International Law and Arbitration — LL.M. Level: How a Lawyer Can Master Force Majeure, CISG, and Arbitration in 2026
When the pandemic paralyzed supply chains in 2020, hundreds of companies discovered that their contracts lacked a clear force majeure clause. Courts around the world were overwhelmed with lawsuits: some cited the CISG, others the UNIDROIT Principles, and still others national law. The outcome for many was disastrous: losses, terminated deals, and years of litigation. Six years have passed since then, but the problem hasn't disappeared—it has transformed. Sanctions, logistical crises, climate risks, and geopolitical turbulence have turned international contracts into a battlefield where victory goes to those who understand how the force majeure and hardship clause mechanisms work.
In 2026, a lawyer who doesn't understand the intricacies of international commercial arbitration, the CISG, and force majeure clauses risks becoming useless to business. Companies are increasingly entering cross-border markets, which means the demand is growing for specialists capable of protecting their interests in international disputes. It is precisely for such professionals that the course “International Law and Arbitration — LL.M. Level” on the asibiont.com platform was created. This is not just a set of lectures—it is an intensive program equivalent to an LL.M. at leading universities, but with a flexible format and a personalized approach.
What This Course Is and Who It Suits
The course “International Law and Arbitration — LL.M. Level” is an executive program for lawyers at international companies, law firm partners, in-house counsel, and arbitration attorneys. It covers ten key modules, each built around a real court or arbitration case. You don't just study theory—you analyze cases, learn to examine documents, and make decisions as in real practice.
The program includes:
- Public International Law: Statute of the International Court of Justice, state responsibility.
- International Commercial Law: UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), Incoterms 2020, UNIDROIT Principles.
- International Commercial Arbitration: New York Convention of 1958, UNCITRAL Model Law, ICC Rules.
- ISDS Investment Arbitration: ICSID, bilateral investment treaties (BITs), Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).
- WTO Law: GATT, GATS, TRIPS.
- International Contract Law: boilerplate, applicable law, force majeure, hardship clause.
- Cross-border M&A: SPA, SHA.
- International Tax Law: DTT, transfer pricing, permanent establishment.
- International Dispute Resolution: mediation, expert determination.
- Capstone: a full arbitration case—from submission request to enforcement.
Who will benefit from the course? Primarily lawyers who already work with international contracts and want to systematize their knowledge. It is also suitable for law graduates planning a career in international firms, and for entrepreneurs who want to understand how to protect their business in cross-border transactions.
What You Will Learn: Specific Skills and Knowledge
After completing the course, you will be able to:
- Draft and analyze force majeure clauses taking into account the CISG, UNIDROIT Principles, and national law. You will examine how force majeure differs from hardship and how to properly draft a mechanism for revising terms when circumstances change.
- Prepare arbitration clauses for international contracts, considering the requirements of the New York Convention and ICC Rules. You will learn how to choose the seat of arbitration, language, number of arbitrators, and applicable law.
- Conduct arbitration proceedings from filing the statement of claim to enforcement of the award. In the Capstone, you will go through all stages: submission request, formation of the tribunal, exchange of pleadings, hearings, and enforcement.
- Apply the CISG in disputes over quality of goods, delivery deadlines, and damages. You will learn how Article 79 of the CISG on exemption from liability works and what evidence is required.
- Understand investment arbitration: how an investor can protect their rights through ICSID, what standards of protection exist (fair and equitable treatment, expropriation).
- Work with M&A documents: SPA, SHA, NDA, escrow. You will receive templates and learn to adapt them to a specific transaction.
- Understand the tax aspects of international operations: double taxation treaties (DTT), transfer pricing, risks of creating a permanent establishment.
All modules are accompanied by practical templates: arbitration clause, SPA, NDA, force majeure, escrow. These are not abstract examples but working tools that can be applied immediately.
How Learning Works on asibiont.com
The asibiont.com platform uses artificial intelligence to create personalized lessons. After registering, you take an entrance test, and the neural network determines your level, goals, and knowledge gaps. Based on this data, an individual program is generated: if you are already familiar with the CISG, the system will offer more complex arbitration cases; if you are a beginner, it will start with the fundamentals of public international law.
