The book launch will focus on the PhD thesis of Dr Stavroula Angoura, which she prepared at the Institute under the supervision of Prof. Burkhard Hess, and defended at the University of Luxembourg in July 2020. More specifically, Dr Angoura’s work investigates whether a common international public policy core exists with regard to the concepts of impartiality and independence of arbitrators in international commercial arbitration. The book addresses the different constellations of arbitrator bias as considered by the courts of various jurisdictions, especially France, England, Switzerland, Greece and Germany. The work also examines and systematizes how arbitrator impartiality can be contested at different stages of procedure, while providing answers to the following questions: what must an arbitrator disclose; should an arbitrator investigate a possible fact or circumstance that may affect her impartiality, and to what extent; what is the relevance of the fact affecting arbitrator impartiality being obvious, well-known or easily accessible by the parties; under which preconditions could a party waive its right to contest lack of impartiality-implicitly or expressly.

As the main speaker, Prof. Gary Born will share his extensive experience, borne of his outstanding reputation as an arbitrator and scholar in international dispute settlement. With Prof. Burkhard Hess and Dr Stavroula Angoura, they will further debate the changes of and challenges to international arbitration.