Can’t Dispute It: CLA’s International Arbitration Week is Largest Conference of Its Kind

March 2025

More than 115 speakers from around the world will join California Lawyers Association (CLA) for its 2025 California International Arbitration Week. The largest conference of its kind, the meeting is a collaboration between CLA and California Arbitration (CalArb), taking place from March 10-13, 2025, at the W Hotel in West Los Angeles.

The symposium features 24 panels, with speakers representing such countries and regions as Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, and the United States. Key topics include Intellectual Property Protection in the Age of AI and Big Data, Multijurisdictional Arbitration, the Video Gaming Industry, Sports Arbitration, Construction and Energy Disputes Across Asia and Latin America, the Future of Intellectual Property, and a Green Future.

“I am just so impressed with the leaders who are drawn to this conference,” says Adrieannette Ciccon, CLA’s Litigation Section Chair. “It is fascinating to meet people from all corners of the world. It’s not only the people who are globally diverse, but what they do, the disputes they handle, and the clients they serve are also diverse.”

Now in its fourth year, the annual conference has seen exponential growth. CLA received 40 proposals for the 24 panel section offerings, and more than 200 attorneys and legal professionals are expected to attend from around the globe. The Litigation Section promotes excellence in all areas affecting dispute resolution, including the protection of the rights of all litigants, pre-trial discovery, the expeditious trial of lawsuits, alternative dispute resolution, effective judicial administration, uniform rules of court, and the protection and preservation of the independence of a judiciary of high quality.

CLA event co-chairs and leaders, Jeff Daar and Laura Abrahamson, encourage attorneys and business people from all practice areas to attend. “This is now the signature international event put on by CLA,” says Daar. “California is the fifth largest economy in the world, and these topics affect multiple disciplines. We are providing twenty-four hours of incredible, high quality panels that are relevant to everybody. Our social events are all off-site and wonderful opportunities to network with people from around the world.”

Abrahamson continues, “The discussions are insightful and focused on best practices and the latest trends. It’s a tremendous week. The panels are educational, unique, and timely. CLA is providing the international legal community with a rare chance to meet colleagues at the intellectual level, but importantly, the organization is offering a social space to encourage new relationships which might not otherwise occur.”

Almost every country in the world is part of an international arbitration treaty, the reason the conference is so relevant. Disputes, between individuals, governments, or companies can be complicated when they cross international borders. These treaties are voluntary and oftentimes help with predictability. Traditionally, the international legal community has focused its attention on New York as a place to conduct arbitration inside the US. However, California is being looked to more and more as a principal location to carry out international arbitration.

Diana Kruze, Chair for CLA’s Litigation Section Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), believes International Arbitration Week provides vital understanding and identification of issues regarding the relationship of ADR to the practice of law. “It’s an exceptionally valuable conference, because key stakeholders in the ADR community are able to connect,” Kruze says. She points out that many attorneys may have worked together for several years, but have never met in person, until attending the events. “It’s a fantastic way for people to be educated on emerging issues in the law and the underlying substantive issues which can be used in solving disputes for international cases.”

CLA’s Litigation Section leaders all agree that participants leave California International Arbitration Week feeling that they have honed their skills and distinguished themselves in the ADR space. In fact, one of the primary goals of the conference is to ensure that people feel welcome and are able to connect with the right colleagues, mentors, and panelists to help them in their profession.

“CLA’s conference is really a celebration of international arbitration in California,” explains Daar. “We lead the world in so many areas of industry.”

Ciccon adds, “I think it’s important to litigators to know how arbitration works. Sometimes arbitration offers a better resolution than going through court and litigation. Court cases can take two years or more. Arbitration can save costs and time.”

Participants will receive 24 hours of MCLE, including six hours of specialty credits. The conference gets underway with a welcome dinner on Sunday, March 9th and includes four evenings of distinct, hosted social events such as a Sony Studios tour and Old Hollywood night.

Numerous and generous sponsors have made both monetary and non-monetary contributions to support the educational programs and networking functions.

“We are so grateful to all of our contributors,” says Ciccon. “They understand and recognize the value of this international function.”

Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to visit: 2025 California International Arbitration Week – California Lawyers Association. 

On-site registration is also available, but register early since some of the networking events have limited capacity.

To participate as a sponsor or view the list of current sponsors, go to: https://calawyers.org/2025-california-international-arbitration-week/sponsor/.