12th ICC MENA Conference on International Arbitration

26-27 Feb 2024

Dubai English and Arabic CLPD, CLE, MCLE & CNB

The 12th ICC MENA Conference on International Arbitration will take place on 26-27 February 2024 in Dubai. Gathering over 250 participants, this must-attend event for arbitration professionals will help you to keep up to date with the latest trends, developments and strategies in arbitration in the Middle East. The conference will offer a line-up of top-class speakers, engaging discussions and excellent networking opportunities.


An ICC Institute of World Business Law Advanced Level Training on Documentary Evidence: Reassessing its role and value in international commercial arbitration – Focusing on critical key issues of M&A and construction disputes will take place on 26 February 2024. Who should attend?

  • Practicing lawyers
  • Arbitrators, mediators
  • Corporate counsel
  • Academic
  • Professionals interested in and/or involved in international arbitration in the Middle East

 Stay up-to-date with the latest news on the #ICCMENA Conference by following ICC Arbitration on  LinkedInTwitter and Facebook.

Testimonial

Girgis Abd El-Shahid

"ICC MENA is a valuable event that allows for the fostering of international arbitration insights across the region and the engagement of a transformative discourse with emerging professionals globally. Each year, the conference features sessions that are current, relevant, and captivating, featuring distinguished speakers from diverse cultures and backgrounds. We are proud to support this event as the Strategic Sponsor!"

 

Girgis Abd El-Shahid

Managing Partner

Shahid Law Firm



26 February: ICC Institute Training
27 February: Conference
برنامج المؤتمر

ICC Institute of World Business Law Advanced Training  on Documentary Evidence:  
Reassessing its role and value in international commercial arbitration - Focusing on critical key issues of M&A and construction disputes 

Developed by:  

Mauricio Almeida Prado, Partner, MAP Negotiation and Arbitration, Brazil; Council Member, ICC Institute of World Business Law 

Blossom Hing, Director, Disputes and Restructuring & Insolvency, Drew & Napier LLC, Singapore; Institute member, ICC Institute of World Business Law 

Chaired by:
Laurence Shore, Of Counsel, BonelliErede, Italy; Council Member, ICC Institute of World Business Law

Times are show in GST

09.00-09.15 

Welcome address, introduction and presentation of the training 

  • Sybille de Rosny-Schwebel, Director, ICC Institute of World Business Law, Paris
  • Laurence Shore, Of Counsel, BonelliErede, Italy; Council Member, ICC Institute of World Business Law

09.15-10.00 

Session 1: Strategic Deployment of Documentary Evidence 

 

In international arbitration, there is no one-size-fits-all to the treatment of evidence. This session will explore the nuances of a Tribunal’s approach to the evaluation of evidence generally and how parties can deploy documentary evidence strategically with other types of evidence to put their best case forward 

  • Noradèle Radjai, Partner, LALIVE, Switzerland
  • Laurence Shore, Of Counsel, BonelliErede, Italy; Council Member, ICC Institute of World Business Law

10.00-10.45 

Q&A 

10.45-11.15 

Coffee break 

11.15-12.00 

Session 2: Maximizing the quality and efficiency of document production 

 

The scope of a document production process affects the duration and efficiency of the proceedings as well as costs for parties. This session will discuss the tools the Tribunal has in its kit to robustly case manage to streamline the document production process as well as the steps parties can take to ensure that the documentary evidence produced is germane to the key issues at hand. It will also suggest more efficient strategies for the parties to deal with this phase.  

  • Anne K. Hoffmann, Independent Arbitrator, Hoffmann Arbitration, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Roland Ziadé, Global Co-head of International Arbitration, Linklaters, France; Vice President, ICC International Court of Arbitration Alumni Group; Former Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration

12.00-12.45 

Case scenarios 

12.45-14.15 

Lunch Break 

14.15-15.00 

Session 3: Documentary evidence and key issues of M&A disputes 

 

Arbitration has increasingly become the preferred method of dispute resolution for a wide range of high-value mergers and acquisition where the core issue centers on whether the commercial bargain struck was effectively embodied in the written agreements.  This session explores the many facets of this core issue and how documentary evidence helps in the interpretation of key terms, including representations and warranties in the written documents. 

  • Olivier Caprasse, Member of the Brussels Bar, Caprasse Arbitration, Belgium; Professor, Universities of Brussels and Liège; Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration; Member, ICC Institute of World Business Law
  • Tuvan Yalim, Partner, Kabine Law Office, Turkey

15.00-15.45 

Case scenarios 

15.45-16.15 

Coffee break 

16.15-17.00 

Session 4: Documentary evidence and key issues of Construction and Infrastructure disputes 

 

Large scale construction and infrastructure arbitrations are notorious for involving document intensive exercises which are expensive and time-consuming. This session will analyse how to deal with voluminous documents generated during day-to-day operations conflicting with terms in contractual agreements.  In addition, it will address what parties can do to shore up all relevant and critical documentary evidence while managing costs. 

