The College of Law’s ability to shape debates across diverse legal systems was recently demonstrated by its active participation in a virtual international colloquium. The College of Law  is an integral part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).

Taking place in October, the Colloquium on International Investment Law and State Capitalism was co-organized with Dr. Anastasios Gourgourinis, Lecturer at the Athens Public International Law Center (Athens PIL) at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Dr. Panos Delimatsis, Professor and Director of the Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC) at Tilburg University, bringing together participants from academia, international organizations, government, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to discuss a variety of issues and subjects on the interplay between domestic and international state capitalism and international investment law. 

This included panel discussions on the foundations of the international economic order in the age of state capitalism, international dispute settlement, and more. The colloquium also featured a keynote speech by Robert Howse, Lloyd C. Nelson Professor of International Law at New York University School of Law, moderated by the World Bank’s Roberto Echandi, as well as contributions from the co-organizers and attendees.

HBKU was represented by Dr. Susan L. Karamanian, Dean of the College of Law, and Dr. Georgios Dimitropoulos, who was instrumental in organizing the colloquium. Beyond opening remarks, Dr. Karamanian chaired a panel on substantive rights, obligations and exceptions in the age of state capitalism. The discussion featured contributions by noted academics from the University of Bonn, King’s College London and Tilburg University. Besides co-organizing the event, Dr. Dimitropoulos chaired a panel entitled State Capitalism and Sovereign Investors: Between Global Governance and National Sovereignty. He also offered his perspectives during a discussion on adjudicating state capitalism. 

Speaking after the colloquium, Dr. Karamanian, said: “Organizing any event under the current circumstances is a challenge; however, the Colloquium on International Investment Law and State Capitalism exceeded all expectations. The subject matter across the two days was on point with plenty of opportunities for participation by an equally knowledgeable audience. Credit is also due to the Athens Public International Law Center at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Law, and the Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC) at Tilburg University for making this event happen.”

“On behalf of everyone at the College of Law, I’d like to congratulate Dr. Georgios Dimitropoulos for co-organizing the event. He worked tirelessly to help shape and inform the agenda, not to mention efforts to attract and secure high-caliber participants.”

The College of Law regularly holds events that showcase its research interests and activities. For more information please visit cl.hbku.edu.qa.