The University of Aberdeen is pleased to announce that Dr Gloria M Alvarez, Senior Lecturer at the School of Law, has been appointed Co-Chair of the Academic Forum on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) for the 2026–2027 term. She will serve alongside Dr Ana Maria Daza Vargas of the University of Edinburgh.
The Academic Forum on ISDS brings together leading scholars in the field to exchange ideas, test emerging research, and contribute academically grounded perspectives to the ongoing reform of investor-State dispute settlement. Its work is closely aligned with discussions taking place within UNCITRAL Working Group III, the United Nations body spearheading multilateral reform efforts in Investor State Dispute Settlement since 2017.
Working Group III has progressed from identifying systemic concerns in ISDS to exploring concrete institutional and procedural reforms. These include proposals for a standing multilateral mechanism, the establishment of an advisory centre, as well as developments in mediation, dispute prevention, and broader procedural innovations. The Academic Forum supports this process through sustained scholarly engagement, including expert publications, high-level convenings, and major conferences such as the 2025 Academic Forum on ISDS Conference hosted at the European University Institute in Florence.
Dr Álvarez’s teaching and research at Aberdeen focus on international dispute resolution, energy law, and international investment law, with particular emphasis on ISDS reform. Her appointment reflects both her scholarly leadership and her growing international profile in the field.
In her new role, Dr Álvarez will help steer the Forum’s academic agenda and strengthen its contribution to one of the most significant and evolving debates in contemporary international investment law.