Learning is entirely text-based. No videos—only structured materials, examples, assignments, and analyses. This format allows you to learn at a convenient pace, revisit difficult parts, and thoroughly work through each topic. Access to lessons is open 24/7: you can study in the morning, evening, or on weekends—as long as you have internet.
The neural network doesn't just provide text; it explains complex concepts in simple language. For example, it will break down the "hardship clause" mechanism in UNIDROIT using a real dispute where a party demanded a price revision due to a sharp spike in raw material costs. You will see which arguments worked and which did not.
Why AI Learning Is Modern and Effective
Traditional courses often suffer from a one-size-fits-all approach: all students receive the same material regardless of their background. As a result, some are bored while others can't keep up. The AI approach solves this problem. The neural network analyzes your answers to assignments and adjusts the program: if you make mistakes in applying the New York Convention, it will offer additional exercises; if you quickly absorb the material, it will switch you to more complex cases.
Moreover, AI learning saves time. You don't spend hours searching for the right information—the system delivers exactly what matches your goals. For example, if you work in the oil and gas industry, the emphasis will be on investment arbitration and the ECT; if in IT, on cross-border contracts and intellectual property protection.
Finally, the personalized approach increases engagement. When the material is relevant and understandable, learning is interesting. You see progress and understand how to apply the knowledge tomorrow.
Practical Examples: Force Majeure and Hardship in Action
Let's consider a real case. In 2022, a European equipment manufacturer signed a contract with an Asian supplier of components. The agreement had a standard force majeure clause referring to circumstances beyond control. When the logistical crisis broke out, the supplier claimed it could not fulfill its obligations due to a threefold increase in freight costs. The buyer insisted on performance. The dispute went to arbitration.
The tribunal applied the UNIDROIT Principles. It turned out that the rise in freight was not force majeure, as it was a predictable market fluctuation. However, the party could have invoked the hardship clause (Art. 6.2.1 UNIDROIT), which allows for a revision of the contract when there is a significant change in the balance. But the contract had no such clause. In the end, the supplier lost.
This example shows how important it is to draft a contract correctly. In the course, you will analyze dozens of such cases and learn to foresee risks.
Another example—from CISG practice. A German company ordered a batch of wine from an Italian producer. The wine arrived defective. The buyer demanded termination of the contract and damages. The seller cited Art. 79 CISG, claiming the defect was caused by force majeure (abnormal heat). The court found that the seller could have foreseen weather risks and had not taken measures, so exemption from liability did not apply. In the course, you will learn to analyze such situations and build arguments.
Tools You Will Receive
Upon completing the course, you will have a set of ready-made templates:
- Arbitration clause—with options for ICC, LCIA, SIAC.
- Force majeure—taking into account CISG and UNIDROIT.
- Hardship clause—a mechanism for revising terms.
- SPA and SHA—for M&A transactions.
- NDA—for protecting confidential information.
- Escrow agreement—for secure settlements.
These documents can be adapted to specific transactions, saving time and reducing risks.
Who Will Especially Benefit from the Course
- Lawyers at international companies: you will be able to more effectively protect your employer's interests in disputes with foreign counterparties.
- Partners and associates at law firms: expand your practice through arbitration cases and consulting on cross-border transactions.
- Arbitration attorneys: deepen your knowledge in investment arbitration and enforcement of awards.
- Law graduates: gain practical skills that employers value.
- Entrepreneurs: learn to read contracts and understand how to protect your business in case of a dispute.
How to Start Learning
You can join the course “International Law and Arbitration — LL.M. Level” right now. Go to the course page, register, and the AI platform will create a personal program for you. Learn at your convenience, apply your knowledge in practice, and become a sought-after specialist in international law.
International Law and Arbitration — LL.M. Level
Don't delay—the world of international disputes doesn't wait. Start learning today, and tomorrow you will be able to confidently draft force majeure clauses, handle arbitration cases, and protect business interests in any jurisdiction.
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