International Conference (Virtual) on Contemporary Trends in International Economic Law - 14-15 March 2023

About ILS Law College

The year 2022-2023 marks a golden period for the Indian Law Society and ILS Law College, where the Society completes 100 years, and the College steps into its centennial year. The College has been a forerunner in providing inclusive and innovative legal education. Generations of illustrious alumni have carried ahead its reputation in all walks of life. Guided by the philosophy that, ‘Everything is centred in law,’ ILS has nurtured its own culture by effectively combining the theory and practice of law.

 About the Centre for International Law:

The Centre was set up in 2014 with the goal to increase awareness about International Law. Its aim is to instil a passion for the subject by initiating discussions and conducting activities involving the various aspects and developments of International Law. It is student-driven and is instrumental in organising debates, presentations, and seminars.

About the Conference and the Theme:

Traditionally, the global order has largely been examined from a historical and political perspective, rather than an economic one. However, the focus of development,  now more than ever, has shifted to increasingly take into account economic factors. As the world witnesses a minute-to-minute shift in the field of global trade and economy, new challenges emerge daily. The rapid pace of globalisation and increasing interaction between countries vis-a-vis their economic interests has given rise to a myriad of issues, which is where the ever-evolving field of International Economic Law takes centre-stage, as newer ideas are forged in this realm. How the field of international law evolves to accommodate them warrants a detailed deliberation on some of the most pressing issues faced today.

The conference seeks to explore and delve deeper into such issues and ideas emerging today as they gain ground, with the wider field of International Economic Law in the backdrop. Moulded around the overarching themes, each session looks at specific issues occurring in the current global scenario. Investigations into contemporary economic order will also be conducted along with studies into how they shape the international legal and regulatory regime. The most pertinent events in the areas of International Monetary Law, Trade Law, Investment Law, Antitrust Law and Dispute Settlement etc. will be at the heart of these discussions.

Objectives of the Conference:

• To shed light on the implications of international law governing the environment and oil trade on the global economy;
• To understand the modified roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in light of developments in the global economic order;
• To analyse the development of business and economic interests of States and corporations through the lens of international economic law; and
• To assess these issues with a specific focus on their implications for India.

Session 1: Changing Geopolitics around the Global Oil Trade:

The last decade has witnessed a dramatic rise in global oil demand, exposing countries to the risk of economic collapse and heightened  energy security concerns. In this context, it is crucial to understand the nuances of the oil trade. The aims of the session are to:

• Analyse current challenges plaguing the industry such as dual pricing, price volatility, production restrictions, effects of technological advancements, and green trade issues; and
• Understand issues regarding long-term oil trade contracts and the dispute resolution mechanisms adopted by the concerned parties.

Session 2: The Crypto-Currency Conundrum:

Global markets have witnessed an unprecedented rise in the use of cryptocurrency. This trend has brought along its own share of areas that require legislation, from taxation, to interest rates. Its very nature lends to worries about State-backed cryptocurrencies dominating the international markets. The aims of this session are to:

• Explore any international law applicable to cryptocurrency, and discuss regulations undertaken by the IMF; and
• Analyse State-backed cryptocurrencies’ influence on the global economy and international exchange rates.

Session 3: State-Owned Enterprises, their Effects on Competition Law, and Dispute Settlement:

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are instrumental for governments to achieve their economic and societal goals. The extent of state ownership among the world’s top companies, their transformation, and hybrid nature raise issues of their impact on international trade flows and the competitive process. The search for binding rules has not led to balanced regimes, causing notable problems worldwide. The aims of this session are to:

• Discuss the implications of transfer of ownership of SOEs on trade;
• Analyse the lacunae in international trade agreements to regulate SOEs; and
• Understand the ill-effects of SOEs on global competition law regimes.

Session 4: Environmental Regulations vs Economic Interests: What is the Best Approach?:

The environment is a growing concern on the global platform, especially when discussing the future implications of new commercial ventures, economic policies, and technological advancements. It significantly impacts the formulation of major economic policies around the world. Understanding the linkages between trade and the environment helps further both their objectives. The aims of the session are to:

• Analyse the effect of climate change on trade volumes and States’ GDPs;
• Understand the problem of illegal trade and corresponding restrictions with respect to the trade of hazardous and environmentally-sensitive goods; and
• Explore the impact of digitalisation on the environment in the context of economic growth.

Session 5 : IPRs under International Investment Law:

IPRs are presently recognised as ‘assets’ and most international investment agreements (IIAs) have IP provisions. This brings to the forefront the issue of a constant friction between the importance accorded to these rights in various investment treaties and their recognition under individual State laws. The principle of territoriality that lies at the heart of IPR stands to lose its sheen vis-a-vis the economic and investment-related concerns of countries. The aims of this session are to:

• Explore how various parties to such investment ventures navigate challenges posed by IIAs, BITs, and RTAs; and
• Analyse the trade-off in the domestic policy space, in light of the burden of a higher standard of protection under such treaties.

Session 6: Paper Presentation

Registration Details:

Every person interested in participating in the conference must register by paying the registration fees. In case of co-authorship, each author must register and pay separately.

Registration Fees (including GST @ 18%):

Important Dates:

Submission Guidelines:

• Submissions can be made on any themes related to the abovementioned sessions.
• Format of submission – Microsoft Word
• Font: Times New Roman
• Font Size: 12 (Text), 10 (Footnotes)
• Margins: One-inch margin on all sides
• Line spacing: 1.5 (Text), Single (Footnote)
• Citation Style: Bluebook 20th Edition
• Word Limit: 4000 – 5000 words (excluding footnotes) for the full paper.
• Abstract: 300 words
• Language: English only.
• All submissions must be emailed to centreforinternationallaw@ilslaw.in

Other Guidelines:

• All submissions must be original and unpublished work of the author/s and should not have been submitted, accepted, or published elsewhere.
• Co-authorship of entries (maximum two) among individuals from the same or different institutions is allowed. Multiple entries by the same author/s are not allowed.
• The organisers reserve the rights to accept and reject the submissions at any stage of the review. The decision of the organisers regarding selection of the papers shall be final.
• Requests for in-absentia presentations shall not be entertained.
• Submissions must be accompanied with a short bio of the author/s (It should include name of the author/s, occupation, designation & name of the institution, email id, mobile phone no and contact address, title of the paper). The bio should be in a separate document and it must be sent along with the abstract.
• The copyright for all entries shall vest with the organisers who, herewith, reserve the right to modify the contributions as per the requirements of necessity.

Faculty Coordinators:

Dr. Nitish Nawsagaray                       Ms. Divya Mittal                                Mr. Rohit Bokil

Student Coordinators:

Ashutosh Ghag (Convenor)                                        Tanya Khandelwal (Convenor)

Abha Dalal (Co-convenor)                                         Shweta Shukla (Co-convenor)

• Devansh Bhatt
• Manya Singh
• Shreya Basu
• Shreya Patni
• Rudransh Singh