Call for Papers: XVII SLCU International Conference 2026-27 on Navigating Cross-Border Commercial Disputes at School of Law, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru [Hybrid; 18-19 December 2026]

The Conference Committee of the School of Law, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore presents the XVII SLCU International Conference 2026-27, to be held on 18 and 19 December 2026 at the Central Campus, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The conference is organised in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair on Artificial Intelligence Law and Sustainability, the Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Lancaster University Law School, Washington and Lincoln University, the University of the Fraser Valley, Lanzhou University Law School, the UNCITRAL National Coordination Committee India, and the International Law Association (ILA). AZB & Partners is the law firm partner and Manupatra is the media and knowledge partner.

The conference brings together academicians, professionals, research scholars and students to engage critically with the legal challenges arising in cross-border commercial dispute resolution. It examines the evolving frameworks governing international commercial arbitration, mediation, investment, trade, insolvency, taxation, maritime commerce and technology, and asks how traditional legal paradigms are being reshaped by technological innovation, geopolitical shifts, regulatory fragmentation and climate obligations. The stated objective is to identify regulatory gaps, evaluate emerging legal frameworks and propose forward-looking solutions that balance commercial efficiency with fairness, accountability and sustainable governance.

The theme of the conference is "Navigating Cross-Border Commercial Disputes: Legal Challenges and Emerging Perspectives". Submissions are invited on any of the following seven sub-themes:

• Sub-theme I: International Commercial Arbitration: Evolving Approaches to Cross-Border Dispute Resolution
• Sub-theme II: International Commercial Mediation: Advancing Cross-Border Dispute Resolution
• Sub-theme III: International Investment Law: Emerging Dimensions of Cross-Border Investment Disputes
• Sub-theme IV: International Trade Law: Contemporary Challenges in Cross-Border Trade Disputes
• Sub-theme V: Insolvency and Taxation: Emerging Trends and Developments
• Sub-theme VI: International Maritime Law: Navigating Cross-Border Maritime Disputes
• Sub-theme VII: Technology and Intellectual Property Law: Legal Challenges in the Global Digital Economy

The conference is open to three categories of participants:

• Students: candidates pursuing a 5-year integrated LL.B. (Hons.) course, a 3-year LL.B. course, an LL.M. or an equivalent law degree from any recognised university in India or abroad.
• Academicians: faculty members and researchers employed at recognised universities or academic institutions globally.
• Research scholars: doctoral and post-doctoral researchers enrolled at recognised universities or research institutions worldwide.

The conference is conducted in hybrid mode. All paper presentations by Indian participants are conducted offline at the conference venue, while presentations by international participants are conducted virtually through the online platform designated by the organising committee. Authors are asked to register under the appropriate category and ensure their availability in the prescribed mode of presentation.

Authors must submit an abstract of no more than 250 words, accompanied by 5 to 6 keywords. The abstract should clearly indicate the research problem, the central argument, the approach or methodology, and the expected contribution of the paper. Abstracts are evaluated on relevance to the conference theme and sub-themes, originality, research potential and substantive contribution.

To ensure anonymous evaluation, the abstract must not contain any identifying information relating to the author or authors, including names, institutional affiliations or acknowledgements. Author information must be provided separately in a cover letter attached to the submission form, containing:

• Sub-theme and title of the paper
• Name or names of the author or authors
• Institutional affiliation or affiliations
• Contact number and email ID
• Postal address
• ORCID ID, if applicable
• A short biography of no more than 150 words

All abstracts must be submitted electronically through the official Google Form. The form requires the author's details, the designation (student, academician or professional, or research scholar), the institution, contact number with country code, postal address, the chosen sub-theme, the title of the abstract, an uploaded cover page and the uploaded abstract file.

Upon notification of abstract selection, authors are required to submit their full-length manuscripts. Manuscripts should be developed from the approved abstract and must reflect the research problem, argument and methodology outlined in it.

Manuscripts should run to 3,000 to 7,000 words, inclusive of references, and must not contain any identifying information relating to the author or authors. They should be prepared in Times New Roman, 12-point font, with double-line spacing and margins of 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides. Formatting should remain consistent throughout. The title should be in bold, with initial capitalisation for proper nouns, and headings should follow a consistent hierarchy: first-level headings in bold; second-level in bold italics; third-level in italics; fourth-level in bold italics at the start of a paragraph followed immediately by the text; and fifth-level in italics at the start of a paragraph followed immediately by the text.

