Information on the event
Registrations to the main conference and workshops are closed due to full capacity. In case you want to attend the Workshop for Government Officials Only, please contact us on treatyarbitration@kpmg.cz.
- Tue 24.10.2017
- Wed 25.10.2017
- Thu 26.10.2017
- Fri 27.10.2017
ICSID Workshop (2 pm – 6 pm)
The workshop will update the participants on the latest developments in ICSID and best practices before ICSID Tribunals by reference to the most recent cases. It will also give an overview of ICSID’s current work to amend the ICSID rules, explaining the motivation for rule changes and the proposals being considered.
The workshop will be run by Martina Polášek, Deputy Secretary-General of ICSID.
World Bank Session on Systemic Investment Retention Mechanism (SIRM) (9 am – 1 pm)
The SIRM is a tool designed by the World Bank group, being piloted in many countries and recently presented to the G20. It recognises that investment disputes are just a manifestation of a broader – and not widely recognized – problem: the need to strengthen a harmonious working relationship between host States and investors to enable investment expansion.
The presentation will be given by Eloïse Obadia, Senior Investment Legal Consultant, Investment Policy and Promotion, Trade & Competitiveness.
Quantum Seminar (2 pm – 3:45 pm)
KPMG experts will walk the participants through an investment arbitration case, discussing the valuation methodologies used, Tribunal’s comments on the approach and resulting impact on the awarded amount. The participants will also have a chance to ask any questions in relation to quantum assessment.
Arbitrator Appointments (4:15 pm – 6 pm)
What do the parties consider when appointing an arbitrator? To what extent can the parties influence the appointment of the chair?
The panel will be moderated by Laurence Burger (Partner, Landolt & Koch), chairwoman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators’ European Branch, bringing in perspectives of Patrick W. Pearsal (Partner, Jenner & Block), former Chief of Investment Arbitration with the US Department of State and views of a counsel – Dmitri Evseev (Partner, Arnold Porter Kaye Scholer), an arbitrator – Robert Hunter (Senior Counsel, Osborne Clarke) and an appointing institution – Martina Polášek (Deputy Secretary General, ICSID).
Main conference
The Prague BIT Conference, which takes place on 26 October 2017, will start with a keynote address:
Does Investment Arbitration Have a Future?
Christoph Schreuer, zeiler.partners
The keynote address will be followed by four panel discussions on the following topics:
Contract vs. Treaty – What Are the Risks of Umbrella Clauses?
chaired by Paolo di Rosa, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer
The Current Status of “Treaty Shopping” and Denial of Benefits Clauses
chaired by Stephen P. Anway, Squire Patton Boggs
Abuse of Rights in Investment Arbitration
chaired by Eduardo Silva Romero, Dechert
New Trends in Expropriation – Do Tribunals Interpret Treaties Too Extensively?
chaired by Jeremy K. Sharpe, Shearman & Sterling
There will be a cocktail party sponsored by Dechert LLP for all participants on 26 October 2017 starting at 6:30 pm.
Detailed information about the conference are available here.
Workshop for Government Officials Only
This practical workshop, open exclusively to government officials, will be focused on sharing experience and best practices in the area of BITs negotiations and investment treaty arbitrations.
The workshop will take place at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Na Františku 32, Prague, Czech Republic.
