Disputes in Space: litigation risk in the final frontier

Disputes in Space is a podcast series from A&O Shearman’s Future Disputes Group, bringing together our lawyers and leading industry experts to examine where disputes are most likely to emerge in the space sector, and how businesses can prepare. 

The series contains three episodes on areas shaping the future space economy:

Collisions in space: Who is responsible to whom? 

The rapid growth in satellites and orbital debris has heightened the risk of in orbit collisions. This episode examines why fault based liability is difficult to apply in space, the challenges of attribution and evidence, and the growing importance of space situational awareness data.

A&O Shearman partner Arthur Sauzay is joined by Romain Lucken, CEO of Aldoria, and Michael Bowsher KC of Monckton Chambers to examine the disputes risks arising from an increasingly congested orbital environment.

Spectrum wars: frequency interference disputes

Mega-constellations and direct-to-device services are placing unprecedented pressure on radio frequencies. This episode explores why existing international coordination mechanisms struggle under modern commercial demands, how geopolitical interests influence outcomes, and how operators seek to protect connectivity.

Arthur Sauzay is joined by A&O Shearman partner Andrew Denny and senior associate Piermaurizio Tafuni to discuss why spectrum interference is emerging as a critical disputes risk in the space sector. 

The asteroid gold rush: space mining and the disputes of the future

As launch costs fall and technology advances, commercial space mining is moving closer to reality. This episode looks ahead to emerging off Earth supply chains and examines why current legal frameworks are ill-equipped to manage competing claims over space resources.

A&O Shearman partner Andrew Denny is joined by Jenn Lawrence of Monckton Chambers and Marie Stoyanov, A&O Shearman’s Global Head of Arbitration, to explore why space mining is poised to become a major source of future disputes. 

Together, the series provides a clear view of the disputes risks emerging as commercial activity moves deeper into orbit—and beyond.