  • Nagla Nassar, Senior Partner, NassarLaw, Egypt; Independent Arbitrator; Council Member, ICC Institute of World Business Law
  • Kim Rosenberg, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

17.00-17.45 

Case scenarios 

17.45-18.00 

Closing remarks 

Beyond 100: Arbitration, ADR and the Middle East

08.00 – 09.00 

Registration and welcome coffee 

 

09.00 – 09.15 

Opening keynote 

 

  • Nayla Comair-Obeid, Founding Partner, Obeid & Partners, Beirut/Dubai/Paris; Professor of Law; Chartered Arbitrator; ICC Vice-Chair 
 

09.15 – 09.35 

Welcome addresses 

 

  • Mahmood Hussain, Chairman of the ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration & ADR 
  • Asli Yilmaz, Managing Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris  

 

09.35 – 10.35 

Fireside chat between the President of the ICC Court and the ICC Secretary General on "Leadership and authenticity in a changing world"  

  • John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris
  • Claudia Salomon, President, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris 

 

10.35 – 11.05 

Coffee break generously sponsored by Shahid Law Firm and Linklaters

 

11.05 – 12.05 

Party autonomy, between efficiency and enforceability: how is the balance struck? 

  • Mandatory rules of law vs party autonomy in international arbitration  
  • Party autonomy as a limit to arbitrator authority 
  • When institutional policy comes into play  
  • Party autonomy limits vs the role of the courts  
  • Limit of party autonomy when a State or state entity is involved  
 
  • Ali Al Aidarous, Managing Attorney, Al Aidarous Advocates and Legal Consultants, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
  • Justice Michael Black, Court of Appeal Judge & Judge in Charge of the Digital Economy Court (DEC), Dubai International Financial Centre Courts, Government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Alain Farhad, Partner, Mayer Brown, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
  • Floriane Lavaud, Counsel, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York, N.Y., United States 
 
  • Chaired by: Nadine Debbas Achkar, Independent Arbitrator; Judge, Supreme Court, Bahrain; Visiting Professor, NYUAD 

 

12.05 – 12.35 

Discussion 

 

12.35 – 12.40 

ICC Dispute Resolution Library presented by Jus Mundi 

12.40 – 14.00 

Lunch generously sponsored by Shahid Law Firm

14.00 – 15.00 

The wave of large-scale construction projects in the Middle East: choosing the adapted forum 

  • Arbitration vs ADR mechanisms in major construction projects: enforceability vs need for speed  
  • ADR services: current trends in dispute avoidance and how various tools such as informal assistance, mediation and adjudication can be used to prevent or minimise disputes 
  • Experts in arbitration: general landscape, the evolving scope and challenges  
  • Increasing popularity of Expedited Procedure Provisions and their inclusion in the FIDIC Green Book 

 

  • Ahmed Ibrahim, Independent Arbitrator, Ibrahim ADR, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
  • Marcus Antoine Khoury, General Counsel, Alec Engineering and Contracting, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
  • Clare Lavin, Partner, Forensic Accounting & Commercial Damages EMEA, HKA, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
  • George Vlavianos, Partner, Dispute Resolution, Head of Qatar Office, DLA Piper Middle East LLP, Qatar
 
  • Chaired by: Amani Khalifa, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Saudi Arabia  

15.00 – 15.30 

Discussion  

 

15.30– 16.10 

Arbitrators as lawmakers and the legal traditions in the MENA region 

  • Exploring the scope of arbitrators’ freedom in decision-making and its constraints  
  • Arbitrators as creators of rules in procedural and substantive matters  
  • Role and status of consistent arbitral decisions  
  • Is there an arbitral legal system? 
  • Arbitrators as settlement facilitators: an obvious statement or a step too far? 
  • Raëd Fathallah, Partner, Bredin Prat, France 
  • Richard Harding KC, Keating Chambers, United Kingdom 
  • Mireille Taok, Independent Arbitrator, Taok ADR, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Visiting Professor, Poitiers University, France 
  • Chaired by: Fabien Gélinas, Ad E, FCIArb, Sir William C. Macdonald Chair in Law, McGill University, Canada; Independent Arbitrator 

16.10 – 16.30 

Discussion  

 

16:30-17:00 

Coffee Break generously sponsored by Global Advocacy & Legal Counsel and JS Held

17.00 – 17.40 

The ICC Court in Action: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Challenge of Arbitrators 

A session where ICC Court members and a representative of the ICC Secretariat will simulate an ICC Court session to discuss in an interactive format (engaging the audience) an array of issues frequently arising in the challenges of arbitrators. 

