South Eastern Europe Arbitration Conference

STANIMIR A. ALEXANDROV works as an arbitrator in treaty-based investor-state disputes and international commercial arbitrations. Mr. Alexandrov serves as an arbitrator in numerous cases and has been appointed to the panels of arbitrators of various arbitral institutions. He is designated by the Chairman of ICSID's Administrative Council to serve on ICSID's Panel of Arbitrators. Mr. Alexandrov has more than 25 years of experience in investor-state and international commercial arbitration. Until August 2017, he was co-leader of the international arbitration practice at Sidley Austin LLP. Mr. Alexandrov is consistently listed as a leader in the field of international arbitration in publications including The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers, The Legal 500: United States, The Legal 500: Latin America, and The International Who's Who Legal, and has been recognized as "Lawyer of the Year International Arbitration – Governmental" and "Lawyer of the Year International Arbitration – Commercial." Before he entered private practice, Mr. Alexandrov was Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, where he managed Bulgaria's relations with the European Union (EU), the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and NATO, worked on Bulgaria's EU and WTO accession, and was responsible for all legal work of the Foreign Service. He has a doctoral degree in international law and is a professor at the George Washington University Law School in Washington.

Christoph Schreuer is an expert and thought leader in international investment law, frequently referred to as “the leading authority on investment arbitration” (Who’s Who Legal 2018). Christoph Schreuer is working as an independent expert and arbitrator in investment cases – at the last count, in more than 50 major investment arbitrations. He is a member of the ICSID Panel of Conciliators and Arbitrators. Christoph Schreuer has an abundance of experience as arbitrator under the rules of ICSID and UNCITRAL. Also, he is the author of numerous expert opinions rendered in investment arbitrations. Also see the ICSID profile of Prof. Schreuer. Christoph authored numerous books and articles in the field of investment arbitration, including “The ICSID Convention: A Commentary” (Cambridge University Press, First Edition in 2001; Second Edition in 2009; Third Edition in preparation) and “Principles of International Investment Law” (Oxford University Press, First Edition in 2008; Second Edition in 2012; with R. Dolzer; Third Edition in preparation). Most recently in 2020, he published the book “International Protection of Investments – The Substantive Standards” (Cambridge University Press, 2020; with A. Reinisch). Christoph Schreuer’s full list of publications and lectures can be found on his personal website. He is a graduate of the Universities of Vienna (Dr. iur. 1966), Cambridge (LL.M. 1970) and Yale (J.S.D. 1979). During his academic career he was a Professor of Law at the Universities of Salzburg, the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Vienna, as well as an Assistant Professor at the University of Graz. Christoph works in English (fluent) and German (native).

Değer is the founding partner of Boden Law, specializing in energy law and arbitration. With an exceptional track record, she has solidified her reputation as a prominent figure in the energy sector globally. Değer’s expertise extends across various energy-related domains, including infrastructure and arbitration matters. Her exceptional abilities have earned her prestigious accolades, featuring listings in Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, and Who’s Who Legal, where she is acknowledged as a leading individual in the energy and natural resources field. Değer possesses extensive experience in steering project development and finance transactions in diverse energy areas, encompassing power, oil and gas, ports, metals & mining, and general infrastructure. Her unique energy practice in Turkey has significantly contributed to her global recognition. Commencing her career in Turkey, Değer has been intricately involved in numerous facets of the Turkish energy sector, acclaimed for her adeptness in structuring intricate energy investments and agreements, as well as adeptly resolving complex challenges within the energy industry. Her expertise spans a wide range of areas within the sector, including commodity trade transactions, mergers and acquisitions (asset and stock acquisitions), project finance transactions, concession agreements, host-government agreements, and turn-key EPC contracts. Clients rely on her unparalleled guidance to avoid or resolve disputes and regulatory issues, including intricate energy regulations, employing various means such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. She has extensive experience in international commercial and investment treaty arbitration. Furthermore, Değer serves as an esteemed arbitrator in disputes arising from energy contracts. Her involvement in multifaceted projects across various jurisdictions underscores her proficiency in navigating intricate energy sector landscapes, encompassing EPC contracts, long-term supply agreements, and technology transfer agreements. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Değer is a respected authority in the field, actively engaging in publications, teachings, and speaking engagements pertaining to arbitration and energy matters. Notably, she serves as a lecturer for the “Energy Project Management and Law” course at the Energy Systems Engineering Department of Kadir Has University. She also holds a coveted position as a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development (CESD) of Kadir Has University, further cementing her commitment to fostering energy sustainability. In addition, Değer contributes as a Board member in the esteemed Carbon Footprint and Sustainability Association. Değer serves as the chair of the Energy Commission of the Istanbul Arbitration Center. She speaks English, French and Turkish.

