Eurasia Arbitration Week 2025 held in Astana

On 1 -2 July 2025, The IAC Eurasia Arbitration Week 2025 (EAW25) was held in Astana. The event brought together the international arbitration community to discuss key developments and trends in dispute resolution. Now in its third year, EAW25 gathered around 400 participants, including leading practitioners, arbitrators, judges, academics, and representatives of business, government and diplomatic institutions from Kazakhstan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Middle East, Europe and Asia. The forum reaffirmed Astana’s position as a regional legal hub.

EAW25 was organised by the International Arbitration Centre (IAC) at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in cooperation with the international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP.

The event was attended by Lord Burnett of Maldon, Chief Justice of the AIFC Court, Thomas Krümmel, Chairman of the IAC, as well as leading practitioners, arbitrators, judges, and representatives of the business community, diplomatic corps, government institutions, and academia from across Eurasia.

A special guest of the EAW25 was Professor Maria Chiara Malaguti, President of UNIDROIT and a leading global authority in legal harmonisation and financial regulation. With extensive experience advising governments and international organisations, Professor Malaguti shared her insights on the transformation of international investment law and the role of new legal frameworks in ensuring sustainable development. She noted the ongoing shift from traditional investor–host state models to legal frameworks that integrate sustainability, climate considerations, and public interest protections.

“Investment law was born in a world of clear investor-host state divides. Today, every state is both an investor and host. We must rethink legal frameworks to reflect this new reality where investment, trade, and sustainability are inseparable,” she said.

The programme included a series of expert-led panel sessions addressing practical and strategic aspects of arbitration. These sessions focused on discussions on foreign direct investment and the impact of ADR on investment climates, cross-border enforcement of arbitral awards, regional legal harmonisation, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in dispute resolution. Corporate counsel and experienced advocates also shared insights on effective arbitration strategy, advocacy, and the commercial benefits of choosing ADR over litigation. The sessions reinforced the relevance of the AIFC Court and IAC in shaping modern dispute resolution practice across Eurasia.

During the week, the AIFC Court and IAC signed several cooperation agreements aimed at enhancing legal collaboration and professional development. These included agreements with the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan and the Turkic Arbitration Association, focused on strengthening dispute resolution ties among Turkic states.

Thomas Krümmel, Chairman of the IAC:

“With the IAC, Kazakhstan has done what few modern states have achieved: it has created a truly independent, impartial, and globally respected arbitration centre within its borders — yet free of national influence. We offer world-class dispute resolution that meets the standards of leading global institutions, giving international investors the legal certainty they need to do business confidently in the region.”

Christopher Campbell-Holt OBE, Registrar and Chief Executive of the AIFC Court and IAC:

“A lot of investors do not go to certain countries even when there are excellent investment opportunities because they do not have confidence that if they face a problem in business, they will receive fair independent justice of an international standard. That is precisely why the AIFC Court and IAC were established to provide that level of trust and protection. The EAW is our annual opportunity to remind investors that when they come to Kazakhstan, not if but when, they will be protected by international standards of the rule of law. They will trust us.”

The continued success of EAW reflects a strong commitment to legal innovation, international cooperation, and the strengthening of the rule of law. By bringing together leading voices from across jurisdictions, EAW25 reaffirmed the AIFC Court’s and IAC’s roles as trusted, independent institutions offering international-standard dispute resolution across Eurasia. Held in Astana, the forum demonstrated the region’s growing relevance in shaping the future of global arbitration and investor protection.

Statistics of the AIFC Court and the IAC:

Since commencing operations on 1 January 2018, the AIFC Court and the IAC have successfully completed and enforced more than 3,900 cases, including 189 court judgments and 3,772 IAC arbitration awards and mediation settlements. The disputes have covered a wide range of commercial dispute matters, reflecting the evolving needs of the business community.

Investors with business in Kazakhstan from 32 countries, including most Eurasian countries and other key Kazakhstan trading partners such as China, UAE, and India, used the AIFC Court and IAC to decide business disputes. 793 lawyers from 39 jurisdictions registered with the AIFC Court for the rights of audience to represent Parties in cases at the AIFC Court.

The AIFC Court and IAC has world class physical premises in Astana, and in Almaty, Kazakhstan. AIFC Court and IAC hearing rooms were launched in 8 countries within Eurasia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Recently, the AIFC Court and IAC recently opened a world-class office in Beijing, China.

Reference:

Eurasia Arbitration Week (EAW) is a platform for leading arbitrators, private practice lawyers, in-house counsel, policymakers and academics to discuss modern arbitration and dispute resolution practices, opportunities, challenges, and solutions for business in Eurasia

The International Arbitration Centre (IAC) is an independent legal entity. It has its own procedural rules modelled on best international practice. It has its own panel of leading international arbitrators and mediators having many years of arbitration and mediation experience in commercial law, including oil and gas, trade, construction, energy, financial services, banking, Islamic finance, insurance, and intellectual property. IAC arbitration awards are recognised and enforceable in Kazakhstan and internationally. https://iac.aifc.kz/

The AIFC Court is an independent legal entity. It has its own procedural rules modelled on English common law procedures and leading international practice. The AIFC Court is separate and independent from the courts of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It consists of two tiers: a Court of First Instance, which includes a specialist division known as the Small Claims Court; and a Court of Appeal.  It has exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising out of the activities and operations of the AIFC and jurisdiction in the case of other disputes in which all parties agree in writing to give the AIFC Court jurisdiction. It does not have jurisdiction in relation to disputes that are of a criminal or administrative nature. It applies the most up to date and efficient case management practices. https://court.aifc.kz/

 The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is a leading financial hub in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, designed to connect global capital with the vast opportunities of emerging markets. Positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the AIFC combines international best practices with innovative approaches to create a world-class platform for investment, business, and financial services. Since its establishment in 2018, the AIFC has attracted over USD 14.8 bln in investments into Kazakhstan’s economy. Over 4,000 companies from 80+ countries, including the USA, the UK, China, Turkiye, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and others, are registered within the AIFC’s jurisdiction. www.aifc.kz