Webinar 2 – Climate Policy, Investment Treaties, and Investor-State Dispute Settlement

Climate Change, Decarbonization,
and International Dispute Resolution

Webinar 2 – Climate Policy, Investment Treaties, and Investor-State Dispute Settlement 

May 20, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PST

The Young Members Group of CIArb NAB, presents the webinar, “Climate policy, Investment Treaties, and Investor-State Dispute Settlement”, on Thursday, May 20, 2021 @ 12 p.m. ET/ 9:00 a.m. PST.

The webinar, the second in a three-part series of webinars on Climate Change, Decarbonization, and International Dispute Resolution, will explore the nexus between international investment and climate change law and policy, including investment treaty arbitration claims by renewable energy investors, claims concerning fossil fuel phase-outs, and the ongoing negotiations to align the Energy Charter Treaty with the Paris Agreement.

Moderated by Laura Olive, the panelists Paul Barker, Veronica Irastorza, Lise Johnson and Patrick Pearsall will consider the latest investment treaty arbitration cases, investment treaty design, damages and quantum in climate-related cases, and related ethical, corporate social responsibility and ESG issues. The Panelists and Moderator Bios are as follows:

Paul Barker is a barrister and arbitrator in independent practice at Doughty Street Chambers in London and a Research Fellow at Stanford Law School’s Gould Center in Silicon Valley, where he focuses on climate change and renewable energy investment. Paul is recognized as a leading barrister and arbitration lawyer by Who’s Who Legal. 

Veronica Irastorza is an Associate Director at NERA Economic Consulting in San Francisco and Mexico City with 20 years of experience in energy regulatory and strategic issues. Veronica assists clients with issues related to energy regulation and contracts, energy markets, damages, valuations, disputes, and arbitrations. She was formerly Undersecretary of Energy Planning and Transition in Mexico. 

Lise Johnson leads the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment’s work on investment law and policy. Her work at CCSI centers on analysing the contractual, legislative, and international legal frameworks governing international investment, and shaping the impacts that those investments have on sustainable development objectives.  She focuses in particular on analysing international investment treaties and the investor-state arbitrations that arise under them. 

Patrick Pearsall is a partner at Allen & Overy LLP in Washington, D.C. Patrick has extensive experience representing parties in international disputes and providing strategic advice on investments. He served in the U.S. State Department for nearly a decade, working on natural resource diplomacy, and departed as the Chief of Investment Arbitration. He is recommended as a leading arbitration lawyer by Chambers & Partners, Who’s Who Legal, and Legal 500.

Laura Olive is an Associate Director at NERA Economic Consulting in Boston with nearly 10 years of experience in the economics of energy and transportation markets. Laura regularly values oil and gas assets and conducts damages calculations for contract disputes. Laura earned her PhD in economics from Northeastern University.

This program is free, but space is limited.  To register, go to:

 https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rdIlkNDwS-SV9IeyMF3Ltg