Khawar Qureshi KC is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading advocates in the fields of International Arbitration, Commercial Litigation and Public International Law. From offices in London and Doha he has acted for or against more than 60 States including the USA, Russian Federation, Argentina, India and Kenya. From 1999-2006, before becoming one of the youngest Silks in 2006, as one of around 20 UK Government "A" Panel Treasury Counsel he had the highest level of UK Security Clearance, advising and representing UK authorities such as the SFO and Ministry of Defence on hundreds of matters including UN/EU/UK Sanctions. He has undertaken dozens of arbitrations as Lead Counsel including ICSID, UNCITRAL, LCIA, ICC, SIAC matters. He has appeared at all levels of the English Courts, and was the first English Barrister ever to establish an office outside the UK in 2008 at the Qatar Financial Centre. He has taught Commercial and International law at Cambridge University, LSE and Kings College London. He was Chairman of TheCityUK Legal Services Group from 2010-2015 and was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2013.

Jennifer Morrison Ersin focuses her practice in international disputes. She advises clients in international investment and commercial arbitrations across a range of sectors. She has acted in proceedings governed by the rules of arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), American Arbitration Association (AAA), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Jennifer has acted in arbitrations seated in jurisdictions around the world. Her experience includes advising clients on federal government construction contracts disputes, and arbitrating construction, energy, and agribusiness matters. She also has extensive experience handling matters that arise from municipal infrastructure projects. Jennifer has particular experience in acting in disputes involving sovereign states. She has most recently represented contractors against sovereign employers including Libya and Ethiopia. This experience extends to counseling contractors on how to best exit high-conflict states, including Libya and Afghanistan. Jennifer is also adept at handling matters before U.S. courts, particularly where those matters include an international element or a foreign party. She is able to assist foreign clients in Section 1782 discovery actions and enforcement actions. *Admitted in New York and the District of Columbia; not yet admitted to the Mississippi Bar.

Nenad Stankovic, attorney at law and senior partner at law firm Stankovic and Partners. Nenad graduated from Belgrade University Law School and has been a member of the State and Belgrade Bar Association since 1998. Over the past 15 years he has been responsible for representing clients in some of the most complex arbitration and litigation matters in Serbia, as well as handling hearings involving international arbitral and other disciplinary bodies such as ICSID, VIAC, ICC and the Football Association of Serbia. Nenad regularly acts as an arbitrator and is president of the arbitral tribunal of the Permanent Arbitration service at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. In addition, he is one of the founding members of the Arbitration Association of Belgrade and his name appears on the list of arbitrators held by Belgrade Arbitration Centre. Nenad has also been recognised as a leading practitioner in the Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist CEE for 2023. At Stankovic & Partners (NSTLAW), he continues to handle some of the largest, most complex disputes in the region, either as lead counsel or as local counsel working closely with some of the best-known international law firms in the world. These range from general commercial and company litigation, through real estate, environment and construction disputes, to banking, IP and IT, employment and competition matters. NSTLAW has extensive expertise in all these areas combined with a successful track record in substantial and significant arbitrations.

Lazar Tomov is the founding partner of Tomov&Tomov and the head of its dispute resolution practice. He practices predominantly in the field of international arbitration. He practices both as a counsel and arbitrator. As a counsel, Lazar Tomov represents states and private clients in domestic and international arbitration proceedings. He has experience with arbitrations conducted under the arbitration rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). His practice covers disputes involving various industries such as energy (oil & gas, photovoltaic, and electricity power generation and distribution), telecommunications, banking, construction, and waste management services.

