Khrystyna Kostiushko speaks on English and Ukrainian judicial support for arbitration at the Law Society

Khrystyna Kostiushko was invited to speak at ‘The Rule of Law, English Law and International Dispute Resolution: a Judicial Exchange’, hosted by the Law Society of England and Wales on 17 June 2026.

The event is a joint initiative of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, the Law Society of England and Wales, and LawLex Solicitors. It brought Ukrainian Judges together with Barristers and Solicitors from England and Wales for a discussion on the rule of law and international dispute resolution.

Khrystyna spoke on ‘The Role of the English Courts in Supporting International Arbitration Proceedings: A Comparative Perspective with Ukraine’. She covered three themes: the principle of minimal judicial intervention under the English Arbitration Act; various scenarios when English courts step in to support arbitration (for example, by appointing and removing arbitrators, granting interim relief, assisting with evidence, and considering challenges to arbitration awards); and a comparison between English and Ukrainian courts in how they support arbitration.

Drawing on her experience as a Ukrainian advocate and as a solicitor of England and Wales, Khrystyna explained where the two systems are similar and where they differ.

Khrystyna’s main message was that Ukrainian courts already have the most important procedural tools to support arbitration, which are broadly similar to the tools available to English judges. She concluded that the priority is not to import new procedural tools or to change the law, but to build consistent court practice.