterra, Gunjan Sharma and Ahmed Abdel-Hakam.
- On 18 June 2025, Counsel Angela Ha delivered a lecture on parallel proceedings at the London Summer Arbitration School.
- On 3 July 2025, Partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam and Associate Margarita Adadurova delivered a seminar on “Protecting your investment in Morocco: How to mitigate legal risk from a dispute resolution perspective”.
Upcoming:
- On 15 July 2025, Partner Gunjan Sharma will be delivering a seminar on “Impact of Mexican Judicial reform for foreign investors”.
If you would like to be added to Volterra Fietta’s invitation list for future events, please email your name and affiliation to info@volterrafietta.com.
