Deminor Wiki - London International Disputes Week (LIDW)

History

The inception of London International Disputes Week can be traced to 2019, when a consortium of over 60 founding and supporting institutions united to create a unified platform celebrating London's pre-eminent position as a global hub for international dispute resolution.

The evolution of LIDW has somewhat paralleled the growth of the litigation funding industry in London and internationally. LIDW incorporated substantive programming on litigation finance from its inception. The conference has witnessed the progression of third-party funding as it has become an established feature of the international disputes landscape, with funders, law firms, and end-users regularly participating in dedicated panels and workshops throughout the week.

The 2025 edition, marking the sixth year of LIDW, carries the theme "Innovation in dispute resolution: navigating global risks," reflecting the conference's forward-looking approach to emerging challenges.

Innovation and Thought Leadership

LIDW has established itself as a launching pad for innovative approaches to dispute resolution and a forum for addressing systemic challenges facing the industry. The 2025 programme features groundbreaking discussions on topics including the use of AI in international disputes, ESG litigation trends, cryptocurrency arbitrations, and the application of blockchain technology to enforcement mechanisms. These forward-looking sessions position LIDW at the forefront of legal innovation, attracting participation from technology companies, start-ups, and alternative legal service providers alongside traditional law firms and funders.

The thought leadership generated during LIDW extends beyond the conference week through published papers, recorded sessions, and follow-up initiatives. Many institutions use LIDW to release significant reports or announce rule changes, leveraging the concentrated attention of the disputes community. Recent editions have witnessed important discussions regarding funding disclosure requirements, ethical guidelines, and industry self-regulation initiatives, particularly in light of developments such as the PACCAR decision and ongoing regulatory reviews.

Litigation Funding Context

Litigation funding, also known as third-party funding, involves external financiers providing capital to support legal proceedings in exchange for a portion of any successful recovery. Within the LIDW ecosystem, litigation funding has evolved from a peripheral topic to a central theme, reflecting its growing importance in international dispute resolution.

LIDW's treatment of litigation funding encompasses both practical and policy dimensions. Practical sessions address due diligence processes, funding agreement structures, and the interaction between funders and legal teams throughout proceedings. Policy discussions examine regulatory developments across jurisdictions, with particular attention to disclosure requirements, privilege issues, and the allocation of costs in funded cases. The presence of major litigation funders as sponsors and speakers at LIDW events underscores the industry's integration into mainstream dispute resolution practice. Recent programmes have featured dedicated panels on corporate use of litigation funding, portfolio funding arrangements, and the intersection of funding with ESG considerations. 

Deminor Participation

The Deminor team actively supports LIDW and over the years has sponsored the events and also featured in various discussion panels. Upon the first LIDW as it emerged from COVID, Deminor ran a highly attended webinar where the core elements of funding were actively discussed and debated. As the conference returned to more of a face-to-face event, the Deminor team has been regularly asked to speak on discussion panels.

Conclusion

London International Disputes Week has established itself as an core fixture in the global dispute resolution calendar, serving as both a celebration of London's pre-eminence and a forward-looking platform for addressing industry challenges and opportunities. Since its founding in 2019, LIDW has grown to become one of the largest global gatherings of dispute resolution professionals, attracting over 8,000 participants from more than 100 countries. Through its unique combination of thought leadership, practical insights, and networking opportunities spanning more than 150 events, LIDW continues to shape discourse and practice in international arbitration, litigation, and the broader legal services industry.