Restructuring & Insolvency Academic Forum (RIAF)

Restructuring & Insolvency Academic Forum (RIAF)

The Restructuring & Insolvency Academic Forum (RIAF) is an annual regional academic forum that was established in 2025 to advance legal scholarship, comparative research and dialogue on corporate restructuring, turnaround and insolvency across Asia. RIAF is jointly organised by the Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore and INSOL International (Asia Hub) (INSOL Asia). Since its inaugural edition in Singapore, successive editions have been hosted by the following partner institutions across the Asia-Pacific region: Thammasat University Faculty of Law in 2026, and the University of Sydney Law School and Norton Rose Fulbright in 2027.

RIAF brings together academics, emerging scholars, judges, policymakers, regulators, practitioners, and students to engage with current developments and emerging issues in restructuring and insolvency law. The Forum seeks to facilitate the exchange of ideas across Asian-Pacific jurisdictions, strengthen engagement between academic and professional communities, and contribute to the development of restructuring and insolvency scholarship in the region.

Restructuring & Insolvency Academic Forum (RIAF) 2027

The third edition of RIAF will be held from 12 to 13 May 2027 in Sydney, Australia. Hosted by the University of Sydney Law School and Norton Rose Fulbright, RIAF 2027 will continue to build on the first two editions of the Forum in advancing restructuring and insolvency scholarship, comparative research and regional dialogue. Following the conclusion of the call for abstracts, a range of papers has been selected for presentation at RIAF 2027, which will be announced in due course.

Past Forums

RIAF 2025 Singapore

RIAF 2025 Singapore was held from 6 to 7 November 2025 at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore. Jointly organised by CALS and INSOL Asia, with support from the EW Barker Centre for Law and Business at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore, INSOL International, and the Insolvency Law Academy, the inaugural Forum brought together academics, judges, practitioners, students and emerging researchers from across the region.

Across two days, 33 papers representing 14 jurisdictions were presented by academics, scholars and practitioners. These presentations addressed a broad range of restructuring and insolvency issues, including cross-border insolvency, arbitration, technology, corporate restructuring and wider commercial, policy and social considerations. The Forum also provided opportunities for students and early-career researchers to present alongside senior academics and practitioners and included a dedicated undergraduate panel.

RIAF 2026 Bangkok

RIAF 2026 Bangkok was held from 18 to 19 June 2026 at the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University. This edition of RIAF was co-organised by CALS and INSOL Asia, with support from the Asian Law Centre at Melbourne Law School, INSOL International, and the Insolvency Law Academy.

Building on RIAF 2025, RIAF 2026 expanded the regional conversation by bringing together academics, judges, policymakers, practitioners, students and emerging researchers from across Asia. The Forum featured 17 academic papers from participants representing 11 jurisdictions, with a special segment on asset tracing and recovery in corporate insolvencies. RIAF 2026 further developed the Forum’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of restructuring and insolvency scholars, with presentations by students and early-career researchers incorporated into the main programme alongside established academics and practitioners.

The Restructuring & Insolvency Academic Forum is a collaboration between the Centre for Asian Legal Studies at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore and INSOL International (Asia Hub). For enquiries relating to the Forum, please contact CALS at: cals@nus.edu.sg.