Information on the event
The conference is aimed at sharing experience with treaty arbitration between senior government officials and top legal practitioners in the field. The event is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic and hosted by the advisory firm KPMG Czech Republic.
- Tue 23. 10. 2018
- Wed 24. 10. 2018
- Thu 25. 10. 2018
Workshop for Government Officials Only (1 pm – 4 pm)
Practical workshop, open exclusively to government officials, focused on sharing experience and best practices in the area of BITs negotiations and investment treaty arbitrations. This year, the workshop will present recent developments in the practice of the major arbitral institutions active in investment arbitration.
Prevention of Claims (9:30 am – 11:00 am)
A panel composed of state representatives discussing practical issues of claims prevention mechanisms and the steps which should be taken immediately to tackle new claims.
The panel will be chaired by Marie Talašová (Head of International Arbitration Department, Ministry of Finance, Czech Republic), who will be accompanied by Andrea Holíková (Head of International Arbitration Department, Ministry of Finance, Slovakia) and representatives of other governments.
Issues Faced by Respondent States (11:30 am – 1:00 pm)
A panel discussion on current difficulties experienced by states and possible ways how to tackle these. The discussed issues will include assessment of new claims, information gathering from various bodies of the state, confidential information and other specifics, as well as the approaches to selection and preparation of witnesses and experts.
The panel will be moderated by Erica Stein (National Partner, Dechert) and will bring in the perspectives of Partick W. Pearsal (Partner, Jenner & Block), Stephen P. Anway (Partner, Squire Patton Boggs) and Miriam Harwood (Partner, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle).
KPMG Session on Quantum (2:00 pm – 3:30 pm)
Jiří Urban (Associate Director, KPMG, Prague) will walk the participants through the KPMG study on damages in ICSID awards, provide practical context and discuss the findings with legal practitioners – Bart Wasiak (Associate, Arnold & Porter), Matthew Hodgson (Partner, Allen & Overy), Diora Ziyaeva (Senior Managing Associate, Dentons). The participants will also have a chance to ask any questions in relation to quantum assessment.
ICC Young Arbitrators Forum (4 pm – 6:30 pm)
A session intended not only for young arbitration practitioners under the age of 40, focused on exchange of young practitioners’ ideas and their views on current topics in international arbitration. Welcome address by Anna Bilanová (Deputy Head of International Arbitration Department, Ministry of Finance, Czech Republic).
Main conference (9:00 am – 5:00 pm)
The Prague BIT Conference, which takes place on 25 October 2018, will start with a keynote speech:
ISDS: Where to Go from Here
George Kahale III, Chairman, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle
The keynote address will be followed by four panel discussions on the following topics:
Set-aside Proceedings and/or Annulment Proceedings
(chaired by Paolo Di Rosa, Arnold & Porter)
Recalcitrant Parties: Balancing Legitimacy and Due Process
(chaired by George von Mehren, Squire Patton Boggs)
Defining the Investment Protections with Precision
(chaired by Eduardo Silva Romero, Dechert)
Transparency in Investment Arbitration: Latest Developments?
(chaired by Dietmar W. Prager, Debevoise & Plimpton)
There will be a cocktail party sponsored by Dechert LLP for all participants on 25 October 2018 starting at 6:30 pm.
