16 June 2025 – “An important realignment and an opportunity missed? The law applicable to the arbitration agreement, jurisdictional re-hearings, stays to court proceedings and the Arbitration Act 2025”– Sir Richard Aikens; Ricky Diwan KC; Salim Moollan KC

The lecture will take place in the Inner Temple Lecture Theatre at 5.45pm, followed by Q&A, and then drinks and canapés.

The lecture is open to all members of COMBAR, ChBA and TECBAR.

Pupils are welcome.

Please register here for attendance (in-person only for this event) and to upload a question. A recording will be available after the event.

4 June 2025 – COMBAR Africa – AI, Africa and Arbitration – Inner Temple

As part of  London International Disputes Week (LIDW) 2025 the COMBAR Africa Committee welcomes you to a seminar and reception to hear and participate in a discussion by a panel of experts about AI, its impact on the future of practice of arbitration in Africa and what Africa can learn from the UK experience.

The event will run from 5pm to 6.30pm with drinks to follow in the Drawing Room at Inner Temple.

Panellists

Keynote: The Honourable Mr Justice Waksman

The Honourable Mrs Justice Joanna Smith

Professor Emilia Onyema – The University of London School of Oriental and African Studies

Sena Gbedemah – Ankura

David Quest KC – 3 Verulam Buildings

Moderator:  Abdul Jinadu, Keating Chambers

Please register here.

13th May 2025 – Bar Mutual and Professional Indemnity Insurance – A panel talk addressing key points for commercial practitioners.

The lecture will take place in Lincoln’s Inn Ashworth Centre from 5.45pm to 6.45pm.

The event will be hybrid and recorded and will include a Q&A with Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC (Chair of BMIF).

The event is open to COMBAR members and clerks from COMBAR Member Sets only, pupils are welcome.

Please register here for in-person and online attendance. A link will be circulated closer to the event.

8th May Commercial Court Seminar 2025: Equity in Commercial Law

The Commercial Court Seminar on Equity in Commercial law will take place in the Ashworth Centre Lecture Theatre at Lincoln’s Inn on 8th May 2025, doors open at 5.30pm, the webinar will go live at 5.45pm.

Chair: Lord Sales

Mr Justice Henshaw: Equity’s Support for Commercial Bargains

Professor Graham Virgo, Professor of English Private Law, University of Cambridge:

 “The Accountability of Fiduciaries: Breach, Bribery and Profits”

Ruth Den Besten KC, Essex Court Chambers: “Equitable Recission following Patarkatsishvili v Woodward-Fisher”

The event will be hybrid and recorded.  All are welcome.

The event is now at capacity, non-COMBAR members who still wish to join online are requested to email admin@combar.com. A webinar link will be sent to online attendees just before the event.

11 March 2025 – International Women’s Day Breakfast – Gatehouse Chambers

On 11 March 2025, Junior COMBAR with the support of the COMBAR E&D Committee is hosting a breakfast to mark International Women’s Day. This will provide an opportunity to meet other barristers in an informal setting, network and share experiences. Juniors and pupils are strongly encouraged to attend.

The breakfast will be held at Gatehouse Chambers from 08:30. A range of continental breakfast options will be available.

Please register to attend the event here.

13th February 2025 – Pupillage Interview Tips

The third in the COMBAR, Chancery Bar Association and TECBAR series of online events for aspiring pupils will be focussing on the pupillage interview process.

Hear from a panel of Commercial, Chancery and Construction barristers discussing the interview stage of pupillage applications and providing their tips on how to develop and hone your skills before your first pupillage interview. This session will offer guidance on some ‘dos and don’t’s’ and provide some guidance on how to impress your interviewers.

Panellists:

Eleanor Campbell – One Essex Court (Chair)

Sheriar Khan – Atkin Chambers

Charles Connor – 20 Essex Street

Emma Germany – 5 Stone Buildings (Pupil)

This online event will start at 6pm

The event will run for one hour until 7pm with a Q&A chat function enabling questions to be taken by the panellists.

A ZOOM link will be circulated to participants on the day.

Registration has closed, if you would still like to received the ZOOM link to participate, please email admin@combar.com

 

11 March 2025 – The Hague Judgments Convention (‘Hague-19’) – Mrs Justice Cockerill DBE and Professor Adrian Briggs KC

Cockerill J will interview Professor Briggs on the Hague Judgments Convention, moderated by Joshua Folkard of Twenty Essex/UCL.

The talk will take place at Inner Temple from 17:30 to 18:30, followed by drinks.

The lecture will be hybrid and recorded. In person attendance is encouraged.

The lecture is open to COMBAR Members. Pupils welcome.

Registration for in-person attendance is now closed. Those attending online do not need to register.

 

 

3 February 2025 – Consistency in judicial decision-making: a worthy goal or an impossible dream? – Mr Justice Waksman

Put another way, do judges have “room to manoeuvre” at first instance, and if so, what are the consequences? In this lecture, Mr Justice Waksman will explore this important issue by reference to topics such as the assessment of evidence, contractual interpretation, the exercise of discretion, and the role of AI as a useful predictor of judicial outcomes. There will be time for questions and discussion after the lecture and those attending may submit questions in advance if they wish.

The lecture will take place in the Ashworth Centre Lecture Theatre at 5.45pm, followed by Q&A.

The lecture is open to all members of COMBAR, ChBA and TECBAR.

Pupils are welcome.

Please register here for attendance (in-person only for this event) and to upload a question.