 

  • Mohamed Abdel Raouf, International Arbitrator, Partner, Abdel Raouf Law Firm, Egypt; Alternate Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration 
  • Aïcha Brahma, Attorney and Partner, Brahma Avocats, Morocco; Alternate Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration 
  • Girgis Abd El Shahid, Managing Partner, Shahid Law Firm, Egypt; Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration 
  • Karam Farah, Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Abu Dhabi  
  • Samaa Haridi, Partner, King & Spalding LLP, New York, United States; Vice President, ICC International Court of Arbitration 
  • Sara Koleilat-Aranjo, Partner, Arbitration and Disputes Practice Leader (MEA), Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration 
  • Stella Leptourgou, Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris  
  • Aysha Mutaywea, Partner, Mena Chambers Law Firm, Bahrain; Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration  
  • Claudia Salomon, President, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris 
  • Asli Yilmaz, Managing Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration 

 

 

17.40 – 18.00 

Closing remarks 

 

  • Sherif Akl, Director, Arbitration and ADR, MENA, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Abu Dhabi  

 

18.00 – 20.00 

Cocktail reception generously sponsored by Shahid Law Firm


Training

Olivier Caprasse

Member of the Brussels Bar, Caprasse Arbitration, Belgium; Professor, Universities of Brussels and Liège; Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration; Member, ICC Institute of World Business Law

Sybille de Rosny-Schwebel

 Director, ICC Institute of World Business Law, Paris

Anne K. Hoffmann

Independent Arbitrator, Hoffmann Arbitration, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Nagla Nassar

Senior Partner, NassarLaw, Egypt; Independent Arbitrator; Council Member, ICC Institute of World Business Law

Noradèle Radjai

Partner, LALIVE, Switzerland

Kim Rosenberg

Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Laurence Shore

Of Counsel, BonelliErede, Italy

Tuvan Yalim

Partner, Kabine Law Office, Turkey

Roland Ziadé

Global Co-head of International Arbitration, Linklaters, France; Vice President, ICC International Court of Arbitration Alumni Group; Former Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration

Conference

Mohamed Abdel Raouf

International Arbitrator, Partner, Abdel Raouf Law Firm, Egypt; Alternate Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration

Girgis Abd El Shahid

Managing Partner, Shahid Law Firm, Egypt; Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration

Sherif Akl

Director, Arbitration and ADR, MENA, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Abu Dhabi 

Ali Al Aidarous

Managing Attorney, Al Aidarous Advocates and Legal Consultants, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Justice Michael Black

Court of Appeal Judge & Judge in Charge of the Digital Economy Court (DEC), Dubai International Financial Centre Courts, Government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Aïcha Brahma

Attorney and Partner, Brahma Avocats, Morocco; Alternate Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration

Nayla Comair-Obeid

Founding Partner, Obeid & Partners, Beirut/Dubai/Paris; Professor of Law; Chartered Arbitrator; ICC Vice-Chair

Nadine Debbas Achkar

Independent Arbitrator; Judge, Supreme Court, Bahrain; Visiting Professor, NYUAD 

John W.H. Denton AO

Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris

Karam Farah

Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Abu Dhabi

Alain Farhad

Partner, Mayer Brown, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Raëd Fathallah

Partner, Bredin Prat, France

Fabien Gélinas, Ad E, FCIArb

Sir William C. Macdonald Chair in Law, McGill University, Canada; Independent Arbitrator

Richard Harding KC

Keating Chambers, United Kingdom

Samaa Haridi

Partner, King & Spalding LLP, New York, United States; Vice President, ICC International Court of Arbitration

Mahmood Hussain

Chairman of the ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration & ADR

Ahmed Ibrahim

Independent Arbitrator, Ibrahim ADR, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Amani Khalifa

Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Saudi Arabia 

Sara Koleilat-Aranjo

Partner, Arbitration and Disputes Practice Leader (MEA), Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration

Floriane Lavaud

Counsel, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York, N.Y., United States

Clare Lavin

Partner, Forensic Accounting & Commercial Damages EMEA, HKA, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Stella Leptourgou

Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris 

Aysha Mutaywea

Partner, Mena Chambers Law Firm, Bahrain; Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration

Claudia Salomon

President, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris 

Mireille Taok

Independent Arbitrator, Taok ADR, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Visiting Professor, Poitiers University, France

George Vlavianos

Partner, Dispute Resolution, Head of Qatar Office, DLA Piper Middle East LLP, Qatar

Asli Yilmaz

Managing Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris 

Date and venue

Date of the training: 26 February 2024

Date of the conference: 27 February 2024

Venue: Sofitel Downtown Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road - PO BOX 126272, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Registration fees

Please note that the training and conference are now SOLD OUT.

