We are honoured to share that our Founding Partner, Dr. Mahmood Hussain, was a featured speaker at Paris Arbitration Week 2025, where he contributed to three pivotal panels addressing some of the most pressing issues in international arbitration today. His participation reaffirmed M&CO Legal’s leadership in fostering cross-border dialogue and advancing inclusive, innovative, and contextually relevant dispute resolution frameworks.
In a dynamic panel on “How $100B+ in GCC–Africa Investment and 40+ BITs Are Reshaping Arbitration,” Dr. Hussain joined esteemed co-panelists François Muller, Sami Houerbi, Sara Koleilat-Aranjo, Sara El-Sadda, and Ahmed Ouerfelli. Moderated by Chiraz Abid, the session explored the legal implications of growing capital flows between the GCC and Africa. Dr. Hussain emphasized three core imperatives for the future of arbitration: aligning global standards with local realities, strengthening institutional integrity, and building pipelines for African and Arab talent. His message resonated deeply—as capital moves, so must arbitration—toward trust, inclusion, and regional relevance.
Later, Dr. Hussain joined the panel on “Navigating Cross-Cultural Dynamics in International Arbitration,” hosted by Rajah & Tann Asia. This thought-provoking session brought together a diverse group of global practitioners including Kelvin Poon SC, Dr. Vanina Sucharitkul, FCIArb, Shilin Huang, Chuan Thye Tan, Loretta Malintoppi, and Dr. Hamid Gharavi. Together, the panel explored how cultural awareness, legal traditions, and communication styles influence arbitration strategy and outcomes. Dr. Hussain contributed insights on fostering trust across diverse legal systems, and how cross-cultural competence is vital to effective advocacy in international proceedings.
In his third appearance, Dr. Hussain spoke at “Bridging Continents: The Digital Shift in Arbitration Across Africa, MENA, and Beyond,” a forward-looking session hosted by the SOAS Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre (SADRC). The panel examined how AI, digital banking, and smart contracts are transforming dispute resolution infrastructure across emerging markets. Drawing on his deep experience with UAE’s innovation ecosystem—including the DIFC Courts of the Blockchain, ADGM’s digital tribunals, and the UAE AI Strategy 2031—Dr. Hussain highlighted the potential for technology to enhance access, reduce costs, and deliver clarity by design. He called on regional arbitral institutions to champion ethical, open-access digital tools and to co-create solutions with their counterparts across Africa and South Asia. As he aptly noted, “Innovation without inclusion is incomplete.”
Dr. Mahmood Hussain’s contributions during Paris Arbitration Week 2025 reflect M&CO Legal’s ongoing commitment to shaping a future-ready arbitration landscape—one that is collaborative, adaptive, and just.
