The conference on “Investment Protection and Domestic Courts”, organized by Ursula Kriebaum and August Reinisch, will explore the crucial role of domestic courts in international investment protection and examine the interaction between national legal systems and international investment dispute mechanisms. It aims to provide a platform for in-depth discussions on the evolving dynamics between domestic judicial institutions and international investment arbitration, contributing to the broader discourse on the future of investment law and the protection of foreign investments.

We invite submissions that engage with the following themes:

1. Domestic Courts as a Substitute for ISDS? – Examining the extent to which national courts can replace investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms.
2. Domestic Courts as Objects of Scrutiny by Investment Tribunals – Investigating how investment tribunals assess domestic court decisions under standards such as due process, fair and equitable treatment (FET), and expropriation.
3. Domestic Courts Intervening in Investment Arbitration – Examining judicial tools such as anti-suit injunctions and their impact on arbitration proceedings.
4. Enforcement and Review of Investment Awards by Domestic Courts – Evaluating how domestic courts enforce and review arbitral awards under international law.

Submission Guidelines

We welcome contributions from scholars, practitioners, and policymakers with expertise in international investment law, arbitration, and comparative legal studies. Abstracts (max. 800 words) should outline the research question, methodology, and key arguments. Please include a short biography (max. 150 words) with your submission.

Deadline for submissions: 30 June 2025
Notification of acceptance: 31 July 2025
Conference date and location: 19 December 2025, Law School of the University of Vienna

Please send your paper proposals to: martina.mittermayer@univie.ac.at