Published on 10 June 2026 in Newsletters
E-Newsletter – Spring 2026
Firm news
The last few months have seen numerous significant developments in relation to public international law. Below, Volterra Fietta highlights key recent developments in the areas of human rights, the law of the sea, international investment and foreign relations.
Throughout Spring 2026, Volterra Fietta continued to advise clients on some of the world’s most important public international law issues and contentious matters. The last few months have also seen a number of significant developments across the international legal landscape.
Recent developments in public international law
The Council of Europe adopts the Chișinău Declaration to address the application of the
European Convention on Human Rights to migration issues
On 15 May 2026, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the Chișinău Declaration. The Chișinău Declaration sets out the Member States’ collective position on the scope and application of the European Convention on Human Rights (the “ECHR”) to certain migration-related matters, such as expulsion of foreigners convicted of serious crimes, mass arrivals, the instrumentalisation of migration and co-operation with third countries regarding asylum procedures.
Cambodia and Thailand to engage in compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS over
unilaterally severed Maritime Pact
On 5 May 2026, Thailand announced a unilateral termination of its Memorandum of Understanding dated 18 June 2001 (“Agreement”) with Cambodia pertaining to their joint exploration rights in the area of their overlapping Maritime Claims to the Continental Shelf.
The 25-year-old Agreement sought to accelerate negotiations of a Joint Development Treaty to streamline joint exploitation of the hydrocarbon resources in the territorial sea, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone in the Gulf of Thailand. Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attributed this impending termination to lack of progress in achieving the objectives of the Agreement, stating that, “[c]ancelling the deal is not related to the border conflict with Cambodia, but part of my policy. It has been 25 years and there has been no progress”.
European Union publishes draft changes to its current foreign direct investment screening system
On 10 February 2026, the Council of the European Union published a near final draft of a regulation to change the European Union (“EU”) rules on screening foreign direct investments. Once implemented, the changes will significantly affect foreign investments into the EU. They widen the scope of investments that must be screened by EU authorities and increase the powers of authorities to review transactions that have already completed.
Canada and South Korea Sign Defence Agreement
On 25 February 2026, Canada and the Republic of Korea signed a new defence agreement in Ottawa during a Canada–Republic of Korea Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting. The agreement establishes a framework for the exchange and protection of classified military and defence information, following negotiations concluded in October 2025.
Recent and upcoming firm events
Recent:
- In March 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam and senior associate Ben Burnham co-authored an article on “Reasons for Middle Eastern and Gulf Parties to Litigate in the English Courts”, which will be published in Corporate Disputes Magazine.
- On 19 March 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam and associate Ben Burnham delivered a seminar on “Litigation before the English courts: an overview for Middle Eastern litigants”.
- On 21 March 2026, partner Gunjan Sharma spoke at the seminar on “Artificial Intelligence: Prevention and Resolution of Disputes”, in Bangalore, India, as organised by the UIA India Chapter in collaboration with the Bar Association of India, the Karnataka Judicial Academy, and supported by the Karnataka High Court Arbitration Centre.
- On 21 March 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam delivered a lecture on “Enforcement of ICSID Awards” at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata, India.
- On 24 March 2026, associate Ramalingam Vallinayagam gave a guest lecture on “Analysis of Mediation Act in India” at Jindal Global Law School in New Delhi, India.
- On 27 March 2026, partner Robert Volterra, counsel Florentine Vos and Professor Maurice Mendeldon KC delivered a seminar on “How to plead reparations and damages effectively before the ICJ”.
- On 31 March 2026, partner Gunjan Sharma released a commentary on “International Law and Artificial Intelligence” in the podcast “Volterra Fietta’s public international law commentaries” series.
- On 1 April 2026, Florentine Vos was promoted from consultant to counsel at Volterra Fietta.
- On 17 April 2026, partner Robert Volterra, partner Gunjan Sharma and associate Magdalena Kowalczuk Asher delivered a seminar on “Evidence before the ICJ: finding, selecting, pleading and presenting”.
- On 25 April 2026, associate Ramalingam Vallinayagam spoke on “Energy Arbitration in Times of Transition and Turmoil: Renewable, State measures and geopolitical risk” at the Clare College, University of Cambridge.
- On 26 April 2026, partner Peter Flint released a commentary on “Rebuilding After War: The importance of Dispute Clauses” in the podcast “Volterra Fietta’s public international law commentaries” series.
- On 6 May 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam delivered a seminar on “Mitigating the risk of disputes with Host States” for mining companies.
