Best Innovation
GAR-LCIA Hackathon

Global Arbitration Review in collaboration with the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), is delighted to announce the second annual GAR-LCIA Hackathon - a competition exploring using AI to make international arbitration better, in association with Three Crowns and Stanford Law School's liftlab.

In association with

The task

The GAR-LCIA Hackathon is back! 

Same format (fully remote competition), and same challenge. Namely: we invite teams, using AI, to address a challenge or create an opportunity relevant to the practice of international arbitration.

Once again, if you're good, you could be at next year’s GAR Awards 2027 – as our guest. And even presenting at Tylney Hall.

At the same time – this is our second edition - and AI has gotten a LOT more powerful.

So the judge’s expectations are even higher. This year we want to be wowed – not just impressed.

Two competitions

   

The student competition 

All team members must be currently enrolled in full or part-time education, at an academic institution 

The professional competition  

All team members must be within the same organisation (unless prior dispensation obtained from organisers). Technology companies can enter the professional competion

Timetable

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Entry opens

Thursday, November 26, 2026

Entry closes and competition begins

Monday, November 30, 2026

Judges welcome 1 (time zone to be announced)

Wednesday, December 2, 2026

Judges welcome 2 (time zone to be announced)

Thursday, January 14, 2027

Deadline for submission

Friday, January 29, 2027

Eight teams informed they advance to the finals

Thursday, February 25, 2027

Virtual final, students

Friday, February 26, 2027

Virtual final, professionals

Thursday, March 18, 2027

Winners announced at the GAR Awards

How to take part

   

1

Read the Rules and FAQ and complete the registration form - one per team before 9am GMT on 26 November 2026 (official start of competition).

2

 Pay the entry fee (professional teams only)

3

Complete the Submission Form before 11:59pm GMT on 14 January 2027.

For more information, see our FAQ.

Prizes

  • Two tickets to the GAR Awards in Paris per finalist team (with aspiration to pay travel for some students).
  • Winners invited on stage at the GAR Awards.
  • Winners in both Student and Professional categories invited to present their solutions at the LCIA symposium at Tylney Hall. Free attendance and accommodation for up to two representatives per winning team (with aspiration to pay travel for the winning student team). 
  • Mentoring from industry experts for finalists in the student competition during Phase 2 and after the final.
     

Judges

David Samuels
David Samuels
Global Arbitration Review

Hugh Carlson
Hugh Carlson
Three Crowns

Lucy Greenwood
Lucy Greenwood
Independent Arbitrator

Megan Ma
Megan Ma
Stanford Law School’s liftlabs

Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash
LCIA