A global view of energy disputes: Key takeaways from LIDW 2026

At London International Disputes Week 2026, Freeths, Young ITA and WilmerHale co-hosted “Round the World in 90 Minutes – A Global View of Energy Disputes”, a panel examining how geopolitics, the energy transition and shifting regulatory pressures are reshaping the disputes landscape across key regions.

Chaired by Milosz Palej, the session brought together perspectives from private practice and in-house counsel, with contributions from Ciara Ros (Freeths), Yeşim Bezen (Bezen Partners), Stanislava Sosnina (European Energy), and Anna Henshaw (S&W).

Fragmented but Interconnected Risk Landscape

A central theme emerging from the discussion was the extent to which the global energy sector is simultaneously fragmenting and integrating. While jurisdictions are diverging in regulatory approach -particularly in response to the race for net zero and domestic political pressures - the underlying drivers of disputes remain strikingly consistent: state intervention, project delays, supply chain volatility, and shifting investment protections.

Regional insights

Latin America and the Middle East

Ciara Ros focused on the continued prominence of resource nationalism and state participation in strategic energy and infrastructure assets. In Latin America, this has manifested in regulatory volatility, contract renegotiations and an ongoing pipeline of investor-state disputes.

In the Middle East, while investment conditions often remain comparatively stable, geopolitical tensions and the strategic importance of energy infrastructure - particularly transit routes - continue to shape risk allocation and enforcement considerations. Ciara also addressed the issues with the current contractual toolkit and how a lack of understanding of local markets and culture from investors and contractors can lead to disputes that could be avoided with proper contractual protection and due diligence of the market.

Turkey

Yesim Bezem highlighted Turkey as a market characterised by rapid regulatory evolution and economic volatility. Disputes are often driven by currency fluctuations, changes in tariff regimes and government-led adjustments to energy policy. The importance of carefully structured contracts - particularly with respect to price adjustment mechanisms and dispute resolution clauses - was emphasised as a key mitigant.

CIS Region

In the CIS, Stanislava Sosnina addressed how geopolitical developments continue to have a direct impact on project viability and dispute risk. Sanctions, countermeasures and shifting legal frameworks were identified as critical challenges, often complicating both contract performance and enforcement strategies. From an in-house perspective, early dispute recognition and proactive risk management were cited as essential.

The technology overlay: Quantum and emerging risks

Interspersed throughout the discussion, Anna Henshaw explored how emerging technologies - particularly quantum computing - may begin to influence the disputes landscape. While still nascent, the potential impact on data security, encryption and evidential integrity raises important questions for arbitration users, particularly in high value disputes where evidence of costs is key (and tribunals can often turn to costs as the basis for quantum calculations).