Eric specialises in international arbitration, with a particular focus on investment arbitration and post-M&A commercial disputes. He has represented clients in proceedings under various procedural rules, most often in the energy, finance and technology sectors. Eric is also experienced in US civil litigation and cross-border compliance investigations, particularly in the former Soviet Union. Before joining Freshfields in 2015, Eric worked for several years with another leading international law firm in Washington DC and clerked on the Constitutional Court of South Africa under Justice Madlanga. Eric is admitted to practice and is a member of the bar in New York and Washington DC (attorney-at-law). He speaks English, as well as intermediate German and Russian.

Johannes Willheim has handled large-scale and high-stakes international arbitration and complex litigation for more than two decades. His vast experience includes antitrust, corporate and post-transaction, energy, engineering and construction (EPC and EPCM), distribution, insurance, IP, and regulatory disputes. He also has experience arbitrating and litigating cases involving EU competition law, distribution, and IP (including patent) issues both on the enforcement and defense sides. He is currently handling major gas price revision disputes throughout Europe for one of the world's leading producers of natural gas. Johannes works out of the Firm's Frankfurt, London, and Paris offices. Johannes' work is characterized by a holistic approach aimed at the effective and efficient management of disputes and their resolution. He acts as a trusted party advisor to clients prior to, during, and post formal proceedings, as well as an advocate in formal arbitration, litigation, and ADR proceedings. Johannes has been appointed as an arbitrator, mediator, and independent expert in DIS, ICC, VIAC, and other institutional and ad hoc arbitration and mediation proceedings. Johannes is an adjunct professor for international commercial arbitration of the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Law School of Pepperdine University and a guest lecturer on international arbitration at the University of Chicago Law School and the University of Stockholm. He is a frequent speaker at legal and industry conferences and has published extensively.

Tatiana Minaeva specializes in international arbitration (both commercial and investor-state) and in cross border litigation proceedings. Tatiana has experience representing international clients in a broad spectrum of disputes relating to financial services, energy, mining, telecoms, construction, international sale of goods, and technology. Tatiana is ranked as a "global leader" in international arbitration by Who's Who Legal: Arbitration 2021, 2022 and 2023 and is recommended by Legal 500 for her work in international arbitration. Tatiana is featured as a "distinguished advisor" in the 2023 edition of the Financier Worldwide – Power Players in international arbitration. Tatiana is on the panel of many of the leading arbitral institutions and is often appointed as an arbitrator (including as a sole arbitrator) under the Rules of UNCITRAL, LCIA, ICC, SCC and ICAC. Tatiana has published extensively on the topic of International Arbitration and is regularly invited to speak at industry conferences. Tatiana is a co-author of the book ICSID Rules and Regulations 2022 – Article-by-Article Commentary, which offers practical and theoretical guidance for experienced arbitration practitioners.

Iuliana specialises in international arbitration. She acted as counsel in multiple high-stake arbitral disputes under the rules of almost all major arbitral institutions across a wide range of sectors, as well as in complex cases involving applications for provisional measures, annulment of Arbitral Awards or recognition and enforcement proceedings. She regularly advises clients in connection with complex investment protection matters. Iuliana assisted and represented clients in relation to complex domestic litigations arising out of major infrastructure projects and in high-stake proceedings before international courts (the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Human Rights). Iuliana is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and of the ICC Institute of World Business Law. She is listed on the panel of arbitrators of the Bucharest Court of Arbitration, the Court of Arbitration of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Permanent Court of Arbitration of the Romanian-German Chamber of Industry.

Stelios Gregoriou is the Managing Partner of Gregoriou Law Firm, a Greek Law Firm established in Athens since 1992. Stelios Gregoriou is: Fellow CIArb Member of the VIAC Panel of Arbitrators WIPO Neutral Member of the EODID (Athens Mediation and Arbitration Organization) Panel of Arbitrators He has been the lead Counsel in many domestic and international Arbitrations and he has enforced some foreign Arbitral Awards in Greece. He has mediated in many civil cases before the Greek Courts assigned by the Greek Ministry of Justice. He has presented the Chapter of Arbitration in Greece edited by the ICLG many times. He is a researcher of dispute resolution between states with regard to the Law of the Sea. Gregoriou Law Firm is particularly specialized in providing high caliber services in Litigation, Mediation Arbitration. The Firm, also, provide consultancy in a wide array of matters, with a special emphasis in Commercial Law, IP, Competition Law, M&A, Distribution/Franchising/Agency, Real Estate, Energy, Investment Law, Human Rights before ECHR, White Collar Crime, Penal Law.

