Transport Law Seminar // 13th Annual Arbitration Conference // Public Procurement Seminar

Athens, Greece

14 September 2023 - 16 September 2023

Transport Law Seminar. Ship life: a long tale about the wondering and struggling life cycle of a ship from her financing to her recycling


Thursday 14 September 2023

16:00 » 20:00 Registrations at Royal Olympic Hotel

Address: Athanasiou Diakou 28, Athens 11743
18:00 » 20:00 Welcome reception at Royal Olympic Hotel

Address: Athanasiou Diakou 28, Athens 11743
20:00 » 23:00 Optional dinner at Royal Olympic Hotel

Address: Athanasiou Diakou 28, Athens 11743

Friday 15 September 2023

08:00 » 09:00 Registrations at Royal Olympic Hotel
09:00 » 09:15 Welcome speech
09:15 » 09:30 OC Opening speech
09:30 » 09:45 Keynote speech

A brief introduction to the new Greek Maritime Law Code of 2023 : Wrongful arrest, exercising a lien on cargo for unpaid freight and new liability regime provisions.

  • Vassilis Vernicos, KALOGEROGIANNIS & VERNICOS LAW. Greece
09:45 » 11:00 The first steps: Ship finance

In this session, panelists will provide the audience with a large discussion over relevant practical steps to draft arrangements and the constructions of securities (pledge, mortgage) over a vessel in order to build or purchase a ship, and the considerations to be taken into account when doing so.

Moderator: 
  • Yiannis Timagenis, Timagenis Law Firm, Greece

Speakers:
  • Teresa Roussou, Watson Farley & Williams, Greece
  • Christian Hochstrasser, ThomannFischer, Switzerland
  • Georg Lehmann, Ancon Blue, Germany
11:00 » 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 » 13:00 The life starts and changes: Shipbuilding and refit contracts

In this session, the panelists will share with the audience their views on the hot issues of manufacture, repair, maintenance or refurbishment of ships, under both shipyards and Owners’ perspectives, with an overlook at the possible conflicts arising out of the non-performance of the contract.

Moderator:
  • Lotte Schatt, AKD, The Netherlands
Speakers:
  • Wendy van den Nouland, Van Traa Advocaten, The Netherlands
  • Lauren Wilgus, Blank Rome, USA
  • Francesco Gasparini, Studio Legale Mordiglia, Italy
  • Pol Mediñà, Mestre Abogados, Spain
13:00 » 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 » 15:30 Far from home: Sale of ships

In this session, panelists shall discuss the different stages for the sale of ships, among others the form to be used, the negotiation of the most impacting clauses, inspection, completion and the outcome of a possible breach of contract.

Moderator:
  • Lucas Leite Marques, Kincaid | Mendes Vianna Advogados, Brazil
Speakers:
  • Jean-Philippe Maslin, Richemont Del Viso, France
  • Enrique Rubio, ISLAW Abogados, Spain
  • James Clayton, Campbell Jonston Clark, United Kingdom
  • Martina Farrugia, Fenech & Fenech Advocates, Malta
15:30 » 15:50 Coffee Break
15:50 » 16:50 Taking responsibility: Green shipping

In this session, the panelists will entertain the attendees on the different ways of protecting the environment (also under a sustainability of the insurance/banking industry trends) from the pollutants generated by ships.

Moderator:
  • Andreas Oxholm, Hafnia Law Firm LLP, Denmark
Speakers:
  • Robin Eliasson, Werks Advokater AB, Sweden
  • Maria Kontogianni, Moderna Marine Management Ltd, Greece
  • Dimitrios Manolopuolos, Papapetros, Papangelis, Tatagia and Partners Law Firm, Greece
16:50 » 17:50 Being still useful: Ship Recycling: “Obligations on Owners/Operators of Trading Vessels”

In this session, the panelists shall share their insights about the different challenges of ship recycling and its regulations.

Moderator:
  • Tunji Adeyemi, Banwo & Ighodalo, Nigeria

Speakers:
  • Evangelia Lytra, Fleet Hamburg, Germany
  • Nil Tutuncuoglu, Tilegal, Turkiye
  • Felix Goebel, Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein, Germany
19:20 Bus pick up from the hotel to PLOES for gala dinner

Gather of the participants at the lobby of the hotel
20:00 Gala dinner at PLOES

Address: Ioannou Fix, Paleo Faliro

Saturday 16 September 2023

08:30 » 09:30 Registrations at Royal Olympic Hotel
09:30 » 11:00 The Achmea case and its impacts. Is the world changed?

The European Court of Justice’s judgement in Slovak Republic v. Achmea has caught the attention at worldwide level ruling that the arbitration clause contained in a bilateral investment treaty signed between EU countries would be incompatible with EU law. In this session, it will be looked at this decision assessing the relevant impacts within the arbitration arena and in the transport and public procurement investments intra-EU and extra-EU.

