California International Arbitration Week: Global disputes are a local reality

California lawyers practice in one of the most globally connected economies in the world. Our clients manufacture overseas, invest across borders, source materials internationally and enter into contracts with counterparties in Asia, Europe, Latin America and beyond. Even businesses that consider themselves local are often part of a global supply chain.

In this environment, international arbitration is a practical reality.

Many California attorneys will encounter international arbitration because they are involved in an international commercial transaction or a cross-border contract dispute lands on their desk. A familiar commercial disagreement over issues such as distribution rights, technology licensing, joint ventures, supply agreements or investment terms suddenly implicates a foreign party and an arbitration clause. What might otherwise have proceeded in state or federal court instead becomes an international arbitration governed by a different legal framework.

International arbitration is not simply domestic arbitration with a foreign address. It operates under a unique system shaped by international treaties, federal law and, in some instances, California's own international arbitration statute. It raises different procedural expectations, approaches to evidence and experts, and cultural considerations. And critically, it offers something that domestic litigation cannot: globally enforceable awards.

You do not need to practice at a global megafirm to encounter cases like these. In fact, many international arbitration matters are handled by experienced business litigators who find themselves navigating unfamiliar terrain because an arbitration clause was embedded in a client's contract.

The question is not whether you will encounter international arbitration in California; it is whether you will be ready when you do.

This is why California International Arbitration Week 2026 is an invaluable event for the modern practitioner.

A boot camp for international arbitration

From March 9-12, 2026, at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco, the 5th Annual California International Week conference will bring together leading arbitrators, practitioners, institutions and in-house counsel from around the world. With 22 panels, 22 hours of MCLE and five nights of stellar evening networking events, the week is designed to provide both substantive education, meaningful connections and fun.

The conference's programming reflects both foundational and forward-looking themes offered by leading international arbitrators from around the world including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), American Arbitration Association/International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA/ICDR), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), JAMS, Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and arbitral institutions from Canada, China, Japan and Mexico.  Panels include the following:

• "The Use and Misuse of Experts in International Arbitration," presented by California Arbitration, will give us insights from the expert witness' perspective on best practices for selecting, preparing and presenting expert evidence, as well as common pitfalls that can undermine credibility before an international tribunal.

• "From Napa to Niigata: Uncorking Cross-Border Disputes Over Wine, Sake and Other Beverages," presented by the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, will use the global beverage industry as a lens through which to explore how international trade, distribution and intellectual property disputes play out in arbitration.

• "When the World Shifts: Navigating Geopolitical Risk, Energy Transition and Climate Disputes in Arbitration," presented by JAMS, will examine how global instability and the energy transition are reshaping international disputes.

• "Quantum Computing: The Next Legal Frontier Beyond AI," presented by the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center, will explore how emerging quantum technologies could transform data security, encryption and evidence in international disputes.

• "Reimagining Efficiency: Innovations Shaping the Future of ADR," presented by SIAC, will focus on how institutions such as SIAC and JAMS are working to maximize efficiency in arbitral proceedings.

Each evening will feature events that bring together speakers and attendees in an inclusive setting, creating opportunities to meet many of the most prominent arbitrators in California and from across the globe. This includes a social event hosted by JAMS at the Exploratorium and a trivia night presented by Young California Arbitration.  The conference will end with an optional daylong wine-tasting trip in Napa Valley. For lawyers who may handle international matters only occasionally, this kind of concentrated exposure is an opportunity to gain fluency and understanding quickly and confidently.

International arbitration is not domestic arbitration

At the center of international arbitration is the New York Convention, a treaty adopted by more than 170 countries that provides for the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards across borders. Unlike U.S. court judgments, which can be difficult or even impossible to enforce abroad, international arbitration awards are generally enforceable worldwide under a common framework. For clients engaged in global business, that predictability can be decisive.

In the United States, Chapter 2 of the Federal Arbitration Act implements the New York Convention. California has also adopted its own international arbitration statute based on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law, widely regarded as the international gold standard. While federal law often governs, California's decision to align itself with UNCITRAL reflects the state's recognition of the importance of international dispute resolution in a global economy.

For practitioners, these distinctions matter. International arbitration may involve different expectations about evidence, experts, discovery, confidentiality and the role of the tribunal. It may require bridging cultural and linguistic differences between parties and counsel. The adjudicator is not simply a domestic arbitrator in a different forum; the proceeding itself reflects a global framework.

For California lawyers accustomed to domestic litigation or arbitration, international arbitration can feel like a different dialect of a familiar language. The core advocacy skills translate, but they must be adapted.

Build international arbitration fluency now

International arbitration is not a niche specialty reserved for a handful of global firms. It is an increasingly common feature of cross-border commerce. For California lawyers advising businesses of any size, understanding its framework is essential.

You may be better off in arbitration than litigation in a cross-border dispute. You may need to evaluate or draft an arbitration clause. You may find yourself representing a client in a proceeding seated in California but involving parties from multiple continents.

When that happens, familiarity matters.

California International Arbitration Week offers an opportunity to build that familiarity alongside colleagues, institutions and arbitrators who are helping define the future of the field.

We invite you to join us in San Francisco, March 9-13, 2026, and become part of that conversation.  For more details visit 2026 California International Arbitration Week - California Lawyers Association (https://calawyers.org/2026-california-international-arbitration-week/).