Petr Vošahlík is a Partner with BBH focusing on representing clients in arbitration or court proceedings. Besides that, Petr is a listed arbitrator at the Arbitration Court attached to the Economic Chamber of the Czech Republic and the Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic, Vienna International Arbitral Center (VIAC) and is a member of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS). Petr has extensive experience in advising clients in international arbitrations under the rules of VIAC, ICC, DIS, LCIA, the Arbitration Court of the CCCR and the ACCR and other significant arbitral institutions. In particular, he deals with M&A disputes, claims for compensation, including lost profits and disputes related to development projects. Petr has significant experience with telecommunications or healthcare regulation and connected disputes and in addition to that also focuses on the area of Private International Law and deals with Criminal Law and defense. Petr is also involved as an external associate of the Faculty of Law of Charles University, where he participates in teaching arbitration and advocacy skills.

Pencho Stanchev is a partner at DPC, Bulgaria, and head of the dispute resolution team. His current practice is predominantly focused on dispute resolution, arbitration, and administrative litigation. He represents market players from various industries in complex disputes and commercial lawsuits and oversees firm’s highest-value cases. His expertise also includes specialization in banking and energy law. Mr. Stanchev advised Astaldi in an ICC arbitration with respect to a large-scale dispute related to a railway project. He represented a leading international electricity company in the preliminary proceedings and took part in the oral hearing before CJEU in Luxembourg. He is often invited as a speaker at industry leading seminars. Pencho was elected as a VIAC Community Ambassador for Bulgaria and spoke at the First VIAC CAN Congress in Vienna in February 2023. He has been elected as a member of VIAC Energy Disputes Committee. Pencho is also a member of the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) and its litigation and international arbitration commissions. He is a Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 and a Rising Star according to IFLR1000.

George Z. Georgiou is a highly respected litigator, arbitrator and mediator in Cyprus, with a reputation as a first-class advocate. He is the Managing Partner of George Z. Georgiou & Associates LLC, a full-service law firm based in Cyprus. George is an Associate Tenant of Littleton Chambers, London, and he was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2000 and subsequently the Cyprus Bar in 2001. George specialises in complex commercial litigation and arbitration usually with international elements, such as cross-border disputes, obtaining and defending urgent interim relief such as freezing injunctions, discovery orders, search orders and banker’s trust orders. He often provides expert opinions in matters of Cypriot Law and international jurisdiction. George is a member of CIArb, IBA, LCIA, RCIS, ICC, CCCI and the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, amongst other associations. He lectures on Cyprus law and contributes articles on multiple areas in international legal publications.

Anne K. Hoffmann is an internationally recognised arbitrator with over two decades of extensive experience in both commercial and investor – State arbitration. Ms. Hoffmann is dual-qualified in Germany and England & Wales and has practiced across the globe in both civil law and common law jurisdictions. During that time, she worked at leading law firms in London, Geneva and Dubai before focusing on her practice as an independent arbitrator. To date, Ms. Hoffmann has acted as chair, sole arbitrator and co-arbitrator in arbitrations under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the Swiss Rules, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC-LCIA), the Vienna International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB), the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) and the German Arbitration Institution (DIS) as well as under the UNCITRAL Rules and ad hoc. The disputes concerned a great variety of sectors and were governed by different laws. Ms. Hoffmann is a German national and conducts arbitrations in English and German. She also has very good knowledge of French and Russian. In addition to her membership in various arbitration organisations, Ms. Hoffmann is on the panel of arbitrators of SIAC, HKIAC, KCAB and AIAC. She is also a member of the SIAC Users Council. Ms. Hoffmann has been consistently recognised as a Global Leader Arbitration in all editions of Who is Who Legal since 2014. She is also listed by Chambers Global as “Most in Demand Arbitrator” and on the Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist Middle East.

