Presented by Professor Dr Karl-Heinz Böckstiegel, this lecture addressed the legal and commercial implications of bilateral and multilateral investment treaties. These treaties generally afford private companies some recourse against States. Professor Böckstiegel looked at what protection is available, how reliable it is, and how the risks involved can be minimised. With the muscle traditionally favouring the State, is the Enterprise now in a position to fight back?

Professor Dr Karl-Heinz Böckstiegel is regarded as one of the world's leading arbitrators. He is well known for his role as the former president of the Iran-US Claims Tribunal and panel chairman of the United Nations Compensation Commission, in which he initiated efficient case management techniques which eventually carried over into regular commercial arbitrations in the ICC and beyond.

He is currently President and Chairman of the Board of the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS) and the President of the German Association of International Law. Professor Böckstiegel has acted as parties' counsel, as mediator, as arbitrator and has presided over arbitration tribunals in many national and international arbitration proceedings under the rules of the ICC, ICSID, UNCITRAL and other institutions.