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About

WELCOME

Arbitration, as a form of dispute resolution, has many advantages over court litigation and a great deal to offer the Balkan region through achieving the quicker, more efficient and impartial binding resolution of disputes, and the easier enforcement of decisions.

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The Balkan Arbitration Conference, which began in 2021, is run as a non-profit venture, brings together - from across the Balkan region and internationally - arbitration lawyers, general counsel, forensic accountants, expert witnesses, arbitrators and clients. Our purpose is to provide a forum to help build cooperation and develop the use and practice of arbitration in the Balkan region. Attendance provides an excellent opportunity to hear from leading practitioners in the world of arbitration and to develop and maintain your network.

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We will, as in previous years, be announcing an exciting line-up of participants and topics. Information on the expected content of the Conference will be provided below. We will announce further details in the coming weeks.

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We look forward to welcoming you this October. To receive news and updates, please follow us on LinkedIn here and sign up to our mailing list here

THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE

 

JAMES HAYTON  LK Law, London

KLENTIANA MAHMUTAJ Red Lion Chambers, London

KORAB SEJDIU Sejdiu & Qerkini, Prishtina

PAVLIN STOYANOFF Visiaw, Sofia

Programme

PROGRAMME

Day 1: Thursday 16 October 2025

10:30 - 10:45 CEST

Opening: Welcome Remarks

Panellists:

10:45 - 12:15 CEST

POV: In-house counsel

Moderator:

Philip Dunham

Partner,

Signature Litigation

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Krasimir Avramov

Head of Legal Dept.,

Bulgargaz EAD

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Prof. Toni Deskoski 

Arbitrator & University SS Cyril Methodius 

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Alessio Rossi

Legal Counsel,

Rizzani de Echer

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Stanislav Cherkezov

Legal Counsel,

Huvepharma

Lunch

14:00 - 15:30 CEST

Making arbitration time and cost-efficient

Moderator:

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Jason Emert

Special Counsel,

Jones Walker

Panellists:

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Lana Vukmirovic Misic

Senior Partner,

JPM Partners

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Sabina Cehajic 

Legal Director,

Clyde & Co 

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Michael Lee

Associate

Steptoe

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Michael Lightfoot

Partner,

Gateley

Afternoon Coffee Break

Panellists:

16:15 - 17:30 CEST

Arbitral Institutions in the Balkans

Moderator:

Franz Schwarz

Partner, WilmerHale &

President, Vienna International Arbitration Centre

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Prof.Tania Iossifova

Chairperson, Arbitration Court

at the Bulgarian Industrial

Association

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Ivaylo Dermendjiev 

Senior Managing Partner,

Simeonov & Dermendjiev,

Deputy Chairman of the Arbitration Court at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce & Industry

17:30 - 21:00 CEST

Drinks Reception at the Grand Hotel Millennium, Sofia

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Panellists:

Day 2: Friday 17 October 2025

10:00 - 11:30 CEST

The Evolving Impact of Sanctions on Arbitration

Moderator:

Paul Key KC

Essex Court Chambers

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Anke Meier

Partner,

Noerr

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Konstantin Christie 

Partner,

Peter & Kim 

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James Herbert

Partner,

Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya

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Jack Nithavrianakis

Associate,

Alaco

Morning Coffee Break

12:00 - 12:30 CEST

KEYNOTE:

A Glimpse into the Future: How Technology Will Affect Advocacy and Decision-Making

Franz Schwarz

Partner, 

WilmerHale

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Lunch

13:30 - 15:00 CEST

What's new in arbitration in the Balkans?

Moderator:

Ana Stanic

Founder,

E&A Law

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Panellists:

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Epaminontas E. Triantafilou

Partner,

Quinn Emanuel

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Prof. Crenguta Leaua 

Attorney-at-Law & Independent Arbitrator,

Leaua Damcali Deaconu Paunescu 

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Assen Alexiev

Attorney-at-Law &

independent arbitrator

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Nikola Stambolic

Director,

BRG

Closing Remarks & Thanks

The Organising Committee

To keep up to date with all news about the Conference, please sign up to our mailing list here or follow us on LinkedIn here

Sponsors

SPONSORS

Gold Sponsors

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Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsor

Supporters

Contact

For further information please contact the Organising Committee:

info@balkanarbitration.org

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©2025 Balkan Arbitration.

Balkan Arbitration is a company limited by guarantee, registered and existing under the laws of England & Wales, with co. reg. no. 12955446. Its registered office is at 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, United Kingdom, WC1N 3AX.

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