'Some lectures inform, the best ones reframe': Dr. Crina Baltag FCIArb delivers the 2026 Roebuck Lecture
Dr. Crina Baltag FCIArb and Kevin Nash.
In last week's Roebuck Lecture, Dr. Crina Baltag FCIArb delved into what she has described as a 'growing paradox at the intersection of disclosure and trust in international arbitration', and explored the interrelatedness of the issues at play.
In an age of data ubiquity, where digital information about arbitrators is more accessible than ever before, parties can be more scrutinising. Greater scrutiny may necessitate the need for more disclosure to achieve the transparency required to build trust but, as Crina argued, more disclosure and information transparency can inspire just as much doubt, suspicion and uncertainty - especially on the issue of impartiality - as confidence and trust. If an arbitrator's neutrality is questioned, this can undermine the legitimacy of the entire arbitral process which should 'concern all of us.'
By her closing remarks, Crina put forward her thoughts on what is needed to safeguard the legitimacy of the arbitral process before moderator Kevin Nash, Director General of the London Court of International Arbitration, steered a Q&A session.
Ciarb’s Director of External Affairs, Cristen Bauer, said: "Some lectures inform, the best ones reframe. During last week's Roebuck Lecture, Crina shone a new light on how the industry is grappling with the evolving challenges of disclosure in the digital era — and challenged us to think seriously about what it takes to build and sustain trust with users in this new information environment.
Crina's lecture provided a fresh perspective on the issues and provided a whistle-stop tour through some of the fascinating case law that is emerging globally. I'd like to extend a huge thank you to Crina for bringing her expertise and insights to this lecture. We are truly honoured to include her in the lineage of past Roebuck Lecturers and its esteemed namesake, the late Professor Derek Roebuck MCIArb."
The lecture is now available to watch/listen to in full via Ciarb's YouTube channel.
