This year, Khrystyna Kostiushko, MORIS’s Of Counsel, took part in Paris Arbitration Week — the leading international arbitration event of the year. The event once again demonstrated how global and dynamic the world of arbitration has become.

Among the key insights Khrystyna brought back from Paris:

• Sanctions: There is no one-size-fits-all or automated solution for sanctions compliance. Organizations should establish dedicated compliance teams or appoint responsible personnel.

• Ukraine and Investor-State Arbitration: This is increasingly seen as a mechanism for recovering war-related damages. But as always, the big question remains: “Where are the assets to enforce against?”

• Register of Damage (RD4U): While this tool is closely monitored by Ukrainian businesses, access to the ~$300 billion in frozen Russian assets remains a key unresolved issue.

• Reform of English Arbitration Law: Recent changes require parties to clearly specify the law governing the arbitration agreement, this should serve as a clear reminder for commercial parties (and their M&A lawyers) to draft their arbitration agreements with greater precision.

• French Arbitration Reform: France is reaffirming its commitment to remain an arbitration-friendly jurisdiction amidst growing competition from Asian arbitral hubs.

In Khrystyna’s words: “PAW is not only about discussing legal trends — it’s about a community of professionals united by a shared passion for arbitration. It’s a place where ideas are born, connections are strengthened, and solutions take shape.”