SOUTH CHINA SEA ARBITRATION LAWYERS RECALL EXPERIENCE, CONTEMPLATE AWARD’S LEGACY AT EMBASSY FIRESIDE CHAT

PRESS RELEASE
WDC-55-2026

24 September 2026

Embassy Press and Information Section

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, the Philippine Embassy invited two members of the arbitration legal team from international law firm Foley Hoag LLP for a retrospective fireside chat entitled “Building the Case: Insider Insights on the South China Sea Arbitration” on 22 September 2026.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Chief of Mission Felipe F. Cariño III shared hope that the legacy of the Arbitral Award in upholding the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes endures for decades to come. “I hope we leave here with a renewed interest in advocating for the Arbitral Award as an unassailable part of the international legal framework,” he added.

During the chat, which was moderated by First Secretary and Consul Jahzeel Cruz, Foley Hoag LLP partner Joseph Klingler and counsel Nicholas Renzler shared their recollections about their time as junior lawyers working on the case more than ten years ago. They recalled challenges poring over historical records, anticipating arguments, and offering up expert testimony. They also shared the team’s confidence in the case, being firmly founded in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Both speakers recalled several Philippine personalities that rose to prominence from the arbitration. They described Ambassador Henry Bensurto, then DFA lead on West Philippine Sea issues, as a “true public servant”, and the late Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario as an official with “incredible gravitas” to shepherd the case for the Philippines.

They also remembered the elation of lead counsel Paul Reichler, formerly of Foley Hoag LLP, upon the release of the Award overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines on 12 July 2016, as well as the substantial news coverage that followed, signaling the landmark importance of the Award.

Notwithstanding political developments since the ruling, both agreed that the Arbitral Award carries an important legacy. “I’m a strong believer in international law. It’s a smaller power using law to hold a superpower accountable, so I think it has an amazing legacy,” said Mr. Klingler.

Mr. Renzler added, “It’s the first time that a state was found liable for violating its environmental obligation under the Law of the Sea Convention. It gave content to the due diligence obligation regarding environmental protection and how a state can violate that. It interpreted the military activities exception rule. It’s the first case to interpret Article 121 of the Law of the Sea Convention. So from a general, development-of-the-law perspective, it’s also a very important decision.”

“Building the Case: Insider Insights on the South China Sea Arbitration” is part of the Embassy’s celebration of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo) for 2026. This year’s theme, “Karapatan sa Karagatan, Sama-Sama Nating Alagaan”, emphasizes Filipinos’ shared stewardship of its rich maritime heritage.

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