Quantifying Damages Amid Global Shocks

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In “Experts Discuss Emerging Trends in International Arbitration for 2026,” published by Mealey’s International Arbitration Report, Ronnie Barnes provides insight into how persistent global uncertainty has ramifications for the work of a quantum expert.

Key Takeaways
  • The Rise of Macroeconomic and Geopolitical Shocks: Recent geopolitical events—such as the war in Ukraine, conflicts in Iran, and shifting US tariffs—have made it extremely challenging for experts to isolate the financial impact of a specific wrongdoing from the impact of concurrent global shocks.
  • The Failure of Simple Extrapolation: In a highly volatile economic landscape, relying on historical data to predict future performance is no longer viable. Experts must move toward constructing complex, multi-scenario models rather than a single “base-case.”
  • Adaptation over Abandonment of the DCF Method: The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model requires a more sophisticated implementation where experts openly acknowledge its limitations, move away from mechanical exercises, and use real-world market evidence to stress-test their outcomes.
Conclusion

The role of the quantum expert in international arbitration has fundamentally shifted due to persistent global instability. To provide meaningful guidance to tribunals, damages experts can no longer rely on traditional, straightforward forecasting methods; instead, they must adopt more nuanced, flexible, and heavily stress-tested valuation approaches to account for an inherently uncertain world.

This article was originally published by Mealey’s International Arbitration Report in June 2026.

Experts Discuss Emerging Trends in International Arbitration for 2026

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Ronnie Barnes
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Ronnie Barnes

Vice President