Constantine, one of the founding partners of Three Crowns, has appeared as lead counsel in some of the largest international arbitrations of the last two decades. He has secured a series of multi-billion dollar awards for his clients, and defended others in ‘bet-the-company’ claims arising in a number of different business sectors. Constantine’s experience includes: Securing a landmark $9 billion award for ConocoPhillips against Venezuela in an ICSID arbitration Securing a $2 billion award on behalf of ConocoPhillips against PDVSA, the State Oil Company of Venezuela, in one of the largest ICC arbitrations in history Securing a $2 billion award for two oil and gas majors against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Securing a $1.98 billion award against the Kurdistan Regional Government in an LCIA arbitration Securing a favourable award on behalf of Elliott Associates in a UNCITRAL arbitration against the Republic of Korea Securing a favourable award on behalf of CNOOC, Occidental Petroleum and Consolidated Contractors Company in an ICC arbitration against the government of Yemen Successfully representing Dana Gas (the largest privately-owned energy company in the Middle East) in an LCIA arbitration Appearing for the ICC International Court of Arbitration before the UK Supreme Court in relation to the challenge of an arbitrator in the celebrated case of Halliburton v Chubb (click here to view appearance) In addition to his counsel work, Constantine appears regularly as arbitrator, including in disputes that involve States and State entities. He has experience acting as Chairman or Sole Arbitrator in cases under the ICC Rules, the LCIA Rules, the SCC Rules, and the UNCITRAL Rules. Constantine is recognised internationally in all major directories and publications at the top of the arbitration market. Over the last decade, he has been named each year in the Top 20 “Global Elite Thought Leaders” by Who’s Who Legal, which describes him as “the leading arbitration lawyer in London”, “exquisite as an advocate”, and “a leader of his generation”. Chambers recognises him as one of only two “Star Individuals” in international arbitration in London, with a market source saying he is “seen as one of the go-to people in the world for a party who is involved in a large and complex arbitration”. He is also listed in the “Hall of Fame” for international arbitration in The Legal 500. Constantine is a co-author of the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the leading textbook on international arbitration, Redfern and Hunter on International Arbitration. He is a Member of the ICCA Governing Board and a Director of the LCIA Board. Constantine is a solicitor-advocate (Higher Courts Civil) and was appointed King’s Counsel in 2014. He was educated at King’s College, London and Cambridge University.

Crenguta Leaua is an experienced arbitrator, acting frequently in arbitrations under the ICC rules or the UNCITRAL Rules. She is also listed as arbitrator by the WIPO list of neutrals for intellectual property disputes and by various institutions in Austria (VIAC), Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Poland, Slovenia, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Beijing (CIETAC – both on the list for commercial cases and the list for investment arbitration under Belt & Road). She is a member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), of the International Council of Commercia Arbitration (ICCA), of the Swiss Arbitration Association ( ASA) and of the International Bar Association (IBA) Arbitration Committee. She is past Vice- President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration as well as of a number of its task forces, including the task force on climate change and arbitration and the task force on construction law and arbitration. Since 2017, she is named as Thought Leader in International Arbitration by the Who’s Who Legal. Crenguta also acts as counsel in commercial arbitral proceedings under the ICSID rules, as well as in commercial arbitration under the rules of ICC, WIPO and of other arbitral institution or under UNCITRAL rules. She is a founding partner of “Leaua Damcali Deaconu Paunescu – LDDP” Law firm in Bucharest, Romania, a firm included in top 100 law firms specializing arbitration worldwide (GAR100 – Global Arbitration Review). Her experience in technology- related legal work include: software development (including blockchain technology and cryptocurrency), internet law, intellectual property law (copyrights, trademarks, patents and R&D), aviation law, construction law, energy law, mining ( both mineral resources and oil & gas), environmental law. Examples of notable cases of arbitrations and ADR include a dispute on the development and implementation of the software used by the judiciary system in Romania, a number of disputes on the rehabilitation design and works of the largest hydro-powerplant on Danube river, a dispute on the design of the masterplan for the national integrated transportation system of Romania and a complex dispute of over 4,7 billion USD comprising environmental law issues and state of the art technologies for a gold mine exploitation. She is author or co-author of 5 books and over 50 articles on topics such as international arbitration, intellectual property, construction law, commercial law, corporate law. Crenguta holds a Ph.D. from Bucharest University and has completed an executive education program at Harvard University and a further education program in the field of blockchain and cryptocurrency at the London School of Economics. She is a Visiting Associate Professor at the Bucharest University Faculty of Law, teaching International Comparative Arbitration and Construction Arbitration and an Associate Professor of Business Law and EU Law at the Bucharest University of Economics. She was a visiting scholar at Columbia Law School in New York and was invited for lectures on arbitration-related topics by professors or students’ arbitration associations at a number of universities including Science Po, Georgetown University, Columbia University, Washburn University. She is fluent in Romanian, English and French, has a good command of Italian and basic knowledge of German and Spanish.

