On 20 November 2025, Foley Hoag LLP welcomed practitioners from across the arbitration community for Arbitration Across Borders: Recent Developments in Leading Seats, a dynamic New York Arbitration Week 2025 event organised by Young ArbitralWomen Practitioners (YAWP), together with the New York, Singapore, and Dominican Republic chapters of Very Young Arbitration Practitioners (VYAP). The full house set the tone for an afternoon of rich comparative insight and cross-regional exchange.

After a warm welcome, ArbitralWomen Member Jessica Rado moderated an exceptional panel featuring Irene Whelan Vita (Associate, Foley Hoag, New York), Sunita P. Advani (Arbitral Assistant to Mr. Michael Lee of Twenty Essex, Singapore), Gabriela Santana (Associate, Adell & Merizalde, Santo Domingo), and Isabel Fernández de la Cuesta (Independent Arbitrator, New York).

The discussion moved fluidly across jurisdictions, highlighting how recent legislative reforms, new arbitral rules, and institutional innovations are reshaping the global arbitration landscape.  Among the standout themes were the implications of the UK’s new Arbitration Act, the modernisation embedded in SIAC’s updated rules, and U.S. arbitral institutions’ evolving responses to artificial intelligence. The speakers also shed light on emerging frameworks in Latin America and what these collective developments may mean for counsel, arbitrators, and parties navigating cross-border disputes.

The event not only showcased the rapid evolution of leading arbitral seats but also underscored the value of international collaboration among young practitioners. A fitting highlight of NYAW 2025, Arbitration Across Borders left participants with a clearer view of where global arbitration is heading — and the tools to navigate what comes next.

Special thanks to Marie Deveraux (YAWP Steering Committee) for her assistance in organising the panel.

Submitted by ArbitralWomen Member Jessica Rado (Associate, Klafter Lesser LLP)