The conference was opened by the Dean of the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law, Professor Dr. Mirko Vasiljević, who welcomed all the guests and participants, underlying the constant dedication of our Faculty to maintain organization of international scientific, academic and professional gatherings in field of arbitration, stressing its importance for the modern business age. Additionally, the Dean has also thanked the GIZ Regional Open Fund for SEE for the longstanding support they provided in the past years as well as informed all the participants that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS) and the Faculty of Law, through which DIS will officially join the team of organizers of the Belgrade Arbitration Conference. The praise went to all the other sponsors of the event that significantly contributed to a successful outcome of the Conference. Finally, the Dean has announced the V Belgrade Arbitration Conference, hoping to see all the participants from this year coming back to Belgrade in spring 2013.

Participants have also been welcomed by the Chairman of the Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration, Professor Dr. Gašo Knežević as well as the representative of the GIZ Regional Open Fund for SEE, Dr. Judith Knieper, the General Secretary of the German Institution of Arbitration Jens Bredow and Ms. Milena Djordjević – the Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the Belgrade Arbitration Conference.

After the session of 2012 has officially been opened, the first panel of the Conference focused on crime and ethics in international commercial arbitration. The chairman of the panel, Dr. Stephan Wilske, reputable German arbitrator and attorney, lecturer on several German Universities (including the well-known University of Heidelberg) and partner in the Law Office Gleiss-Lutz from Stuttgart. Dr. Daniel Busse, professor at the University of Giessen and partner in Allen&Overy from Frankfurt has elaborated on tactical challenges posed before the counsels in international commercial arbitration proceedings. Second panelist of the day, Ms Barbara Helene Steindl focused on remedies provided by UNIDROIT principles from 2010 as well as the IBA Rules on Taking of Evidence in International Commercial Arbitration that are provided to the parties when crime-related issues arise in the course of the proceedings. Following this presentation, the participants had the chance to hear Lisa Beisteiner, associate in Law Office Schönherr from Vienna that discussed on the concepts that tribunals can apply in dealing with guerrilla tactics in international arbitration. Finally, the first panel was closed by Luka Krištović-Blažević, Partner from White & Case in Paris, that dealt with issues of admissibility of evidence under dubious circumstances.

Second panel was dedicated to influence of national and regional cultures and legal traditions on the arbitration laws. Esteemed professor from University of Queen Mary London, Loukas Mistelis, served as the moderator of the second panel introducing some of the specificities of international commercial arbitration in Europe. Following the opening presentation, panelists of the second session introduced national peculiarities of arbitration proceedings and national legislation, including the presentations on Austrian arbitration – presented by Franz Schwarz, Partner in WilmerHale Law Office from London, German arbitration – by Torsten Lörcher, Partner in CMS Cologne, Italian arbitration by Benedetta Coppo from Milan Chamber of Arbitration while Serbian perspective on arbitration was presented by Prof. Dr. Maja Stanivuković from the University of Novi Sad Faculty of Law.

Having in mind that the presentations delivered at the Conference followed very closely on emerging trends in international commercial arbitration, the discussions were vivid and very active – engaging all the participants of the event, while the closing ceremony was organized as a cocktail on the same night in the Bonafides Lounge (El Derecho).

The emerging topics, numerous participants and general interest raised by the Belgrade Arbitration Conference this year was only a  great link the chain of  successful events on international commercial arbitration that take place every spring at the Faculty of Law University of Belgrade. The success and significance of the Belgrade Arbitration Conferences so far has been stressed recently by the renowned German journal IPRAX, while the famous Judge from Munich Karl Puszkajler has specifically mentioned the hospitality of the organizers and the friendly atmosphere that dominate the Belgrade academic events of this type. Accordingly, in the view of many foreign experts, the Belgrade Arbitration Conference is turning into a “not-to-be-missed” event in the calendars of international arbitration events.

The organizing of the Conference was supported by the law offices White&Case from Paris, WilmerHale from London as well as Belgrade law offices: Karanović-Nikolić, Bojović-Dašić-Kojović, Moravčević-Vojnović-Zdravković in cooperation with Schönherr from Vienna, CMS Belgrade, as well as the Tourist Organization of Belgrade, The City Hall while the  international media coverage was provided by the Amcham in Serbia, London Charter Institute of Arbitrators, UNICTRAL, Queen Mary School of International Arbitration, Austrian arbitration association ArbAut as well as the arbitration centers of Milan and Vienna.

Photo Gallery from the Conference  >>

Conference Proceedings (video) >>

The Faculty Conference Hall was too small to receive over 400 lawyers from Serbia, the region and some 20 other countries, including the professors and practitioners from Brazil, Uruguay, New Zealand, United States of America, Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom. Therefore, the conference was held in the amphitheater Radomir Lukic. Such a large and diversified audience seems to be one of the best proofs of the importance and relevance of the topic of this year’s Belgrade Arbitration Conference (see Conference Program).

