Diana Paraguacuto-Mahéo will be speaking at the Swedish Arbitration Days 2026. Her panel, titled "Arbitration at the Crossroads of Conflict and Stability in the times of Geopolitical Turbulence", will examine how geopolitical rivalries are affecting contracts and generating arbitrations, while also exploring the profound impact of sanctions on arbitral proceedings. As geopolitical tensions reshape the global economic order, international arbitration finds itself at the intersection of trade wars, sanctions regimes, and mounting pressure on the rule of law. Against this backdrop, the discussion will turn to a more fundamental question: can international arbitration serve as a stabilizing force or is it itself vulnerable to the pressures threatening the rule of law? Bringing together leading practitioners and scholars, this session will offer a timely assessment of arbitration’s role in navigating -and potentially mitigating- the consequences of geopolitical turbulence on international commerce.

This biennial gathering brings together the world's leading arbitration professionals for high-level discourse, unparalleled networking, and meaningful exchange. The theme of the 2026 edition is: The Future of the Rule of Law in International Arbitration. Topics range from the impact of geopolitical turbulence and sanctions in relation to arbitral proceedings, to the consequences of CJEU jurisprudence for the integrity of arbitration in Europe, arbitrator independence, due process, and the growing role of AI. Across all sessions, the conference asks a defining question: are international arbitration's existing frameworks equipped to uphold the rule of law, and what must change to secure its legitimacy going forward?