Columbia Arbitration Day 2025 - Arbitration and Outer Space

In the 20th century, outer space activities were mainly led by states or multi-state actors, but private entities now play a growing role in space-related industries. With increased activities, disputes—ranging from commercial and investment issues to harmful interference and physical collisions—are on the rise. These disputes often involve parties from various jurisdictions, sensitive technologies, and technical complexities. As a result, international arbitration has become a key mechanism for resolving space disputes.

This panel will explore the challenges and suitability of arbitration in resolving space-related disputes. Experts will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of existing legal instruments and address issues like arbitrator selection in this specialized field. The panel will be moderated by Sebastián Incháustegui, Columbia Law School, J.D. CAD Chair.

Panelists:

• Caroline S. Richard, Partner at Freshfields (Washington D.C.)
• Daniel Reich, Partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (New York)
• Eric Ives, Senior Counsel at the United States Department of Commerce (Washington D.C.)
• Jonathan C. Hamilton, Global Co-Chair of International Arbitration at Paul Hastings (Washington D.C.)