Construction Contracts and International Arbitration
27 NOVEMBER 2025
MEGARON The Athens Concert Hall
Banqueting Hall
Part of the Athens Arbitration Days
6th Athens International Arbitration Forum
Organized by
The Hellenic Association for Arbitration
Diaitisia Law Review
Sakkoulas Publications
Construction Contracts and International Arbitration
As the construction sector has now fully emerged from the major disruption it faced five years ago, construction activity has already reached pre-pandemic levels and, indeed, it is forecasted to significantly grow in the next decade in the light of big infrastructure and investment projects which have been recently announced, including by several European states. Construction disputes take, and will most likely take, the biggest part of arbitration caseload. Construction arbitration has evolved as a specialist sector that requires practicing counsel and arbitrators to have background expertise and practical experience in order to deal efficiently with complex construction disputes. The conference brings together a group of prominent and experienced construction arbitration practitioners to discuss current issues in construction contracts and arbitration.
SCHEDULE
6th Athens International Arbitration Forum
MEGARON The Athens Concert Hall, Banqueting Hall | 27.11.2025
9:15-17:45
Welcome address+
Professor Constantin Calavros, President of the Hellenic Association for Arbitration, Managing Partner, Calavros Law Firm-Filios-Kloukinas
Liability in Construction Disputes+
- Delay claims.
- Disruption claims.
- Liquidated damages.
- Exceptional circumstances and force majeure in construction contracts.
- Cooperation with technical experts.
Chair: Professor Stavros Brekoulakis, National University of Singapore, Arbitrator, 3 Verulam Buildings, London
Panel members:
- Peter Rosher, Partner, Reed Smith, Paris
- Françoise Lefèvre, Independent Arbitrator
- James Bremen, Presiding Partner, Joseph Hage Aaronson & Bremen
- Theodora Souma, Senior Associate, POTAMITISVEKRIS
Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Boards (DAABs)+
- Use and usefulness of DAABs.
- DAABs as a means to prevent and avoid disputes.
- Allocation of jurisdiction between DAABs and arbitration tribunals.
- Enforcement of DAABs decisions.
Chair: Clément Fouchard, Partner, Reed Smith, Paris
Panel members:
- Yasemin Çetinel, Founding Partner, Cetinel Law Firm, Istanbul
- Theano Μavromoustaki, LL.B., LL.M., Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Cyprus
- Mohamed Shelbaya, Founding Partner, Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes, Paris
- Dr. Sotiris Dempegiotis, Partner & Deputy Head of International Arbitration Dpt., Calavros Law Firm-Filios-Kloukinas
Construction Arbitration and States / State Entities+
- Concession contracts and infrastructure projects: various approaches to risk allocation between States and concessionaires / construction consortia.
- National applicable laws and concession contracts: compatibility with national mandatory rules and administrative law.
- Procedural challenges in dealing with States and State entities.
- Post-award stage: review of award by state courts, enforcement and settlement.
Chair: Dr. Hamid Gharavi, Founding Partner, Derains & Gharavi, Paris
Panel members:
- George Vlavianos, DLA Piper, Managing Partner (Qatar), Co-Managing Partner (Riyadh)
- Todd Wetmore, Founding Partner, Three Crowns, Paris
- Gregory Logothetis, Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution, Koutalidis Law Firm
- Dimitrios Babiniotis, Associate Professor, Democritus University of Thrace Law School, Partner, Zepos & Yannopoulos
Procedural Issues in Construction Arbitrations+
- ICC Report on Construction Industry: a guidance on tools and techniques for successfully managing construction arbitrations.
- Managing large submissions, evidence and evolving cases: use of schedules and other techniques.
- Managing experts to assist tribunals: pre-hearing management; party-appointed experts vs tribunal-appointed experts; technical consultants.
Chair: Stella Leptourgou, Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration
Panel members:
- Marily Paralika, Partner, Fieldfischer
- Andrea Carlevaris, Partner, Bonelli Erede, Rome
- Florian Quintard, Partner, Trinity International, Paris
- Claire Sergaki, Partner, Dryllerakis Law Firm
- Professor Spyridon Tsantinis, Democritus University of Thrace Law School, Managing Partner, Tsantinis Law Firm
Concluding remarks+
Professor Stavros Brekoulakis, National University of Singapore, Arbitrator, 3 Verulam Buildings, London
SPEAKERS
PANEL CHAIRS
PANEL MEMBERS
listed in order of appearance
Constantin Calavros
Professor, President of the Hellenic Association for Arbitration, Managing Partner, Calavros Law Firm-Filios-Kloukinas
Stavros Brekoulakis
Professor, National University of Singapore, Arbitrator, 3 Verulam Buildings, London
Clément Fouchard
Partner, Reed Smith, Paris
Hamid Gharavi
Dr. jur., Founding Partner, Derains & Gharavi, Paris
Stella Leptourgou
Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration
