QUARTERLY DISPUTES BAROMETER: JUL-SEP 2026
The global disputes landscape is being shaped by geopolitical volatility, shifting regulatory frameworks and evolving arbitration practices. Across sectors and jurisdictions, legal risk is increasingly interconnected, requiring organisations to adopt proactive and globally attuned strategies. These dynamics are reshaping dispute trends, with emerging risks requiring practical responses.
Geopolitical volatility and systemic risk
At the heart of current developments lies the growing realisation that disputes are no longer isolated events, but the product of deeply interconnected global systems influenced by conflict and political disruption. As cross-border dependencies intensify, organisations must recognise the systemic nature of legal exposure.
“The dominant trend is the growing impact of armed conflict, geopolitical tensions and sanctions on the disputes landscape,” suggests Jonathan Lim, a partner at WilmerHale. “The current environment is driving a surge in disputes of all descriptions linked to operational disruption and governmental intervention across multiple jurisdictions.
“General counsel often underestimate how developments in distant jurisdictions can affect their own operations,” he continues. “Supply chains are deeply interconnected, meaning that a conflict in one region can trigger disputes or enforcement challenges elsewhere. The key risk is failing to appreciate that dispute exposure is now systemic and global, rather than localised.”
This systemic risk is particularly visible in critical global chokepoints and politically sensitive regions, where disruption quickly translates into contractual friction and legal claims.
Jul-Sep 2026 issue
Ashurst
Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
WilmerHale