Alliance School of Law, Alliance University, organised the 5th International Conference on Law and Social Transformation (ICLS 2026) under the theme “Resolving Conflicts Sustainably: The Role of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Advancing Global Development Goals.” The three-day international conference brought together members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, academicians, researchers and students to explore the role of alternative dispute resolution in strengthening access to justice, institutional effectiveness and sustainable development.

The inaugural session was graced by Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Chandru, Former Judge, Madras High Court, as the Chief Guest. The proceedings featured opening remarks by Mr. Abhay G. Chebbi, Pro-Chancellor, Alliance University, an address by Dr. B. Priestly Shan, Vice-Chancellor, and a welcome address by Dr. V. Shyam Kishore, Dean, Alliance School of Law.

The first day featured expert discussions on the Mediation Act, 2023, cross-border commercial disputes, institutional arbitration, environmental ADR and access to justice. Distinguished speakers included Mr. Sharan Kukreja, Mr. A. J. Jawad, Prof. (Dr.) Faizan Mustafa, Dr. Masrur Salekin, Ms. Radhika Shapoorjee and Prof. (Dr.) Emilia Justyna Powell. A panel discussion titled “Beyond Litigation: Making ADR Work in India” examined the future of institutional arbitration and mediation, while an expert-guided mock mediation under #ADRLab provided participants with practical exposure to dispute resolution processes.

The second day focused on experiential learning, professional practice and legal research. An expert-guided mock arbitration, research paper presentations and a panel discussion on “Building an Arbitration Practice: Emerging Trends, Client Expectations and the Future of Dispute Resolution” brought together Mr. Anubhab Sarkar, Mr. Nikit Bala and moderator Mr. Arkadeep Pal. The #PublishWise series commenced with a session on empirical legal research by Dr. Sumant Kumar, Associate Professor, Alliance School of Liberal Arts.

The third day featured specialised sessions on academic publishing, sustainable ADR and emerging research practices. Ms. Priya Vyas, Senior Editor, Atlantis Press, Springer Nature, addressed research publication and indexing, while Ms. Revathi Kannan discussed construction disputes and sustainable ADR from the Malaysian perspective. Dr. Sathish P explored the ethical use of artificial intelligence in academic research. A hands-on workshop conducted by experts associated with the European Association of Science Editors (EASE) further examined responsible academic writing, research integrity and publication practices.

The valedictory session featured addresses by Mr. Abhay G. Chebbi, Dr. B. Priestly Shan and Dr. V. Shyam Kishore, followed by insights from Hon’ble Mr. Dinesh Hegde, District Judge and Director, Arbitration and Conciliation Centre, Bengaluru, on the future of institutional arbitration in India.

Hon’ble Ms. Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju, Judge, High Court of Karnataka, delivered the valedictory address on “Mediation and Access to Justice: Advancing SDG 16 through Sustainable Dispute Resolution,” highlighting the importance of effective dispute resolution mechanisms in promoting justice and strengthening institutions.

The conference concluded with the presentation of the event report, certificate distribution, a vote of thanks and the announcement of the 6th International Conference on Law and Social Transformation (ICLS 2027).

Through ICLS 2026, Alliance University reinforced its commitment to advancing legal scholarship, interdisciplinary dialogue and experiential learning. The conference provided a platform for connecting judicial perspectives, professional expertise and academic research to explore sustainable approaches to dispute resolution and global development.