UEA Law School Podcast Series

Rishi Gulati with Hakeem Seriki and Ifeanyi Egwuatu on Dispute Resolution under the AfCFTA Investment Protocol

In this episode, Rishi Gulati is in conversation with Hakeem Seriki (Associate Professor in Commercial Law, UEA Law School) and Ifeanyi Egwuatu (Nigerian lawyer). The conversation builds on from their recently published article in the Civil Justice Quarterly titled "Efficiency, effectiveness and pragmatism: What next for dispute resolution under AFCFTA and the investment protocol?" The discussion focuses on the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) which was signed in March 2018 to boost intra-African trade and will transform economic integration in Africa by creating the largest free trade area in the world measured by the number of countries participating. Central to the success or otherwise of AfCFTA is the existence of an effective dispute resolution mechanism to resolve disputes arising under the Investment Protocol to the AFCFTA which was adopted in 2023. The discussion focuses on the practical options that could be adopted to resolve investment disputes, with the authors arguing that a reformed form of ISDS should be adopted given it is the most efficient, effective and pragmatic option in the short to medium term.

Rishi Gulati with Lucia Leontiev and Manuel José Segovia González on Extraterritoriality in a Multipolar World

In this episode, Rishi Gulati is in conversation with Lucia Leontiev and Manuel José Segovia González about their recently co-edited book titled Extraterritoriality Around the Globe: Multiform Approaches in a Multipolar World (Routledge, 2025). As the co-editors say, extraterritoriality is one of the most complex and multifaceted concepts in international law, shaped by a dynamic interplay of legal, political, and practical factors. the book and the discussion in this episode focuses on the challenges of understanding extraterritoriality in the context of evolving international relations, the political forces behind state practices, and why international law matters.

International Law Conversations: A Discussion between Rishi Gulati and Aleksandar Ivanovski

In this episode, Dr Rishi Gulati is in conversation with Dr Aleksandar Ivanovski on his experiences as an international lawyer. In a number of episodes of this podcast series, one key theme is to learn from a diversity of lawyers as to the path they took, challenges confronted, and how they were tackled and overcome. The discussion not only touches on substantive legal issues of significance, but also on the personal stories of the lawyers who played a part in tackling them. This episode discusses various aspects of Dr Ivanovski's work who is a Belgian-Macedonian lawyer, academic, and an EU legal expert. He completed an undergraduate legal qualification at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, holds an LLM degree from the University of Amsterdam, and a PhD from Queen Mary University of London on the principle of equal treatment in EU tax and State aid law. He presently serves as director of CFE Tax Advisers Europe, has previously worked for EU institutions, and as a tax inspector. In 2022, Ivanovski coined the phrase "grey zone" in the conversation on the need to regulate the tax advisors' profession. The discussion weaves between Ivanovski's personal journey as a lawyer, and the range of substantive issues he has been involved in, including Apple's EU tax dispute, the prospective accession of his home country North Macedonia to the EU, and the challenges to the international order more generally.

International Law Conversations: A Discussion between Rishi Gulati and Gentian Zyberi

In this episode, Dr Rishi Gulati is in conversation with Professor Gentian Zyberi on his experiences as an international lawyer who has effectively combined academic work and the practice of international law. In the next few episodes of this podcast series, one key theme is to learn from a diversity of lawyers as to the path they took, challenges confronted, and how they were tackled and overcome. The discussion not only touches on substantive legal issues of significance, but also on the personal stories of the lawyers who played a part in tackling them. This episode discusses various aspects of Professor Zyberi's work who is currently Head of Department and Professor of International Law and Human Rights at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. He is a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, member of the Scientific Committee of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, and President of the Albanian branch of the International Law Association. Previously, he has been a member of the UN Human Rights Committee, and has appeared as counsel before international courts and tribunals. Professor Zyberi holds a bachelor's degree in law (Bcum laude) from Tirana University School of Law in Albania, and a Master's and PhD degree from Utrecht University School of Law.

Climate Change Advisory Opinions: Insights from the ICJ and Beyond with Rishi Gulati and Rohan Nanthakumar

In this episode, Dr Rishi Gulati is in conversation with Mr Rohan Nanthakumar about the Climate Change Advisory Opinions recently issued by various international courts, including the International Court of Justice. Rohan Nanthakumar is a public and international lawyer, and has been consulting counsel at Blue Ocean Law and served as a member of Vanuatu's counsel team for the climate change advisory proceedings in the ICJ. He was also instructed in the climate advisory proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Rohan has an LLM from the University of Cambridge, has previously worked for the Australian and Victorian Governments, and is about to Join the Victorian Bar, Australia. The discussion focuses on the core takeaways from the various Advisory Opinions on Climate Change, especially the ICJ, compares and contrasts the various decisions, and importantly, considers the impact of the opinions, including on Climate Change Litigation before domestic courts. Rohan also gives very useful tips to students and other lawyers on how to get involved in work in this sphere.