The 119th Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law convened in Washington, DC, from April 15 to April 18, 2025. The theme of the Annual Meeting, Traditions and Transitions in International Law, invited participants to examine how foundational principles of international law continue to evolve in response to contemporary global challenges.
This theme proved particularly resonant as the international community grappled with ongoing conflicts, technological disruptions, climate emergencies, and shifting geopolitical alignments. The 2025 Annual Meeting attracted more than 1,170 participants from diverse backgrounds—academics, practitioners, government officials, civil society representatives, and students—all contributing to rich discussions about international law’s past, present, and future. The robust programming, featuring over seventy-five sessions, demonstrated both the vitality of international legal scholarship and practice and the field’s capacity to address evolving global challenges in a spirit that remains true to principles of justice, sovereign equality, and the peaceful resolution of conflict.
The Annual Meeting officially launched on Tuesday, April 15, with the Thirteenth Annual Charles N. Brower Lecture, held off-site at Georgetown University Law Center. Claudia Salomon, President of the International Court of Arbitration, delivered her lecture entitled “From Wannabe to Where to Be: Becoming the Next Arbitration Capital,” exploring the investments and commitments that local governments must make if they aspire to be a preferred seat for international arbitration.
Wednesday’s programming highlighted the intersection of established legal frameworks with emerging obstacles. The ITA-ASIL Annual Conference examined how public international law continues to influence commercial and investment disputes involving state parties, while panels addressed climate litigation’s evolution following recent decisions by international courts. The day concluded with the 27th Annual Grotius Lecture delivered by E. Tendayi Achiume on “Traditions and Transitions: For Whom is International Law?” with Distinguished Discussant Jamil Dakwar providing thoughtful commentary.
Thursday’s substantive program demonstrated the meeting’s thematic focus through panels examining both continuity and change across multiple areas of international law. Sessions explored how African states have pioneered public interest litigation at the International Court of Justice, the evolution of reparations mechanisms from armed conflict contexts to climate justice, and the challenges facing international migration governance in an era of rapid global transition. The day featured the Hudson Medal Luncheon, where Joseph H.H. Weiler delivered his address titled “The Pax Americana: A Postmortem,” examining shifting global power dynamics and their implications for the international legal order.
The program also addressed pressing contemporary issues, including a timely panel on the “Impact of Trump’s Election on the War in Ukraine” and sessions on artificial intelligence governance, cyber operations’ implications for foundational principles of international law, and the role of behavioral science in international policy-making. The Tenth Annual Detlev F. Vagts Roundtable focused on AI governance pathways, bringing together experts to discuss regulatory approaches across different jurisdictions.
Thursday’s Assembly program included remembrances of those lost during the past year, the election of incoming officers and Executive Council members, and the presentation of ASIL’s annual honors and awards. The Assembly featured a keynote address by Elinor Hammarskjöld, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel, continuing ASIL’s tradition of highlighting distinguished voices in international law and diplomacy.
Friday’s program explored the meeting’s central theme further through panels examining how cultural diversity influences international law engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, the evolution of business and human rights from soft promises to hard obligations, and commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Grotius’s The Law of War and Peace. The day included discussions on space law’s future frontiers, addressing governance models for potential interplanetary civilization, and examinations of how market-based mechanisms might address climate change through international organizations.
A particularly notable aspect of the 2025 meeting was its attention to Global South perspectives and the democratization of international legal discourse. Sessions examined double standards in the emerging multipolar global order, pre-colonial histories of international law in Africa, and intellectual property law from African and Asian perspectives. These panels reflected growing recognition that truly universal international law could benefit from consideration of diverse legal traditions and worldviews.
The meeting’s professional development programming was extensive, featuring mentoring sessions with distinguished practitioners including Paola Patarroyo, Beatrice Walton, Omar Yousef Shehabi, Alison Macdonald KC, and others. The BASIL Speed Mentoring Program and various Interest Group meetings provided networking opportunities and career guidance for emerging professionals in international law.
Friday afternoon concluded with late-breaking panels addressing Syria’s post-Assad transition and a fireside chat with Harold Hongju Koh examining “The Trump Administration and International Law 2.0,” demonstrating ASIL’s commitment to addressing current global developments as they unfold.
Saturday featured The Hague Closing Plenary, sponsored by the Municipality of The Hague and the T.M.C. Asser Institute. This session posed the provocative question “Can Arms Trade bring about Peace?” examining whether international law adequately addresses risk prevention in weapons transfers and exploring alternative accountability mechanisms.
The Annual Meeting represents the collaborative efforts of many dedicated individuals, beginning with the Annual Meeting Committee and the exceptional ASIL staff. Their work, combined with the expertise and enthusiasm of speakers, sponsors, and participants, made the 2025 Annual Meeting a memorable exploration of how international law continues to adapt while preserving its foundational commitments to global peace, justice, and cooperation.
As international law faces new frontiers—from artificial intelligence and space exploration to climate change and shifting geopolitical orders—the conversations and connections forged during the 2025 Annual Meeting will undoubtedly contribute to the field’s evolution and relevance in addressing humanity’s shared struggles.
