IBA Annual Conference in Toronto: Curtis Partners Address Key Issues in International Law

Curtis partners Claudia Frutos-Peterson and John Balouziyeh will participate in multiple panels on International Arbitration and Human Rights and International law at the International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference in Toronto, Canada, which takes place from November 2-7, 2025.

International Arbitration

Curtis Washington D.C. Managing Partner Claudia Frutos-Peterson will speak on a panel, “Towards privilege harmonisation: levelling the playing field or raising the bar?” addressing privileges in international arbitration on Monday, November 3 at 4:15 pm. The panel is part of the IBA Arbitration Committee's initiative to examine privilege laws and practices globally and explore opportunities for harmonization to establish international standards for privilege in arbitration proceedings.

Human Rights and International Law

Curtis New York Partner John Balouziyeh will address critical challenges confronting international law, human rights and the rule of law across multiple sessions:

1. "Human Rights Impact of Corruption" panel - Wednesday, November 5 at 9:30 am, discussing the impacts of corruption on civil, political, economic and social rights. The conference paper is available here.
2. "Law not War" showcase - Thursday, November 6 at 9:30 am, examining the role of law and legal procedures in promoting war crimes justice and brokering peace talks, and featuring a keynote address by Judge Olufemi Elias of the International Court of Justice.
3. "The Veto" documentary screening - Wednesday evening, November 5, delivering closing remarks for the IBA Human Rights Law Committee's screening of a documentary produced by Tim Slade about the use of veto power within the UN Security Council. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association, and joined by Allan Rock, Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General (ret.); Steven Rapp, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice (ret.); and other distinguished panelists. The documentary screening and panel discussion is open to the public with complimentary registration available at: https://www.ibanet.org/conference-details/CONF2795.

About the IBA Conference

The IBA Annual Conference brings together legal professionals from around the globe to exchange insights, foster connections and explore business opportunities. The conference plays a vital role in advancing international law and its application in business and society, while offering attendees exceptional professional development resources to enhance their legal practice. More details available here.