The working part of the conference was preceded by the opening ceremony. The participants were welcomed by Professor Branko Kovacevic, head of the Belgrade University, Mr. Dusan Petrovic, Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Professor Gaso Knezevic, president of the Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration attached to the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Judith Knieper on behalf of the GIZ Open regional Fund for South-east Europe.

The topics of the Conference were divided into four panels. The first panel concentrated on the issues of arbitration agreement and arbitral jurisdiction. This panel was chaired by the renowned British expert for arbitration law, Dr. Julian Lew, professor at Queen Mary University of London, barrister, arbitrator and author of many prominent publications in the field of arbitration law. The panelists were Ms. Anne Marie Whitesell, attorney in Washington, Dr. Miroslav Paunovic, attorney in Belgrade and member of the Board of the Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration, Mr. John Whittaker from the London-based law firm Clyde & Co. and Mr. John Willems from the Paris-based law firm White & Case. The second panel was focused on contemporary issues of arbitration procedure. The moderator was Dr. Klaus Sachs, attorney and professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, and the panelists were Mr. Steven Finizio from Wilmer Hale law firm (London), Ms. Ivana Rackovic from Karanovic-Nikolic law office (Belgrade), Dr. Stavros Brekoulakis, professor at Queen Mary University of London and Jose-Ricardo Feris from the ICC International Court of Arbitration. Under the direction of Mr. Christoph Liebscher, attorney in Schoenherr law firm in Vienna, the third panel discussed the problems of real or perceived defects of arbitral awards and the problems of recognition and enforcement. The panelists were Dr. Herbert Kronke, professor at the Heidelberg University, Dr. Galina Zukova from the ICC International Court of Arbitration and Dr. Stefan Kroell, attorney in Cologne and professor at Bucerius University in Hamburg.  Finally, the fourth panel was dedicated to emerging issues in arbitration law (seats, European Union and trends) and chaired by Dr. Jernej Sekolec, former secretary-general of the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and at present the vice president of the London Court of International Arbitration. The speakers were Dr. Loukas Mistelis, professor at Queen Mary University of London, Dr. Gerold Zeiler from Schoenherr (Vienna) and Mr. Luka Kristovic Blazevic from White & Case (Paris). Additionally, as a key note speaker, Mr. Stefano Azzali, the Secretary General of Milan Chamber of Arbitration, was speaking on independence and impartiality pursuant to the Rules of Milan Chamber of Commerce.

The number of participants, the professional competences of the speakers, the quality of the submitted papers and the relevance of the general topic of the conference all show that the Belgrade Arbitration Conference was one of the most interesting scientific events this spring not only in the region but also worldwide. An important sign of the importance of the Belgrade Arbitration Conference is the fact that one of the organizers of this event was the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

Members of the Organizing Committee of the Conference were Professors Mirko Vasiljevic, Gaso Knezevic and Vladimir Pavic, and lecturers Milena Djordjevic and Marko Jovanovic. Alongside the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law and the International Chamber of Commerce, the organizers of the Conference were also the GIZ Open Regional Fund for South-East Europe, Ministry of Science and Technological Development, Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration attached to the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the School of International Arbitration of Queen Mary University of London. The organization of the Conference was generously supported by White & Case (Paris), Wilmer Hale (London), International Financial Corporation, the Royal Dutch Embassy, Karanovic-Nikolic law office, Moravcevic, Vojnovic, Zdravkovic in cooperation with Schoenherr, Bojovic, Dasic Kojovic, the City of Belgrade and the Tourist Organization of Belgrade.

Conference Proceedings >>

Over 200 lawyers from Serbia, the region and around 20 other countries registered for this event. Such a great interest for the Conference is perhaps the best proof of the importance of this event and the interest of its topic (See Conference Program).

The Conference was preceded by an official opening ceremony. The participants of the Conference were greeted by Professor Sima Avramović, the President of the Council of the University of Belgrade, Professor Gašo Knezević, the President of the Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration attached to the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Judith Knieper, on behalf of the GTZ Open Fund for South-East Europe.

The topics discussed at the Conference were divided in two parts: the first panel focused on the relation between arbitration and mediation and the use of mediation techniques in arbitration, while the second panel examined the questions of the use of multi-tier clauses and the possibilities of their enforcement. The first panel gathered the leading experts from Croatia, Austria and the United States of America, and was chaired by Dr. Jernej Sekolec. During the second part of the Conference, papers were presented by the speakers from the United Kingdom, Austria and Switzerland. The chairman of the second panel was Professor Loukas Mistelis, from Queen Mary, University of London.

