The Gail D. Serota, J.D. ’79 Reading Room is usually a sanctuary of hushed page-turning, the soft click of laptop keys, and the intense focus of students deep in the weeds of torts and contracts. But on the evening of Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, the silence of the stacks will break for a debate that strikes at the very heart of how global disputes are settled.
The University of Miami School of Law’s White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program and International Arbitration Institute will transform the study room into a forum for high-stakes diplomacy as they host the 2026 White & Case International Arbitration Lecture. This year’s lecture tackles a topic that keeps general counsels up at night: "Arbitrator Conflicts/Bias: What Rules Control and the Need for a Unified Standard?"
Stepping up to the podium is Dyalá Jiménez, a Costa Rican national whose resume reads like a map of the international legal landscape. A specialist in international dispute resolution, Jiménez is equally at home in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations, navigating the waters between international investors and States, as well as those between private companies.
For Carolyn Lamm, J.D. '73, the Distinguished Faculty Co-Chair of the International Arbitration LL.M., the choice of speaker reflects the program's commitment to tackling the gray areas of the law.
"Dyalá brings a combination of intellect and practical wisdom that is welcomed in our field,” said adjunct professor Lamm. “Her perspective on the integrity of arbitration is the kind of rigorous thought leadership our program was built to showcase."
The lecture comes at a pivotal moment for the field. As cross-border trade grows, so does the complexity of the disputes—and the scrutiny on the arbitrators resolving them. The question of bias is not just theoretical; it determines the legitimacy of the entire system.
“The legitimacy of international arbitration rests entirely on the perception of fairness,” said adjunct professor Albert Jan van den Berg, Distinguished Faculty Co-Chair of the International Arbitration LL.M. Program. “Dyalá will ask the hard questions about whether our current rules are actually keeping pace with the demands of our complex reality."
The event aims to bring together the next generation of lawyers with the practitioners currently defining the rules of the game.
“This lecture is a cornerstone of our academic calendar because it connects our students directly with the architects of international law,” said Sandra Friedrich, assistant dean for the international law programs and director of the International Arbitration Institute. “It is a unique opportunity for them to witness a high-level debate on the very standards they will one day be expected to uphold."
The evening promises to be a deep dive into the mechanics of fairness. Jiménez, also a trained mediator for international disputes, brings a practitioner’s eye to the theoretical thicket of conflict rules.
The event will take place at 1311 Miller Drive in Coral Gables, running from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with a reception to follow. For those unable to attend, the lecture portion—from 6 to 7:30 p.m.—will be streamed virtually.
The event is free and open to the public with registration, and Florida CLE credits are pending. Whether you are a seasoned arbitrator or a 1L just learning what ICSID stands for, this is a rare chance to see how international law is made.
Read more about Miami Law’s litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution area of study.