Moderator: 
  • Eleni Skoufari, LCL Law, Greece
Speakers:
  • Duncan Speller, Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP, United Kingdom
  • Kleopatra Koutra, Legal Counsel of SNFCC, Greece
  • Natascha Tunkel, KNOETZL, Austria
11:00 » 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 » 12:45 Autonomous vessels, blockchain, and digital twins. Is the transport market of the future already there?

In this panel it will be inquired how the new technologies can improve the safety, efficiency, and resilience of the transportation industry as well as how to ensure the implementation of such technologies from different perspectives. More in general, it will also be looked at whether the innovation can help preventing and responding to incidents like the Ever Given grounding and which kind of other new disputes may arise in the future.

Moderator:
  • Hari Krishna, Nimble Legal, UAE
Speakers:
  • Uxua Esparza, Meana Green Maura, Spain
  • Irantzu Sedano, Aiyon Abogados, Spain
12:45 » 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 » 15:00 Commission meeting

Taking place in room Attica Hall
16:20 Get-together of the participants and guides at the Hotel lobby

The guides will meet the participants at the Lobby of the Hotel and will walk them to the Acropolis
16:30 Optional cultural activity: guided Tour to Parthenon

Address: Atenas 105 58
20:00 Optional dinner at Skyfall 

Address: Mark. Mousourou 1, Athens, 11636

13th Annual Arbitration Conference. Ever given, never given: Transport, Supply Chain and Arbitration


Thursday 14 September 2023

16:00 » 20:00 Registrations at Royal Olympic Hotel

Address: Athanasiou Diakou 28, Athens 11743
18:00 » 20:00 Welcome reception at Royal Olympic Hotel

Address: Athanasiou Diakou 28, Athens 11743
20:00 » 23:00 Optional dinner at Royal Olympic Hotel

Address: Athanasiou Diakou 28, Athens 11743

Friday 15 September 2023

08:00 » 09:00 Registrations at Royal Olympic Hotel
09:00 » 09:15 Welcome speech
09:15 » 09:30 OC Opening speech
09:30 » 11:00 Force Majeure arbitration disputes: what happens now?

In March 2021 the Ever Given container blocked the Suez Canal for six days. That had an impact on the global trade. Many tranport operators unavailable to meet their obligations to deliver goods in time due to the blockage tried to defend themselves invoking the casualty. This panel will deal on which are the takeaways and the lessons learnt from this episode. Reference will also be made to how the force majeure and the risk allocations clauses shall be drafted in the agreements taking into consideration also the CISG.

Moderator:
  • Jacopo Piemonte, De Berti Jacchia, Italy
Speakers:
  • Brian Van Egmond, Conway & Partners, The Nederlands
  • Flore Poloni, Signature Litigation, France
  • Gretta Walters, Chaffetz Lindsey LLP, USA
  • Christopher Singer, DLA Piper, Germany/United Kingdom
11:00 » 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 » 13:00 Arbitration clauses in insurance contracts: is this a (good) thing?

The panelists will discuss what are the pros and cons in inserting an arbitration clause in insurance contracts. In this context, it will be explained that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and that arbitration presents benefits both for insurer and insured. International arbitration remains indeed the most convenient method to resolve insurance disputes in an efficient way resulting in a binding award enforceable all around the world.

Moderator:
  • Marijn De Ruysscher,  Lydian, Belgium
Speakers: 
  • Ioannis Avgoustis, Steamship Insurance Agency (Europe) Limited, Greece
  • Lukas Rusch, Pestalozzi, Switzerland
  • Karen Papenfuß, GSK Stockmann, Germany
13:00 » 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 » 15:30 Supply chain disputes - the Suez Canal blockage and beyond

The blockage of the Suez Channel by the Ever Given container has gave rise to legal disputes with various parties in the “supply” chain seeking compensation for the losses incurred. Supply chain disruptions have however really become so common place for various different reasons, not least: (i) [aftereffects of] the COVID-19-pandemic; (ii) the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine; and (iii) tensions of the West with China (also in light of the Taiwan conflict, leading to efforts to de-couple). In this panel it will be discussed why International arbitration is the best method for resolving such disputes efficiently and effectively.

