Hoche Hour: Yas Banifatemi on The Art of Arbitration
The Art of Arbitration — A Conversation with Yas Banifatemi
A Founding Partner of Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes, Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School, former President of the International Arbitration Institute, and one of a handful of practitioners described by peers as "one of the most creative and lethal minds in the market" — Yas Banifatemi needs no introduction in the world of international arbitration. And yet, there is far more to her story than the accolades suggest.
For this edition of Hoche Hour, Jean-Rémi de Maistre (CEO & Co-Founder of Jus Mundi) sits down with one of the field's most formidable and forward-thinking voices for a candid, wide-ranging conversation: on the craft of arbitration, the audacity of building a boutique firm from scratch, the role of law in protecting human rights, and what artificial intelligence is about to change (or not) in the way disputes are resolved.
From securing the USD 50 billion Yukos award — the largest in arbitration history — to co-founding the Arbitration Academy and championing arbitration as a tool for human rights protection, Yas has consistently operated at the frontier of what this field can achieve. Now, she brings that perspective to the Hoche Hour stage.
What we'll explore:
🏛️ Building GBS Disputes — the vision, the risks, and the freedom of going independent at the top of the profession
⚖️ Arbitration & Access to Justice — can a field dominated by high-stakes commercial disputes also be a vehicle for fairness and human rights?
🤖 AI Meets Arbitration — what technology can (and cannot) change in the practice of international law
🌍 Diversity at the Top — what it really takes to shift the culture of one of law's most traditional arenas
🔭 The Next Decade — where the field is headed, and what practitioners should be thinking about now
This event is part of Hoche Hour, Jus Mundi's speaker series featuring exceptional thinkers at the intersection of law, technology, and global affairs. Space is limited.
Event Details
Date: 12 November 2026
Time: 12:30-14:00
Location: Jus Mundi Paris Office, 9 Avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris
Agenda
12:30-13:00 Arrival and Refreshments
13:00-14:00 Live moderated conversation followed by Q&A