at Russian
Institute
of Modern
Arbitration
at Russian
Institute
of Modern
Arbitration
On 15 February 2019, the second Arbitration conference at the XVI Kovalyov Readings research-to-practice conference took place in Yekaterinburg.
On 14-15 February 2019, traditional research-to-practice conference “Kovalyov Readings”, dedicated to the memory of the Russian scientist, Doctor of Juridical Science Mitrofan Ivanovich Kovalyov, took place in Yekaterinburg. This unique event brings together leading specialists in the sphere of law: more than 2000 participants coming from 20 countries have participated in the conference during the history of the Kovalyov Readings.
The topic of the XVI Kovalyov Readings – “The Right Mistake or Crime?” – gathered prominent speakers and participants from different cities and countries. Speakers have discussed the types of professional mistakes arising in different spheres of law, their consequences and ways of avoiding them.
The Russian Arbitration Center at the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration was the General Partner of the second Arbitration Conference held during the Kovalyov Readings.
Speakers of the first session “Arbitration Agreement: How to Avoid Mistakes?” focused on the issues regarding the conclusion of arbitration agreements, as well as the mechanisms assuring its validity and ways of minimizing mistakes. Andrew Lomas, Barrister at One Essex Court (UK, London), elaborated on the possibilities and limitations of digital signature application for the purposes of arbitration agreement formation. Susanne Heger, Partner at the law firm Heger & Partners (Austria, Vienna), shared her experience concerning the peculiarities of Austrian procedural legislation. Ekaterina Smirnova, Counsel at Ivanyan & Partners (Russia, Moscow), discussed in details the issues of arbitrability of the disputes arising from the legal relations with public elements.
The second session «Arbitrator’s Mistake and Attorney’s Mistake. What is the Cost of a Mistake and Who Pays the Price?» was dedicated to the consequences of procedural mistakes for the parties. Natalia Dippe, Partner at Derra, Meyer & Partners (Germany, Berlin), spoke about legal regulation of arbitrators’ activity in Germany. George Lambrou, International Arbitrator and Consultant Solicitor Advocate, law firm Keystone Law (UK, London), highlighted that legal culture and details of the arbitration agreement represent important factors that define the degree of arbitrator`s discretion. Ilya Nikiforov, Managing Partner at law firm «Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev and Partners» (Russia, Saint Petersburg) called for the limitation of arbitrators’ responsibility and gave an example of the case in Qatar, where three arbitrators were sentenced to prison because of the arbitral award rendered against the relative of the royal family. Andrey Panov, Senior Associate at «Norton Rose Fulbright» (Russia, Moscow) identified five mistakes of counsels in arbitration, putting emphasis on the importance of strategic evidence preparation and quality of main arguments.
Video recording of the Arbitration conference is available here.
The Russian Arbitration Center thanks all the speakers and participants of the conference and invites to participate in the XVII Kovalyov Readings in 2020. More detailed information is available here.