All citations and references must follow APA 7th Edition and must be accurate and consistent throughout. Submissions must be original, unpublished and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Merely descriptive submissions may not be considered for publication.

Abstracts and full-length manuscripts must be submitted in both Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) and PDF formats. Files must be named in the format "Theme<Theme No.>_<Name of Author(s)>". For example, a single author would use Theme1_ManovBhowmick and co-authors would use Theme2_AnnPatel&ManovBhowmick.

The registration fee is payable only upon acceptance of the abstract. The fee is exclusive of GST.

• Single author, Indian participants: student Rs 2,800; research scholar Rs 3,500; professional or academician Rs 4,000.
• Co-authored papers, Indian participants: student Rs 5,000; research scholar Rs 6,500; professional or academician Rs 7,500.
• Single author, international participants: student USD 50; research scholar USD 60; professional or academician USD 70.
• Co-authored papers, international participants: student USD 70; research scholar USD 90; professional or academician USD 110.

For co-authored papers involving different categories, the higher category of specialisation or status among the co-authors determines the registration fee and the final team category. For example, a student co-authoring with a faculty member is considered under "Professionals and Academicians" and the corresponding fee applies.

Payment is made through the CHRIST (Deemed to be University) online payment portal, reached via the E-Services menu on the university website. Select Office as "Other", Category as "Other" and Central Campus; under Select Fee Name choose "Events" and then "Conference"; and under Select Category choose "XVII SLCU International Conference 2026" before proceeding with payment. Retain the payment receipt.

The payment link is shared along with the abstract acceptance email. Fees are payable only in favour of CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, and are non-refundable. The fee covers the conference kit, participation in all technical sessions, breakfast, lunch, tea and refreshments, a certificate of merit or presentation, and publication of the paper on selection without any Article Processing Charges.

Submissions are invited across three distinct categories: students, academicians and professionals, and research scholars. In each category, the top two best paper presenters are recognised with a cash prize of Rs 12,000 each along with a trophy. The net cash prize is disbursed after deduction of TDS and any other applicable statutory taxes or deductions.

As a special recognition, the student winners, irrespective of the category, are also offered an internship opportunity at AZB & Partners. The Conference Committee facilitates the initial introduction between AZB & Partners and the winners, after which the selected candidates coordinate directly with the firm. The internship is subject to AZB's internal selection policies, procedures and eligibility criteria. Where a co-authored team spans different categories, a student co-author remains eligible for the internship even though the team is categorised under the higher category.

Selected papers, subject to review and editorial approval, are considered for publication in a Scopus-indexed journal, subject to the publication guidelines and the sole discretion of the publisher. Further selected papers are published as an ISBN book after double-anonymous peer review and editorial processes.

A Certificate of Merit is awarded to the best paper under each sub-theme, and a Certificate of Presentation is awarded to every participant who duly submits and successfully presents their research paper at the conference.

The conference is held at the Central Campus of CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. The address is CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Central Campus, Hosur Road, Bhavani Nagar, S.G. Palya, Bangalore 560029, Karnataka, India.

The campus is roughly 10 km from KSR Bangalore City Railway Station (Majestic) and the Kempegowda Bus Station, about 25 to 35 minutes by road, and is accessible by taxi, app-based cab services, BMTC buses and auto-rickshaws. From Kempegowda International Airport the distance is about 42 km, roughly 60 to 90 minutes, and participants may use airport taxis, app-based cabs or the BMTC Vayu Vajra (KIA-14) airport bus service, which runs between the airport and Koramangala and stops near the university.

Accommodation is not provided by the university. On request, the organising committee may share an indicative list of nearby hotels and guest houses, but participants are solely responsible for making and paying for their own bookings, and the university and committee accept no liability for accommodation arrangements.

Prepare an anonymised abstract of up to 250 words with 5 to 6 keywords, along with a separate cover letter carrying the author details listed above, and name the files in the prescribed format. Submit both through the official abstract submission Google Form linked below by 25 September 2026.

Outcomes are notified by 4 October 2026. Selected authors then pay the registration fee through the link shared with the acceptance email, by 15 November 2026, and submit the full manuscript by 1 December 2026. Queries may be addressed to slcuconference@law.christuniversity.in or to the faculty coordinators and student convenors listed below.