SCHEDULE

4th Athens International Arbitration Forum

States and State Entities in International Arbitration

19 October 2023 - 9:15-17:45 | Divani Caravel Hotel

 

Conference Chairs

Professor Constantin Calavros and Professor Stavros Brekoulakis

 

9:15-9:45 (EET)

Registration and coffee

 

9:45-10:00 (EET)

Welcome address

  • Professor Constantin Calavros, President of the Greek Association for Arbitration, Managing Partner, Calavros Law Firm-Filios-Kloukinas

 

10:00-11:30 (EET)

I. State Participation in International Arbitration

Issues to be addressed

The involvement of States and State Entities involved in international business.

Consent for arbitration in disputes involving States and State Entities: concession agreements, investment contracts, public-private partnerships, joint ventures, privatization contracts, government guarantees and assurances.

Legal standing of States and State Entities in international arbitration; jurisdictional objections for lack of proper representation and ratification of arbitration agreements.

Chair

  • Dr. Alexander Fessas, Secretary General, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris

Panel members

  • Professor Massimo Benedettelli, founding partner ArbLit, Milan, Fellow of Business Law and Director of the program on International Arbitration and Risk Management, SDA Bocconi, Milan
  • Marion Smith KC, 39 Essex Chambers
  • Gregory Logothetis, Partner, Koutalidis Law Firm
  • Dimitris Babiniotis, Associate Professor, Democritus University of Thrace Law School, Partner, Zepos & Yannopoulos
  • Nicholas Moussas, Founder and Managing Partner, Moussas & Partners Law Firm

 

11:30-11:45 (EET)

Coffee break

 

11:45-13:15 (EET)

II. Representing States and State Entities

Issues to be addressed

Procurement and selection of counsel to represent States and State Entities.

Ensuring State and State Entity representatives are properly authorised to represent the State and State Entities in international arbitration.

Challenges in representing States and State Entities: collecting evidence, communicating with State representatives, collaborating with in-house Government and State Entity lawyers, budget constraints.

Entering into settlement agreements for States and State Entities.

Chair

  • Dr. Katia Yannaca Small, Lecturer in Law, USC Gould School of Law, Senior International Arbitration Advisor, Arnold & Porter

Panel members

  • Ali Malek KC, Barristers Chambers 3 Verulam Buildings (Gray's Inn)
  • Devika Khana, Partner, Clyde & Co
  • Claire Sergaki, Senior Associate, Dryllerakis & Associates
  • Panayiotis Yiannopoulos, Associate Professor, Democritus University of Thrace Law School, Managing Partner, Yiannopoulos & Kozi

 

13:15-14:15 (EET)

Lunch

 

14:15-15:45 (EET)

III. Representing Parties against States and State Entities

Issues to be addressed

Corruption related matters.

States' failure to participate in the arbitration process.

States' interference with the arbitration process.

Collecting evidence against States and State Entities.

Entering into settlement agreements with States and State Entities.

Enforcing awards against States and State Entities.

Chair

  • Professor Stavros Brekoulakis, School of International Arbitration, Queen Mary University of London, Arbitrator at Barristers Chambers 3 Verulam Buildings (Gray's Inn)

Panel members

  • Jacob Grierson, Partner, Asafo & Co
  • Greg Falkof, Partner, Mishcon De Reya
  • Professor Spyridon Tsantinis, Democritus University of Thrace Law School, Managing Partner, Tsantinis-Hadjioannou Law Firm
  • Christian Filios, Associate Professor, Democritus University of Thrace Law School, Partner, Calavros Law Firm-Filios-Kloukinas
  • Gregory Pelecanos, Senior Partner, Ballas, Pelecanos & Associates

 

15:45-16:00 (EET)

Coffee break

 

16:00-17:30 (EET)

IV. The future of disputes involving States in the light of the Hellenic Council of State Decision No. 246/2022

Chair

  • Dr. Georgios Petrochilos KC, Partner, Three Crowns

Panel members

  • Charles Nairac, Partner, White & Case
  • Michele Potestà, Partner, Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler
  • Professor Eduardo Silva Romero, Partner, Dechert LLP
  • Professor Haris Pamboukis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Managing Partner, Pamboukis-Maravelis-Nikolaidis & Associates Law Firm
  • Dr. Sotiris Dempegiotis, Dr. jur., Partner, Lambadarios Law Firm
  • Ioannis Stavropoulos, Managing Partner and Founder, Stavropoulos & Partners Law Office

 

17:30-17:45 (EET)

Concluding remarks