Due to its large attendance, the reputation and competence of the speakers, the quality of papers presented and the choice of the topic, Belgrade Conference on international commercial arbitration and mediation was seen as one of the most interesting scientific events this spring not only in the region but also worldwide. This was the unanimous impression of all the participants of the Conference. Furthermore, the importance of the Belgrade Arbitration Conference was affirmed by the fact that its organization was endorsed by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

The members of the Organization Board of the Conference were Prof. Dr. Mirko Vasiljević, Prof. Dr. Gašo Knežević, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Pavić, lecturer Milena Đorđević, LL.M. and lecturer Marko Jovanović, LL.M. Apart from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law, the main organizers of the Conference were GTZ Open Fund for South-East Europe,Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration attached to the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Belgrade City Hall. The organizers of the Conference received generous support, due to which the participation at the Conference was free of charge, from International Finance Corporation, the Embassy of the Netherlands and the following law firms:  Baklaja Igrić Mujezinović in cooperation with Clyde & Co, Karanović – Nikolić, CMS Beograd, Moravčević Vojnović Zdravković in cooperation with Schoenherr.

Photo gallery from the Conference>>

Video recording of the Conference proceedings >> part 1  >> part 2  >> part 3  >> part 4

The Conference attracted over 300 lawyers coming from Serbia, countries in the region and some 20 countries in the world, including the professors and practitioners from New Zealand, South Africa, United States and Mexico. (See Conference Program)

The working part of the Conference was preceded by an opening ceremony during which the participants were welcomed by Professor Dr. Miodrag Jovanović, vice-dean of our Faculty, Mr. Dragan Đilas, mayor of Belgrade, Mr. Renaud Sorieul, Secretary of UNCITRAL, Ms. Judith Knieper on behalf of GTZ Open Regional Fund for South East Europe and Professor Dr. Gašo Knežević, President of the Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration attached to the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and full professor at our Faculty.

The Conference was divided into three parts. The six papers presented in the first part discussed the general issues concerning the arbitration agreement and arbitrability. The first part of the conference was chaired by Dr. Vladimir Pavić, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law of the Belgrade University and Dr. Davor Babić, Assistant Professor at the Zagreb University Faculty of Law, and speakers included professors and practitioners from Switzerland, Austria, Germany, UK and US (Prof. Jack Graves, Prof. Ronald Brand, Dr. Stavros Brekoulakis, Dr. Michael Mraz, Dr. Christian Dorda and Dr. Marie Louise Seelig). The second part of the Conference was dedicated to the selected procedural issues. During this part of the Conference five papers were presented by again leading list of scholars and practitioners from this area: Prof. Tibor Varady, judge Karl Peter Puszkajler, Prof. Vesna Lazić, Mrs. Maria Theresa Trofaier and Mr. Bent Sjövall. The moderators of this part of the Conference were Dr. Loukas Mistelis, Professor at Queen Mary University of London and highly distinguished expert in international commercial arbitration and Dr. Christian Köller, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law of Vienna University. During the last part of the Conference, which was moderated by Dr. Maja Stanivuković, Professor at the Faculty of Law of the Novi Sad University and Mrs. Milena Đorđević, LL.M., lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the Belgrade University, the participants at the Conference had the honor to listen to presentations on the perspectives of international commercial arbitration given by Mr. Renaud Sorieul, Prof. Eric Bergsten, Dr. Georgios Petrochilos, Dr. Gerold Zeiler and Dr. Fabian von Schlabrendorff.

The organization of the Belgrade Arbitration Conference was one of the headlines at the most important internet portals dedicated to international commercial arbitration throughout the world. A special attention to this event was given by UNCITRAL, as the Belgrade Arbitration Conference was listed in their official CLOUT Bulletin which presents the most important developments in the field of international trade law and commercial arbitration. By the number of participants, competence and professional authority of the speakers, quality of papers and importance of their topics, the Belgrade Arbitration Conference represented one of the most important events this spring not only in the region but on a world scale as well. Our Faculty successfully organized such an important international meeting of experts and professionals and showed that Belgrade has well deserved a place on the list of the world’s most prestigious arbitral centers.

A video-recording of the Conference is available here >> 1 2 3 4 (200 Mb avi)
The papers presented on this occasion are published in a special edition of the Annals of the Faculty of Law.

Members of the Organizing Committee of the Conference were Dr. Mirko Vasiljević, Dr. Gašo Knežević, Dr. Vladimir Pavić and Mrs. Milena Đorđević, LL.M. Apart from the Faculty of Law of the Belgrade University, the head organizers of the Conference were also GTZ Open Regional Fund for South East Europe, Foreign Trade Court of Arbitration attached to the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Belgrade City Hall and the Serbian Ministry of Science and Technological Development. The organization of the Conference was generously supported by the International Finance Corporation, the Royal Dutch Embassy and several law firms: Baklaja-Igrić-Mujezinović in cooperation with Clyde & Co., Karanović-Nikolić, CMS Belgrade, Moravčević-Vojnović-Zdravković in cooperation with Schönherr, Prica & Partners and Živković-Samardžić.