Agenda

Interested in speaking? Contact Sheonaid Carlin at Sheonaid.Carlin@LBResearch.com.

23 April 2026

9:00 am-9:30 am

Welcome coffee and registration

9:30 am-9:40 am

Co-chairs' opening remarks

Anna Guillard Sazkho
Anna Guillard Sazkho Independent Arbitrator and Counsel
Ali Gursel
Ali Gursel Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
9:40 am-10:10 am

Keynote address

Patricia Nacimiento
Patricia Nacimiento Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
10:10 am-11:10 am

Procedural efficiency and case management: from timetables to tactics

Efficient case management can make or break an arbitration. Join distinguished panellists as they share practical tools and examples that counsel, arbitrators, and in-house teams can apply immediately to keep complex cases on track.

  • Strategies for designing and negotiating effective procedural timetables
  • Streamlining document production and managing expert evidence
  • Techniques to maintain momentum and prevent unnecessary escalation
  • Constructive approaches to resolving procedural conflicts
  • Targeted applications that add real value
Maria Fogdestam Agius
Maria Fogdestam Agius Partner, Westerberg & Partners
Saltanat Imanova
Saltanat Imanova Associate Professor, American University of Central Asia
Islambek Rustambekov
Islambek Rustambekov Deputy Rector, Taskhent State University of Law
Violeta Saranciuc
Violeta Saranciuc Partner, Zamfirescu Racoti Vasile & Partners
11:10 am-11:40 am

Coffee break

11:40 am-12:40 pm

Big projects, bigger disputes: construction and infrastructure arbitration

Major infrastructure and construction projects continue to spark complex disputes. This session will bring you up to date on current trends in construction arbitration, with panellists sharing lessons learned from recent cases, industry-specific risks, and practical strategies for managing high-value claims.

The panel are expected to discuss: 

  • Delay and disruption claims, variation orders, termination, defects 
  • The role of experts: quantum assessment and evidentiary challenges
  • Practical strategies for managing high-value claims, including contract management and dispute avoidance 
Anna Guillard Sazkho
Anna Guillard Sazkho Independent Arbitrator and Counsel
Thomas Granier
Thomas Granier Partner, Anima Disputes
Alexander Marcopoulos
Alexander Marcopoulos Partner, Hughes Hubbard
Bakhyt Tukulov
Bakhyt Tukulov Partner, TKS Disputes
Gökçe Uyar
Gökçe Uyar Legal Counsel, Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
12:40 pm-1:40 pm

Networking lunch

1:40 pm-2:40 pm

The arbitral institution roundtable

This interactive session will bring together leading figures from some of the world’s most important arbitral institutions to discuss the respective institutional rules, their practices, new developments and future projects.

Zhazgul Altynbekova
Zhazgul Altynbekova General Secretary, Turkic Arbitration Association
Maria Jonker
Maria Jonker Counsel, London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
Victoria Khandrimaylo
Victoria Khandrimaylo Special Counsel, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)
Jake Lowther
Jake Lowther Specialist Counsel, SCC Arbitration Institute (SCC)
Asli Yilmaz
Asli Yilmaz Managing Counsel, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
Yevgeniya Filatova
Yevgeniya Filatova Senior Associate of the Case Management Department, AIFC Court and International Arbitration Centre (IAC)
2:40 pm-3:10 pm

Coffee break

3:10 pm-4:10 pm

GAR Live Symposium

Our espresso version of Tylney Hall. Delegates will submit questions in advance on topical themes and will then be invited to present their question on the day, whereupon the expert moderators and members of the audience are invited to respond.

Mehmet Karlı
Mehmet Karlı Partner, Kabine Law
Aigoul Kenjebayeva
Aigoul Kenjebayeva Partner, Dentons
4:10 pm-5:10 pm

Advocacy excellence, ethics and procedural misconduct

What makes advocacy truly effective in international arbitration? From ethical boundaries to cultural considerations, our panel of leading arbitrators share war stories, hint and tips to improve your advocacy skills. 

The panel are expected to discuss: 

  • Proven techniques to elevate impact 
  • Managing obstructive behaviour 
  • Do’s and don’ts
Ali Gursel
Ali Gursel Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
Valentine Chessa
Valentine Chessa Partner, MCL Arbitration
Elijah Putilin
Elijah Putilin Arbitrator and Counsel, Putilin Dispute Management
Patricia Shaughnessy
Patricia Shaughnessy Associate Professor, Stockholm University, Law Department
5:10 pm-5:20 pm

Co-chairs’ closing remarks

Anna Guillard Sazkho
Anna Guillard Sazkho Independent Arbitrator and Counsel
Ali Gursel
Ali Gursel Partner, Squire Patton Boggs