- On 13 May 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam delivered a seminar on “Drafting the request for arbitration: A claimant’s perspective”.
- On 15 May 2026, partner Gunjan Sharma and associate Magdalena Kowalczuk Asher delivered a seminar on “The role of the agent: between diplomacy and advocacy” before the International Court of Justice.
- On 15 May 2026, associate Margarita Adadurova, associate Kobby Afarai Yeboah and staff lawyer Siddhi Paradkar organised a practice moot court round for the team from the National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, (NUJS) which was selected as one of the top three teams nationwide to represent India in the 18th Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court, 2026.
- On 19 May 2026, Volterra Fietta hosted its annual spring reception at The Caledonian Club, London.
- On 20 May 2026, partner Ahmed-Abdel Hakam delivered a seminar on “Arbitration and litigation arising from contracts with sovereign States: Immunity Issues Affecting Sovereign Disputes”.
- On 3 June 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam delivered a seminar on “Mitigating the risk of disputes with Host State” during LIDW.
- On 3 June 2026, partner Ahmed-Abdel-Hakam delivered a seminar on “Litigating against State owned entities: strategic considerations” during LIDW.
- On 4 June 2026, partner Robert Volterra, counsel Florentine Vos, Professor Khawar Qureshi KC and Mr Robert Patton delivered a seminar on “Geopolitical Trigger Event: Preparing for the Next Wave of Investment Treaty Claims” during LIDW.
- On 4 June 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam delivered a seminar on “Tech Disputes: Litigation vs Arbitration?” during LIDW.
- On 5 June 2026, partner Robert Volterra, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam, counsel Florentine Vos, associate Kobby Afari Yeboah and Dr Robin Cleverly delivered a seminar on “Practical aspects of litigating land and maritime disputes before the ICJ and the international courts and tribunals” during LIDW.
- On 5 June 2026, partner Gunjan Sharma, Professor Solon Solomon and Mr Shahin Iraninejad delivered a seminar on “Turmoil on the seas, storms in the markets: commercial disputes arising out restrictions on freedom of navigating and war” during LIDW.
Upcoming:
- On 10 June 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “How to respond to a Request for Arbitration: Strategic considerations for the Respondent State”.
- On 11 June 2026, partner Gunjan Sharma will be speaking on a panel titled “Sovereign Enforcement in a Geopolitical Recession” at the Asset Recovery CEE conference organised by Bearstone as part of Warsaw Arbitration Week.
- On 17 June 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Commercial arbitration v Litigation against a State or a state-owned entity”.
- On 18 June 2026, partner Peter Flint will deliver a seminar on “The Changing Trade Relationship between the US and Canada: Navigating Washington’s Demands for a Wholesale USMCA Revision”.
- On 3 July 2026, partner Gunjan Sharma and counsel Florentine Vos will deliver a seminar on “The use of experts and witness in ICJ litigation”.
- On 8 July 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Halam will deliver a seminar on “Notice of dispute: how the Claimant and the Respondents can maximise the cooling off period to their benefit”.
- On 15 July 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Conducting an arbitration against a sovereign State or a State-owned entity: Strategic considerations”.
- On 16 July 2026, staff lawyer Brian Sukianto will speak on a panel on “Navigating Careers in International Law Firms: Pathways, Strategies, and Preparing Indonesian Legal Talent for Global Practice” organised by the Transnational Business Law Department, Faculty of Law at Universitas Padjajaran.
- On 9 September 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Jurisdiction of an investment treaty Tribunal”.
- On 16 September 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Leveraging local courts in arbitration proceedings against a State or State-owned entity”.
- On 14 October 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Burden of proof in investment treaty arbitration: Who should prove what?”.
- On 21 October 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Conducting negotiations and mediating with a sovereign State”.
- On 11 November 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “How to deal with proceedings parallel to an ongoing investment treaty arbitration”.
- On 18 November 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Strategic advocacy in disputes with a sovereign State”.
- On 9 December 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Provisional measures in investment treaty disputes”.
- On 16 December 2026, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Dealing with a State’s non-compliance with its contractual obligations: strategic considerations”.
- On 13 January 2027, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Quantum evaluation in investment treaty disputes”.
- On 20 January 2027, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Navigating arbitrators’ duties and counsel’s professional conduct obligations”.
- On 10 February 2027, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Enforcement of an investment treaty award: strategic considerations for the Claimant”.
- On 17 February 2027, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “How to select the most appropriate expert for your dispute”.
- On 10 March 2027, partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam will deliver a seminar on “Enforcement of an investment treaty award: strategic considerations for the Respondent”.
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.