Moderator:
  • Hannah Fry, 39 Essex Chambers, United Kingdom
Speakers:
  • Michael Schifferli, Wenger Plattner, Switzerland
  • Jorian Gunst, AKD, The Nederlands
  • Łukasz Chwalczuk, Iuridica, Poland
15:30 » 15:50 Coffee Break
15:50 » 16:50 Emergency arbitration and interim measures in shipping/transport arbitration disputes: an effective way to move forward

Arbitration is becoming more and more popular for adjudicating maritime disputes. In such context, during the arbitral proceedings, it may arise often the need for one of the parties to request urgent measures (e.g. a vessel arrest) to avoid losses and preserving the status quo. The arbitral tribunals in most of the cases have limited powers to enforce interim awards. It becomes then of essence the assistance of the National Courts having the coercive powers of the sovereign states. In this session we will then look at the interactions between the Arbitral Tribunals and National Courts in this regard and more in general on how these matters are dealt in the arbitration rules of the major arbitral institutions.

Moderator:
  • Hendrik Puschmann, Farrer & Co, United Kingdom
Spakers:
  • Anastasia Dola Tsatsos, LCI Law. Greece
  • Sabrine Schnyder, Switzerland
  • Marion Carrega, Aramis, France
  • Tom Van Amsterdam, Houthoff, The Nederlands
16:50 » 17:50 Offshore construction arbitration post-covid

Offshore construction projects are on the rise considering the investments in offshore wind farms for producing energy in a sustainable way. For such kind of projects arbitration is by far the preferred method of dispute resolution. In this session we will look at the disputes which may arise in such projects. These can indeed include both: (i) claims common to onshore arbitrations (such as defects and delays); and (ii) disputes typical of such projects related to the particular and challenging conditions of the offshore environment.

Moderator:
  • Thierry Augsburger, Four Knights LLC, Switzerland
Speakers:
  • Gabriel Ganot, Exponent, USA
  • Helen Lehto, Dittmar & Indrenius, Finland
  • Martin Hackl, Peters Ortner Partners, Austria
19:20 Bus pick up from the hotel to PLOES for gala dinner

Gather of the participants at the lobby of the hotel
20:00 Gala dinner at PLOES

Address: Ioannou Fix, Paleo Faliro

Saturday 16 September 2023

08:30 » 09:30 Registrations at Royal Olympic Hotel
09:30 » 11:00 The Achmea case and its impacts. Is the world changed?

The European Court of Justice’s judgement in Slovak Republic v. Achmea has caught the attention at worldwide level ruling that the arbitration clause contained in a bilateral investment treaty signed between EU countries would be incompatible with EU law. In this session, it will be looked at this decision assessing the relevant impacts within the arbitration arena and in the transport and public procurement investments intra-EU and extra-EU.

Moderator: 
  • Eleni Skoufari, LCI Law, Greece
Speakers:
  • Duncan Speller, Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP, United Kingdom
  • Kleopatra Koutra, Legal Counsel of SNFCC, Greece
  • Natascha Tunkel, KNOETZL, Austria
11:00 » 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 » 12:45 Autonomous vessels, blockchain, and digital twins. Is the transport market of the future already there?

In this panel it will be inquired how the new technologies can improve the safety, efficiency, and resilience of the transportation industry as well as how to ensure the implementation of such technologies from different perspectives. More in general, it will also be looked at whether the innovation can help preventing and responding to incidents like the Ever Given grounding and which kind of other new disputes may arise in the future.

Moderator:
  • Hari Krishna, Nimble Legal, UAE

Speakers:
  • Uxua Esparza, Meana Green Maura, Spain
  • Irantzu Sedano, Aiyon Abogados, Spain
12:45 » 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 » 15:00 Commission meeting

Taking place in Conference Room 1
16:20 Get-together of the participants and guides at the Hotel lobby

The guides will meet the participants at the Lobby of the Hotel and will walk them to the Acropolis
16:30 Optional cultural activity: guided Tour to Parthenon

Address: Atenas 105 58
20:00 Optional dinner at Skyfall

Address: Mark. Mousourou 1, Athens, 11636

Public Procurement Law Seminar. Public Procurement. Trends and Future


Thursday 14 September 2023

16:00 » 20:00 Registrations at Royal Olympic Hotel

Address: Athanasiou Diakou 28, Athens 11743
18:00 » 20:00 Welcome reception at Royal Olympic Hotel

Address: Athanasiou Diakou 28, Athens 11743
20:00 » 23:00 Optional dinner at Royal Olympic Hotel

Address: Athanasiou Diakou 28, Athens 11743

Friday 15 September 2023

08:00 » 09:00 Registrations at Royal Olympic Hotel
09:00 » 09:15 Welcome speech
09:15 » 09:30 OC Opening speech
09:30 » 11:00 Drivers & pitfalls when teaming up as a joint venture for a public tender

(i) Practical experiences and conclusions drawn from Joint Ventures (JV) and other Public-Private initiatives in public procurement, and (ii) lessons learned through private JV bids. Both from the perspective of the contractors and procuring authorities.

