Uppsala University hosts public lecture by Professor Gabrielle Kaufmann‑Kohler on “Corruption before Investment Tribunals”

The lecture, titled “Corruption before Investment Tribunals”, was held at the Uppsala University Department of Law and was open to the faculty, students, and members of the public.

The event drew more than 60 participants, reflecting strong interest across the arbitration and public international law communities. Attendees included students as well as participants from a range of professional stakeholder groups, underscoring the value of convening academic and practitioner perspectives in a shared forum.

Key legal questions addressed

Against the backdrop of increasing corruption allegations in investor–State disputes, the session examined contemporary legal and procedural challenges raised by corruption defences and counter‑allegations before investment tribunals, including:

• how tribunals approach proof, evidentiary indicia, and “red flags” in inherently covert fact patterns;
• the consequences of corruption findings for jurisdiction, admissibility, and merits (including “legality” requirements tied to the making of the investment);
• the interplay between corruption issues and public policy/mandatory norms in arbitral reasoning; and
• procedural questions around tribunal powers, party autonomy, and due process when corruption issues emerge during proceedings.

The seminar formed part of Professor Kaufmann‑Kohler’s teaching visit in connection with the ITA Master’s Programme, illustrating the programme’s commitment to combining rigorous academic training with direct engagement from leading international practitioners and arbitrators.

The evening was hosted in the framework of the ITA Master’s Programme led by Professor Steffen Hindelang, Programme Director at Uppsala University. The strong turnout highlighted the role of specialised master’s education in building an informed professional community – particularly by creating live platforms where students can engage directly with leading figures shaping arbitral practice and policy.

Following the lecture, guests joined a reception generously sponsored by ILA Sweden and SIFIR. The organisers thank all attendees for contributing to a lively and thoughtful exchange.