Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, in collaboration with the University of Geneva, Faculty of Law and ALG LLP, will host a “Symposium on Investors’ Obligations in International Law” at the University of Geneva on May 16–17, 2024.
The symposium will consider the scope of investors’ obligations and regulation of their conduct under international law in light of recent developments, particularly the African Continental Free Trade Area’s Investment Protocol.
Partner Steven Finizio will speak in a panel on “Corporate Social Responsibility and Investors’ Obligations.” Visiting Foreign Lawyer Mohit Khubchandani will speak in a panel on “Labour Standards and Investors’ Obligations.”
To register, please email: [email protected]
Agenda
DAY ONE – May 16, 2024
13.00 – Welcoming Remarks by the Dean of the Law School, Professor Luc Thévenoz
13.05 – 13.20 – Meet & Greet
13.20 – Introductory Observations by Organizers
- Professor Makane Moïse Mbengue, University of Geneva
- Jackson Shaw Kern, Partner, ALG LLP
- Mohit Khubchandani, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
13.45 – The Great Debate – The Pro and Contra Position – Investor Obligations in International Law?
- Ambassador Mario Oyarzábal, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Member of the International Law Commission
- Jackson Shaw Kern, Partner, ALG LLP
Moderator – Professor Martins Paparinskis, University College London, Member of the International Law Commission
- Investor Obligations in Relation to State Obligations – Dr. Anna Kozmenko, Partner, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP
- Compliance with National and International Law – Augustin Barrier, Counsel, Lalive
- Relationship Between Investor Obligations and Investment Contracts – Professor Maria Chiara Malaguti, President, UNIDROIT
Moderator – Dr. Johannes Fahner, Associate, Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler
16.15 – Investor Obligations Cluster I: Global Stewards
- Environmental Protection – Dr. Nilüfer Oral, National University of Singapore, Member of the International Law Commission
- Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities – Professor Diane Desierto, University of Notre Dame
- Anti-Corruption – Professor Won Kidane, Partner, ALG LLP & Villanova University
17:45 – End of Day One
18:15 – Cocktail and Dinner @ Sauvage, Rue Dancet 5, 1205 Genève, Switzerland
DAY TWO – May 17, 2024
9.00 – Investor Obligations Cluster II: Human Rights
- Socio-Political Obligations – Professor Makane Moïse Mbengue, University of Geneva
- Human Rights & Climate Change – Suzanne Spears, Founder, PAXUS LLP
- Labour Standards – Mohit Khubchandani, Visiting Foreign Lawyer, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Moderator – Dr. Elena Cima, Lecturer, University of Geneva
10.30 – Coffee Break
10.45 – Investor Obligations Cluster III: The Investor in Focus
- Corporate Governance – Professor Dr. Mathias Wolkewitz, Wintershall Dea AG
- Corporate Social Responsibility – Professor Steven Finizio, Partner, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
- Taxation & Transfer Pricing – Dr. Vincent Beyer, UNCTAD
Moderator – Professor Fuad Zarbiyev, Graduate Institute Geneva
12.15 – Concluding Remarks