Moderator: 
  • Caroline De Mulder, Altius, Belgium
Speakers:
  • Lore Derdeyn, Lydian, Belgium
  • Anna Zaragoza, eit Urban Mobility, Spain
  • Calvin Calleja, Ganado Advocates, Malta
11:00 » 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 » 13:00 Social and Environmental Issues in Public Procurement

The impact of recent jurisprudence and new directives on zero emission etc.; Balancing the risk for protectionism stemming from benefits of local production and presence.

Moderator:
  • Laurynas Lukošiūnas, HubLegal, Lithuania
Speakers:
  • Viktoria Gunnerek, Advokatfirman Vinge, Sweden
  • Monika Křižánková, Havel & Partners, Czech Republic
  • Jarosław Kola, WKB Lawyers, Poland
13:00 » 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 » 15:30 Defense Procurement in the EU: Does it really differ that much?

Join us for a discussion on the differences and similarities in the approach to defence procurement in the EU. Be it the use of direct awards, the structure of competitive procedures or amendments to already awarded contracts, we will shed light on the much debated question of whether some EU Member States really do interpret and apply EU procurement law very differently when it comes to (big-ticket) defence procurement. Of course, we will not forget the elephant in the room: litigation. A situation everyone fears and where there is rarely a winner. What is the framework, what should be considered when weighing up whether to go down this road?

Moderator:
  • Christopher Wolters, Blomstein, Germany
Speakers:
  • Lukasz Gembis, DWF, Poland
  • Nikos Koukos, Zepos & Yannopoulos, Greece
  • Žilvinas Briedis, HubLegal, Lithuania
15:30 » 15:50 Coffee Break
15:50 » 16:50 Better in the House or Outside?

Join us for a question-based and thought-provoking discussion on how to ensure the intended use of the in-house exemption (avoiding circumvention) and the applicability and best use of the exemption. The discussion will include common questions such as (i) whether a contracting authority must reexamine the application of the in-house rule at some point in time and (ii) if the state is allowed to use the in-house model within its structure and subsidiaries or if there must be an ultimate controlling entity other than the government

Moderator:
  • Gabriella Fossum Gunnarsson, WERKS Advokater, Sweden
Speakers:
  • Donka Stoyanova, Dimitrov, Petrov & Co, Bulgaria
  • Youri Musschebroeck, CMS DeBacker, Belgium
  • Ondrej Čurilla, Havel & Partners, Czech Republic
16:50 » 17:50 The Foreign Subsidy Regulation

Effects, challenges, shared experiences and expectations for the future.

Moderator:
  • Tomasz Michalczyk, DZP, Poland
Speakers:
  • Hedvig Josefson, Advokatfirman Vinge, Sweden
  • Jasmin Mayerl, Blomstein, Germany
  • Johannes Stalzer, Schoenherr, Austria
19:20 Bus pick up from the hotel to PLOES for gala dinner

Gather of the participants at the lobby of the hotel
20:00 Gala dinner at PLOES

Address: Ioannou Fix, Paleo Faliro

Saturday 16 September 2023

08:30 » 09:30 Registrations at Royal Olympic Hotel
09:30 » 11:00 The Achmea case and its impacts. Is the world changed?

The European Court of Justice’s judgement in Slovak Republic v. Achmea has caught the attention at worldwide level ruling that the arbitration clause contained in a bilateral investment treaty signed between EU countries would be incompatible with EU law. In this session, it will be looked at this decision assessing the relevant impacts within the arbitration arena and in the transport and public procurement investments intra-EU and extra-EU.

Moderator: 
  • Eleni Skoufari, LCI Law, Greece
Speakers:
  • Duncan Speller, Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP, United Kingdom
  • Kleopatra Koutra, Legal Counsel of SNFCC, Greece
  • Natascha Tunkel, KNOETZL, Austria
11:00 » 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 » 12:45 Autonomous vessels, blockchain, and digital twins. Is the transport market of the future already there?

In this panel it will be inquired how the new technologies can improve the safety, efficiency, and resilience of the transportation industry as well as how to ensure the implementation of such technologies from different perspectives. More in general, it will also be looked at whether the innovation can help preventing and responding to incidents like the Ever Given grounding and which kind of other new disputes may arise in the future.

Moderator:
  • Hari Krishna, Nimble Legal, UAE

Speakers:
  • Uxua Esparza, Meana Green Maura, Spain
  • Irantzu Sedano, Aiyon Abogados, Spain
12:45 » 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 » 15:00 Commission meeting

Taking place in Conference Room 2
16:20 Get-together of the participants and guides at the Hotel lobby

The guides will meet the participants at the Lobby of the Hotel and will walk them to the Acropolis
16:30 Optional cultural activity: guided Tour to Parthenon

Address: Atenas 105 58
20:00 Optional dinner at Skyfall

Address: Mark. Mousourou 1, Athens, 11636