Vladimir Pavić is Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade, where he teaches Private International Law, Arbitration, Competition Law and Investment Protection. He currently serves as VicePresident of the Belgrade Arbitration Center and is a member of the State Council of the Republic of Serbia for Private International Law and the International Advisory Board of Vienna International Arbitral Centre. He served as VicePresident of the Permanent Court of Arbitration attached to the Serbian Chamber of Commerce. He acted as arbitrator, counsel and expert witness in a number of ad hoc arbitrations and arbitrations organized under various institutional rules, and is listed since 2013 in the Global Arbitration Review’s The International Who’s Who Legal for Arbitration, as well as on the lists of arbitrators of institutional arbitrations attached to chambers of commerce in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Georgia. He has advised and acted in a number of crossborder litigations in both civil and common law jurisdictions and has taught as a visiting professor at graduate and postgraduate level at a number of universities. He holds his LL.B from the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Law (1994), and his LL.M. (1996) and S.J.D. (1998) from the Central European University, Budapest. He was a FCO Chevening/Soros Visiting Student at the Lincoln College, Oxford University (19967) and a researcher at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut, Den Haag (1996).

Franz Schwarz focuses on complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. He has extensive experience with arbitral practice, procedure and advocacy both in civil and common law systems. Mr. Schwarz has been involved in more than 250 arbitrations as counsel and arbitrator, both ad-hoc and before all major arbitral institutions (including ICC, LCIA, Vienna and Stockholm), at multiple seats and governed by a broad variety of substantive and procedural laws. He has a particular focus on joint venture, M&A, financial services, project finance, as well as commercial and corporate disputes. Mr. Schwarz regularly counsels clients on conflict of laws issues and international enforcement of arbitration awards and judgments, including against state entities, and frequently advises parties on the protection of foreign investments under bilateral investment treaties and similar instruments. Mr. Schwarz frequently serves as arbitrator, including as chairman of arbitral tribunals, and is included on the roster of several major arbitral institutions.

Elliott Geisinger heads Schellenberg Wittmer's International Arbitration Group. Since 1995, his practice has focused on international commercial and investor-state arbitration. Elliott has acted as counsel and arbitrator in complex commercial disputes involving international construction contracts, consortia and joint venture agreements, sponsorship contracts, sales and distribution contracts, among others. He has also acted as lead counsel in several of the most high-profile investor-state cases of the last decade. Elliott regularly represents clients in arbitration-related court proceedings, and several of his cases have been reported on in the official collection of leading Swiss Supreme Court cases and in arbitration journals.

Ileana Smeureanu concentrates her practice on international commercial and investor-State arbitration. She represents clients from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East throughout the whole arbitral process, covering a wide range of disputes and a variety of jurisdictions. Before joining Jones Day, Ileana worked in London as a research assistant to a renowned international arbitrator and was an associate with the International Law Institute (ILI) in Washington, D.C. During her doctoral studies, Ileana trained with the ICC Court of Arbitration, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, and four international law firms in Paris and Singapore. Ileana is author of the book Confidentiality in International Commercial Arbitration (Kluwer Law International, 2011). She coauthored the English translation of the Romanian arbitration law (ICCA International Handbook on Commercial Arbitration, 74th Suppl., May 2013) and has published and spoke on numerous topics with special focus on Eastern Europe. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Bucharest Bar Association, and the young international groups of several prominent arbitral institutions.

Prof. Tania Iossifova is chairperson of the Arbitration Court at the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA), a long-time arbitrator and attorney. She is professor in Civil law at the Faculty of law at the University of national and world economy Sofia. Prof. Tania Iossifova is author of three monographs in the field of civil and commercial law, opinions to the Constitutional Court and to the Supreme Court of Cassation, lecturer in seminars devoted to current issues in the field of Information technology law (on-line platforms, digital services, e-commerce).

