Atlanta : David Bederman Symposium 2026 – Access to Global Justice

I had the pleasure of attending the 2026 David Bederman Symposium, “Access to Global Justice: National Justice Systems as Engines of International Law”, held in Atlanta and brilliantly organized by Magdalena Tulibacka and her team at Emory University School of Law.

The symposium opened with an insightful keynote by Advocate General Laila Medina, who explored the journey of a European citizen seeking access to justice. Her intervention highlighted the central role of the Court of Justice of the European Union, grounded in key principles such as legal certainty and due process, while also addressing the practical challenges related to costs.

The program brought together an exceptional group of scholars and practitioners to reflect on the future of access to justice. Discussions on constitutional foundations and digital innovations offered valuable perspectives on how legal systems are evolving to meet contemporary challenges.

I was also pleased to contribute to a panel on “Innovations in Rights Enforcement: Strategic Litigation, Group Claims and ADR”, alongside distinguished experts. These exchanges underscored the increasing importance of collective mechanisms and alternative dispute resolution in shaping more effective enforcement strategies.

Another highlight of the symposium was the keynote by the Honorable Lee Rosenthal, as well as the final panel dedicated to financing access to justice—an essential topic in ensuring that rights are not only recognised, but effectively exercised.

Overall, the symposium reaffirmed the importance of international dialogue and interdisciplinary approaches in advancing access to justice on a global scale.