With less than two weeks to go, the Paris Arbitration Week (PAW) association is delighted to launch its new edition, which will confirm its three pillars: Paris, inclusiveness and innovation.

This annual event continues to be a cornerstone in the international arbitration calendar, bringing together practitioners, academics, and experts from around the globe.

The 2025 edition will be the biggest PAW edition since its inception and will feature a rich program of events – 181 conferences and debates, 44 social events organized by 251 partners (law firms, experts, third-party financiers, companies, universities, arbitration institutions, courts, public institutions, associations, database publishers, etc.) and the PAW Board:

  • PAW Kick-Off and Keynote Speech to start the week, and Opening Cocktail at the Paris City Hall
  • Various conferences, workshops, and panel discussions throughout the week. PAW will organize 2 key events one on sustainability challenges with Laurent Fabius as guest speaker and another dedicated to in-house counsels.
  • Networking events and social gatherings, such as the Young Arbitration Cruise, the Board’s homemade yoga session PAWSana or the Closing Cocktail Party for partners.

We are thrilled to announce that this year’s Keynote Speaker will be Professor Mohamed Abdel Wahab. This distinguished professional will deliver insights on diversity in international arbitration during the opening session on April 7, 2025.

Diamana Diawara and Benjamin Siino, co-Presidents of the PAW, are proud that this ninth edition of PAW will be held under the high patronage of the Ministry of Justice and that PAW continues to attract and bring together not only private partners from around the world but also key French institutions (French Cour de Cassation, Paris Court of Appeals, Universities etc…) thus confirming PAW’s instrumental role in federating all arbitration stakeholders in Paris.

PAW is a unique event that aims to connect the worldwide community of arbitration practitioners, foster academic debate, and promote Paris as the eternal home of international arbitration.

As a non-profit, apolitical association, PAW is committed to showcasing diversity, sustainability, social responsibility, and innovation as its core values. The event’s guiding principle is to unite and bring together all the key players contributing to the promotion and success of international arbitration. By highlighting the central role played by Paris under the impulsion of French legal thinking, PAW continues to ensure the promotion and development of international arbitration while putting the spotlight on the French capital’s significance in this field.

#PAW2025 will continue its tradition of offering both in-person and virtual attendance options, ensuring global participation and accessibility. Last year’s edition saw over 26,000 registrations and 187 events, bringing together more than 10,000 arbitration practitioners.

Press contacts

Amélie Lerosier – + 33 6 63 58 34 62 – amelie@blue-wall.com

PAW at a glance

The PARIS ARBITRATION WEEK is an annual event that takes place over a week in Paris, a major centre for international arbitration. The PAW has rapidly established itself as a leading event for international arbitration practitioners.

Its aim is to bring together arbitration professionals from around the world to discuss key issues in the field, whether investment or commercial arbitration, the impact of national legislation and international trade agreements on arbitration, and developments in the profession. The week is also an opportunity for informal meetings at the various cocktail parties and evening events.