Mid 2026 Update
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 31
The first half of 2026 has been a period of strong momentum for Astute Dispute Resolution: new publications, Vis Moot practice sessions across jurisdictions, speaking engagements in Paris and Edinburgh, a comprehensive study of Vietnam’s foreign investment framework and, above all, an important milestone for our young practice, Astute Dispute Resolution’s first entry into the Legal 500 rankings for Arbitration in Switzerland.
None of this would have been possible without the continued trust of our clients and the generous collaboration of the peers and friends who make up our network. Astute Dispute Resolution expresses its gratitude to all its partners.
Here’s a look back at highlights of the first months of 2026 ↓
The only “Firm to Watch” in Arbitration in Switzerland in 2026
2026 marks an important milestone for Astute Dispute Resolution with our first entry into the Legal 500 rankings for Arbitration in Switzerland. This recognition reflects the trust and support of our clients, colleagues and peers, for which we are sincerely grateful, and encourages us to keep building with the same standards of excellence, responsiveness and integrity.
Publications
ICLG Investor-State Arbitration 2026 – Switzerland Chapter
Authored by Nhu-Hoang Tran Thang, our Switzerland chapter in the ICLG Investor-State Arbitration Guide 2026 offers a practical overview of the Swiss legal framework and recent developments, including treaty trends, funding, enforcement, and the growing wave of investment arbitrations linked to the Credit Suisse–UBS merger and the new Investment Screening Act.
Nhu-Hoang Tran Thang Joins the ASA Newsletter Editorial Team
In 2026, Nhu-Hoang Tran Thang joined the Editorial Team of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) Newsletter. ASA Newsletter #7 featured her full report of the 2026 Swiss Arbitration Summit and launched the new “Swiss Arbitration Quick Tip” series, opening with her note on VAT applicable to Swiss arbitrators’ fees. The second Quick Tip, in ASA Newsletter #8, addresses perjury in arbitration hearings held in Switzerland.
Conferences & Other Contributions
Paris Arbitration Week 2026
The tenth Paris Arbitration Week was, once again, a rich moment of exchange for the global arbitration community. Nhu-Hoang Tran Thang shared her experience of launching Astute Dispute Resolution as a solo practitioner at the first of a series of events gathering independent practitioners organized by Feigher Dispute Resolution. She also co-organized, for the Rising Arbitrators’ Initiative, an event on expedited proceedings, bringing together arbitral institutions and rising arbitrators around the practicalities of appointment, timing and efficient conduct of the proceedings.
Arbitrating Energy Disputes – FBLS event in Edinburgh
On 20 April 2026, Nhu-Hoang Tran Thang spoke on the arbitration of energy disputes at a Franco-British Lawyers’ Society event hosted by the Scottish Arbitration Centre and the Ciarb Scottish Branch in Edinburgh. Speaking for the Swiss seat alongside panelists from four other legal systems, she addressed the pipeline of energy disputes taking shape after the crisis in the Gulf, Switzerland’s predictability and neutrality as a seat, and the case for a code of ethics for party-appointed experts.
The Investor’s Shield – Vietnam Edition
On 11 June 2026, Nhu-Hoang Tran Thang presented at the Vietnam edition of The Investor’s Shield, co-organized by Florete Law (Philippines) and The Lam Law LLC (Vietnam). Her session mapped Vietnam’s investment treaty landscape, its publicly known record of investor-State arbitrations, and six practical recommendations for foreign investors operating in Vietnam.
FAI Insights with Nhu-Hoang Tran Thang
In May 2026, the Finland Arbitration Institute (FAI) interviewed Nhu-Hoang Tran Thang for its FAI Insights series. Drawing on her experience as both counsel and arbitrator, she shares practical insights on procedural management in expedited and, in particular, default proceedings, where a party’s non-participation calls for more discipline, not less: proper notification at every stage, the defaulting party’s ability to intervene at any time, and active testing of the participating party’s case.
Teaching & Learning
Vis Moot Practice Sessions
From Geneva to Hà Nội, Astute Dispute Resolution continued to support the next generation of arbitration practitioners through Vis Moot practice sessions. Ahead of the oral rounds in Vienna, these sessions helped the teams refine their advocacy, legal reasoning, structure and delivery, a reminder that arbitration remains deeply international, practical and collaborative.
Mediation Training for Accompanying Lawyers
Astute Dispute Resolution remains committed to a strategic, settlement-oriented mindset: we serve our clients’ business objectives, whether that means securing a favorable award or resolving a dispute early, discreetly and cost-effectively. In line with this approach, in February 2026 Nhu-Hoang Tran Thang followed a training delivered by the Geneva Bar Association on mediation for lawyers accompanying their clients in the process.
The first half of 2026 has reinforced what matters most to us: building Astute Dispute Resolution step by step, through each case, each exchange and each new collaboration. Thank you to the clients who place their trust in us, and to the peers and friends who refer, exchange and build alongside us.