Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - International Dispute Resolution

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | Faculty of Law | International Dispute Resolution | Laura Halonen on Investment Law and Arbitration, October-February 2021/2022

Laura Halonen on Investment Law and Arbitration, October-February 2021/2022



 

The IDR L.L.M. program of 2021/2022 was a fortunate and remarkable one for us, the participants, in a twofold way. From a practical perspective, we were able to attend the program in person, with masks and other measures, and we were able to be present at the University. The Masters programme did not take place the year before due to the pandemic, and in the year before that, in the 2019/2020 edition of the program, the conditions under which the students had to finalize the program were harsh and unexpected due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. From an academic point of view, we also had the privilege of being the first cohort in which Laura Halonen was a lecturer in the International Investment Law and Arbitration module. She undertook the sessions dedicated to Investment Arbitration.

Laura’s extensive experience, having worked at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Lalive and now Wagner-Arbitration throughout her career, contributes to the wonderful mix of practical experience, academic knowledge and multidisciplinary wisdom, which she brings to her lectures. Having acted in a considerable number of arbitrations under different institutional rules, be it as counsel, arbitrator, or tribunal secretary, Laura brought unique insights which she shared with us in her lectures, along with her palpable enjoyment of the understanding and reasoning of the law which is so part of her teaching style.

Every part of each lecture we had with Laura was prepared in detail. The selected reading materials were relevant and appropriate in amount and they were always introduced in a very useful manner as part of a well-structured lecture. Each lecture provided a practical and academic perspective for each topic and students were encouraged to actively participate in the discussion. Conscious and honest about the reality of practice, Laura always gave us her modern and transparent viewpoint.

We were in the room with one of the most complete and skillful practitioners in the field, and she was graceful enough to transmit her personal experience and knowledge in a very accessible and comprehensive fashion. I hope that the future cohorts of the program can also have the fortune of getting inspired and formed by this outstanding figure of international arbitration!

Miguel Alberto Díaz, IDR LL.M. Candidate