International Investment Law, Reframed for Policy, Practice, and Justice

Research and advisory on International Investment Law, focusing on investment governance, ISDS, and sustainable development, with particular attention to Africa and Global South reform debates.

international investment law
diana kanyuithia

Diana Kanyuithia

PhD Researcher in International Economic Law | Investment & Development

About

Key Features

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

In-depth analysis and recommendations on investment policies that balance the interests of investors and developing countries.

PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

Practical advice and strategies for navigating the complex landscape of international investment law.

EXPERT ANALYSIS

Insightful analysis from experts in the field of investment law and sustainable development, tailored to your specific needs.

BESPOKE SOLUTIONS

Tailored research and advisory services designed to meet the unique challenges and goals of your organization.

RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS

Original research, publications and analysis on investment law, governance and sustainable development

STRATEGIC COLLABORATION

Collaborative research, interdisciplinary projects and knowledge partnerships.

Thematic Areas

Pillar I. Law and Power

International Investment Law

Rules within the international investment law allocate authority among states, markets, and communities. This area examines how such frameworks shape economic outcomes, political authority, and global hierarchies, often in ways that remain unnoticed until crises arise.

Pillar II. Sustainability and Communities

Sustainability and communities.

Assessment of how investment regimes influence land, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and the inclusion or exclusion of communities in economic decision-making.

Pillar III. Conflict resolution

Conflict resolution.

Analysis of arbitration, tribunals, ISDS and other dispute resolution mechanisms, with attention to access, fairness, and how existing systems distribute benefits and burdens.

See Research and Insights.

Explore Featured Posts

  • Consulted, But Not Heard

    Consulted, But Not Heard

    Once participation has legitimised the project, conflict migrates. Resistance is recast as breach. Community harm becomes investor loss. The village disappears; the tribunal takes its place. In investment arbitration, the…

  • Who Makes the Rules When Investment Moves?

    Who Makes the Rules When Investment Moves?

    Investment law is often described as technical, specialised, even neutral. Yet the rules that govern cross-border investment are not impartial; they reflect particular interests and priorities, protecting capital while leaving…

  • 10 Core Rules & Concepts In Investment Protection.

    10 Core Rules & Concepts In Investment Protection.

    Investor‑state protections in treaties and contracts safeguard cross-border investments and manage risks. Key standards like FET, MFN, National Treatment, Umbrella Clauses, and Legitimate Expectations ensure fairness and predictability. Mechanisms such…

  • Investment Law Glossary: 45 Important Terms and Definitions

    Investment Law Glossary: 45 Important Terms and Definitions

    International investment law operates through a complex architecture of treaty standards, arbitral doctrines, and governance principles that shape how states regulate public interests and how investors claim protection. Core concepts…

  • When Harm Becomes a Dispute

    When Harm Becomes a Dispute

    Investment-related harm begins in lived experiences, loss of land, water contamination, and displacement, not in legal disputes. Yet when these harms enter formal dispute resolution, they are narrowed, relocated, and…

Research Foundations

Rules/Concepts
rules and concepts

Core legal rules, doctrines, and analytical concepts that shape investment governance, power relations, and decision-making in international law.

Case Studies
case studies rules that move the world

Focused examinations of real international or local investment disputes and regulatory conflicts, illustrating how legal rules operate in practice and affect states, communities, and markets.

Legal Theories
legal theories

Clear explanations of the foundational ideas, philosophical frameworks, and interpretive approaches that underpin how law is understood, applied, and critiqued in international investment and sustainable development governance.

Glossary
glossary rules that move the world

A concise reference guide defining key terms and technical language used across investment law, sustainability, and conflict resolution.

Policy Brief

Concise analyses translating complex legal and governance issues into actionable recommendations for policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders.

Case Memo

Focused legal analyses of specific disputes, illustrating strategic, procedural, and interpretive considerations in investment law.

Strategic and Regulatory Analysis

Strategic analysis - international investment law

In-depth, practice-oriented analyses linking legal structures, market conditions, and policy constraints to provide strategic guidance for governments, investors, and intermediaries, supporting interpretation, compliance, risk management, and forward-looking investment decisions.

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