Registration fees for non-ICC members: 

 

Training 

Early Bird (until 15 January 2024): AED 2120 (around €545) 

Standard (16 January - 18 February 2024): AED 3220 (around €828) 

Last Chance (19 - 26 February 2024): AED 3610 (around €928) 

 

Conference 

Early Bird (until 15 January 2024): AED 2300 (around €592) 

Standard (16 January - 18 February 2024): AED 3360 (around €864) 

Last Chance (19 - 27 February 2024): AED 3760 (around €967) 

 

Package – Training and Conference (20% discount) 

Early Bird (until 15 January 2024): AED 3540 (around €911) 

Standard (16 January - 18 February 2024): AED 5270 (around €1356) 

Last Chance (19 - 26 February 2024): AED 5660 (around €1456) 

 

5% VAT will be applied. 

 

Registration fees for ICC members: 

 

20% discount on the above rates. Please contact your local NC to obtain your discount code. 

 

Special discounts 

 

FULL TIME in-House Counsel and Government representatives may attend the conference free of charge. LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE. 

Group rates: Register 5 persons from the same company and pay for 4. 
Full time Academics may benefit from a 20% discount. 

Please contact ICCGlobalEvents@iccwbo.org for more details 

Travel and accommodation 

Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and hotel reservations.

A quota of rooms with preferential rates is however available at the Sofitel Downtown Dubai, where the event is taking place. Participants may make their reservations directly with the hotel by filling in this booking form and emailing it back directly to the hotel with 12th ICC MENA Conference – Room reservation form as the email subject line. Please note that all reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card.

We are able to dispatch visa invitation letters to support your visa application only after receipt of your registration and full payment of your registration fees.

Working languages

Simultaneous interpretation in English & Arabic for the conference.
The training will be held in English

Cancellation policy

50% of the registration fee will be refunded if notice of cancellation is received in writing before Friday 26 January 2024. Cancellations after this date are not refundable.

Please be informed that any form of cancellation will incur a cancellation fee of 5% + 5% VAT of the registration fee which must be covered by the participant.

Subject to agreement from ICC UAE prior to the event, the registration may be transferred to another person from the same company or organization at no extra charge. Updated registration information will be required. Please note that ICC reserves the right to cancel this event or to make minor alterations to the content and timing of the programme or to the identity of the speakers. In the unlikely event of cancellation, delegates will be offered a full refund. ICC will not, however, be held responsible for any related expense incurred by the participant.

Credits, hours and points

This event will be eligible for:


CLPD points from the State Bar of Dubai
CLE credits from the State Bar of New York
CNB credits from the French Bar
Please note that this is subject to validation of ICC Global Events' application (or individual application, as necessary).


Furthermore, ICC Global Events is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider
Please contact ICCGlobalEvents@iccwbo.org if you have any questions or would like further information.

Disclaimer

The photos and audiovisual recordings taken at this meeting/event may be used and published by ICC, its subsidiaries or affiliates, for informational or promotional purposes in printed materials or online, including on ICC websites and in social media. Participation in the meeting/event implies agreement to such use of photos or audiovisual recordings in which the participant may appear unless ICC receives written notification to the contrary.

Unlock unparalleled brand exposure at our upcoming conference!

Tailor your sponsorship package to suit your goals and budget, ensuring maximum impact. Contact us today at sponsorship@iccwbo.org to discuss personalized opportunities!

BENEFITS

STRATEGIC PARTNER €20,000

NETWORKING PARTNER €12,000

BRANDING PARTNER €7,000 

Sponsorship of the cocktail reception or dinner (as available)

x

   

Showcase your brand prominently on the ICC DRS App

x

   

Opportunity to host a social side event** (included in the official programme)

   

Guest contributor on the ICC blog

1 Article

   

Strategic logo placement in banners & collaterals

   

Testimonial quote on the event page*

x

   

Private meeting room reserved for 1 hour

x

   

Sponsor a lunch (will be co-sponsored as available) 

   

Participants list available in priority

x

x

 

Pop-up notification on the ICC DRS App

2 notifications

1 notification

 

Company video to be played during session breaks

1min

30sec

 

Opportunity to provide lanyards OR Delegate Bags OR Notebooks & Pens OR Water Bottles (as available)**

 

Sponsor a coffee break (will be co-sponsored as available)

 

Exhibition space and exhibitor pass

 

Complimentary invitations to the cocktail or dinner reception

2

1

 

Complimentary registrations to the conference

8

Special reduced registrations (30% reduction

8

Company profile included on the ICC DRS app

x

x

x

Opportunity to Include a branded item in the participant bags**

x

Sponsor recognition on email and social media 

Use of the official event sponsor logo 

Maximum visibility with signage at the venue and on all digital materials

*All content to be approved by ICC

** Sponsor to bear all associated costs

Our sponsorship packages do not include speaking opportunities. Please let us know should you wish to submit a speaker candidate.

For further information, please contact:

Organising team

Sponsorship team

Co-organisers

Sponsors

Media Partnership

Supporter