Inna Yemelianova, the Vice President of the ICAC, joined the second day of the XIIIth International Judicial Forum. Ms. Yemelianova was a speaker at the session “Cross-border Disputes and International Arbitration”, along with Roman Babiy, a people’s deputy of Ukraine , Yevhen Petrov, a judge of the Civil Cassation Court of the Supreme Court, Arsen Miliutin, the deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Oschadbank and Dmytro Fedechko, the Head of Legal Department, Louis Dreyfus Company Ukraine.

The session focused on the discussion of the draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine ”On International Commercial Arbitration“ to Expand the Competence of International Arbitration” (Reg. No. 12141), adopted in the first reading on 30 April 2025. The draft law paved the way for expanding the competence of arbitration with a seat in Ukraine, including with considering investment disputes.

Ms. Yemelianova positively assessed the adoption of the draft law in the first reading and emphasized: “The rebuilding of Ukraine’s war-torn economy and infrastructure will open up huge and unique investment opportunities. However, these opportunities (especially for private capital) depend on an effective legal mechanism to protect investors’ property rights. Whether or not Ukraine succeeds in attracting direct foreign investment will determine the development of the country in decades to come. Empowering international commercial arbitration with a seat in Ukraine to consider investment disputes is very timely.”

Supporting the idea of expanding arbitrability, she noted that in most developed countries, arbitration covers a wide range of disputes categories, including those involving public interests. Today, arbitration is the most politically and procedurally neutral and independent dispute resolution method, it is flexible and gives parties more opportunities to play an active role in the process.

In addition, Inna Yemelianova shared recent statistics proving the exceptional experience of the ICAC in arbitrating international disputes.

Ms. Yemelianova also emphasized several advantages of potential consideration of investment disputes by the ICAC, namely: highly professional arbitrators, fast and timely consideration of cases, very low percentage of awards being challenged or set aside (only two awards were set aside in the past six years).

The XIIIth International Judicial Forum was held on 5-6 June in Kyiv and brought together state authorities as well as the legal and business communities of Ukraine.