Anna Förstel-Cherng joined VIAC as Deputy Secretary General in December 2022. Prior to this transition, she worked in the Dispute Resolution Teams of BINDER GRÖSSWANG and Baker McKenzie. She obtained her law degree from the University of Vienna and completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Anna Förstel-Cherng is a member of the Advisory Board of the Young Austrian Arbitration Practitioners (YAAP) and passed the Austrian and New York State Bar.

JUDr. Lenka Náhlovská, Ph.D. is Secretary of the Czech Arbitration Court (CAC) since November 2020 – managing CAC´s operations and employees (15). The Arbitration Court is attached to the Czech Chamber of Commerce and the Agricultural Chamber of the Czech Republic (“Czech Arbitration Court”) was founded in 1949 and now belongs among several most prestigious arbitral institutions in Europe with hundreds of cases a year. Positions held: The Head of Domain Name Dispute Resolution at the Czech Arbitration Court (since January 2019). The Czech Arbitration Court is one of six licensed domain name dispute providers for UDRP in the world, one of two providers of alternative dispute resolution for .EU domain name disputes and only Czech alternative dispute resolution provider for .CZ domain name dispute resolution. Charles University, Faculty of Law (former, 2018 - 2021) Scientific activity and lecturer at the Faculty of Law of Charles University in Prague. Areas of Specialisation: Arbitration, Alternative dispute resolution, Mediation, IP Law, Compliance, Personal Data Protection, Criminal law.

Florian Niţu is a Board Member of the Romanian Court of International Commercial Arbitration and the Managing Partner and Head of International Arbitration of the leading Romanian law firm Popovici Nitu Stoica & Asociatii (PNSA). Florian is largely recognized as one of the most experienced transactional lawyers and claim managers in the Romanian legal services market. He holds a significant expertise in arbitration proceedings before domestic and international courts under the rules of ICC Paris, ICSID, the Court of International Commercial Arbitration pertaining to the Chamber of Commerce of Romania. For more than a decade he has been constantly ranked as a leading lawyer in Romania in the areas of Mergers and Acquisitions and Real Estate Practices with international legal directories and other professional or industry surveys. Find more at https://pnsa.ro/team/partn/Florian_Nitu.asp

Ardita Seknaj has been the Secretary General of ICC Albania (the National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce in Albania) since 2013. International Trade and Investment, Arbitration and ADR and Sustainable Development and Integrity constitute the main priority areas of interest for ICC Albania. ICC Albania is the sole organisation in Albania that has brought together practitioners and in-house counsels to advocate on the new Law on Arbitration, which was recently approved by the Albanian Parliament. As Secretary General, Ardita leads the process of ICC arbitration promotion as well as close engagement with the arbitrators’ community in the country towards developing policy advocacy action and continuous professional development in the area of arbitration and ADR. Before joining ICC Albania, Ardita worked for about eight years in the banking sector, giving her contribution in the trade, finance, insurance, corporate banking and financial institutions sectors. Ever since, she has led a variety of projects on sustainable development, integrity and collective actions, while being also a consultant to various regional projects in her areas of expertise. Ardita is also one of the five signatories of the Southeast Europe (SEE) Good Governance and Anti-corruption Women Leaders Forum, aiming to promote and enhance women leadership in these areas.

Filip Boras heads the Dispute Resolution Practice Group in Baker McKenzie’s Vienna office and is a member of the firm's global International Arbitration Steering Committee. Filip's experience covers a wide variety of disputes related to Central & Eastern Europe, including international commercial and investment arbitration before all major institutions and ad hoc tribunals. Filip has experience from over 50 international arbitration proceedings as counsel and arbitrator and helps global clients when facing challenges from investments in countries of the former Yugoslavia, where his clients benefit from his region-specific experience and his being a native Serbo-Croatian. Filip is widely recognized as a leading lawyer for dispute resolution in Central & Eastern Europe. Chambers Global ranks Filip in its past ten editions for his “experience in matters relating to CEE countries” which “distinguishes him as one of the experts for this region.” Filip is admitted to the bars of Austria and New York. He holds degrees from the University of Vienna and the University of California Berkeley School of Law. Filip is fluent in English, German and his native Serbia-Croatian. He conducts proceedings in all three languages.