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Event Overview
5th Annual Litigation Conference / 9th Annual T.R.A.D.E. Conference / 4th Public Procurement Conference
The Role of the Government and Courts in the Lifecycle of Contracts – Procurement, Regulation, and Litigation.
Join us for an insightful and dynamic seminar organized by the AIJA Litigation, T.R.A.D.E., and Public Procurement Commissions, which will explore the multifaceted role of the government and Courts in contractual relationships — from bidding and procurement to contract execution, regulation, and litigation.
Being the 5th Annual Litigation Conference and the 9th Annual T.R.A.D.E. Conference and 4th Public Procurement Conference, the event will feature individual panels on Friday, where each Commission will delve into their specific areas of expertise. PPLC will focus on legal strategies and obstacles faced by bidders seeking government contracts. T.R.A.D.E will examine sensitive aspects of contractual relationships, including performance obligations between private parties, subcontractors, and the government, as well as the government’s influence as a regulator. Lastly, the Litigation sessions will cover key litigation risks, dispute resolution strategies, and best practices for leveraging your client’s position in litigation.
On Saturday, the Commissions will host joint panels on cross-over topics such as litigating government contracts and navigating regulatory hurdles in international government contracts. This seminar promises to provide a comprehensive view of how governments shape, challenge, and participate in contractual frameworks—fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing across practice areas.
AIJA Commissions involved
- Litigation
- Public Procurement Law
- T.R.A.D.E. (Trade, Retail, Agency, Distribution, E-commerce)
Gold
5th Annual Litigation Conference
18:00
Registrations open
18:00 - 22:00
Welcome reception and dinner
09:00 - 09:30
Welcome address
09:30 - 11:30
Imagine this: you have drafted the legal submission but left the damages paragraph open for further input by the damages expert. Upon receipt of the damages report, you realise that some of it is not self-explanatory or intuitive. Now you start the slow and arduous process of first understanding and then translating the work into something a court could understand.
If you don’t have to imagine, because you have lived this, then join us for an insightful session on damages calculations. A seasoned damages expert will guide lawyers through the critical aspects of evaluating and quantifying damages in litigation. Attendees will learn how to assess economic and non-economic damages, spot flaws in opponent’s calculations, and explain economic principles in litigation. The expert will provide real-life examples and case studies to illustrate common pitfalls and practical solutions in damages assessment.
This session is designed to equip you with the skills you need to accurately determine and present damages to a court, enhancing the effectiveness of your arguments in litigation.
If you don’t have to imagine, because you have lived this, then join us for an insightful session on damages calculations. A seasoned damages expert will guide lawyers through the critical aspects of evaluating and quantifying damages in litigation. Attendees will learn how to assess economic and non-economic damages, spot flaws in opponent’s calculations, and explain economic principles in litigation. The expert will provide real-life examples and case studies to illustrate common pitfalls and practical solutions in damages assessment.
This session is designed to equip you with the skills you need to accurately determine and present damages to a court, enhancing the effectiveness of your arguments in litigation.
11:30 - 12:00
Coffee Break
12:00 - 13:00
This session will delve into the critical role that evidence plays in litigation, highlighting the differences in evidence systems across various jurisdictions. The way evidence is gathered and treated in litigation differs between jurisdictions, mainly between continental and Anglo-Saxon systems. What can we learn from best practices from other systems, and what trends are visible in the jurisdictions when it comes to discovery and disclosure mechanisms? The session will cover key topics such as the admissibility of evidence, the burden of proof, and the use of witness testimony.
By the end of this session, you will be equipped with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of evidence in litigation, and to leverage best practices from other jurisdictions to your advantage.
By the end of this session, you will be equipped with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of evidence in litigation, and to leverage best practices from other jurisdictions to your advantage.
13:00 - 14:15
Lunch Break
14:15 - 15:15
Are you sure legal privilege protects all communications between you and your clients?
In a world where client communication is no longer confined to emails and letters, control over those communications becomes less predictable. What is the extent of legal privilege, who is covered by it and how can it be lost? What happens when you work with lawyers across multiple jurisdictions?
In this session, speakers from different legal backgrounds will discuss the complexities of legal privilege and its implications. They will discuss the benefits, best practices and pitfalls of privilege in the context of litigation, with a special focus on cross-border disputes.
In a world where client communication is no longer confined to emails and letters, control over those communications becomes less predictable. What is the extent of legal privilege, who is covered by it and how can it be lost? What happens when you work with lawyers across multiple jurisdictions?
In this session, speakers from different legal backgrounds will discuss the complexities of legal privilege and its implications. They will discuss the benefits, best practices and pitfalls of privilege in the context of litigation, with a special focus on cross-border disputes.
15:15 - 15:45
Coffee Break
15:45 - 17:00
Clear and precise drafting can make your case.
Yet, it’s an area where even seasoned litigators can fall into habits that harm their written advocacy and ability to convince.
This session will challenge you to rethink your drafting style, tighten your arguments, and adapt your writing to different audiences.
Experienced speakers will share practical advice on structuring complex submissions, balancing legal analysis with persuasive storytelling, and avoiding common pitfalls that weaken your case on paper.
We will look at examples of effective (and ineffective!) drafting, and you’ll leave equipped with concrete input to make every word count.
If you want your written submissions to be sound and strategically powerful, this session will give you the tools to draft with greater clarity, accuracy, and impact.
Yet, it’s an area where even seasoned litigators can fall into habits that harm their written advocacy and ability to convince.
This session will challenge you to rethink your drafting style, tighten your arguments, and adapt your writing to different audiences.
Experienced speakers will share practical advice on structuring complex submissions, balancing legal analysis with persuasive storytelling, and avoiding common pitfalls that weaken your case on paper.
We will look at examples of effective (and ineffective!) drafting, and you’ll leave equipped with concrete input to make every word count.
If you want your written submissions to be sound and strategically powerful, this session will give you the tools to draft with greater clarity, accuracy, and impact.
20:00
Dinner
10:00 - 11:00
This joint session focuses on the legal challenges arising from EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contracts in international projects. From the structuring of tender procedures and contract negotiation to the identification of potential sources of dispute, the session will explore the lifecycle of EPC agreements across both private and public sectors. Particular attention will be paid to issues of compliance, key contractual provisions, claims management and dispute resolution mechanisms. Bringing together insights from litigation, T.R.A.D.E., and public procurement practices, the session will offer practical takeaways on how legal professionals from different backgrounds can collaborate to anticipate challenges and manage legal risks throughout the EPC process.
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 - 12:30
This session delves into disputes arising from complex public-private projects, where courts are tasked with interpreting layered contracts that intersect with procurement rules, administrative obligations, and commercial agreements. Legal professionals face challenges in resolving conflicts between clauses, managing overlapping regulatory frameworks, and allocating risk when public and private obligations collide. Drawing from real-life litigation cases, the panel will examine how clearer contract drafting, well-structured procurement documents, and strategic litigation choices can prevent costly disputes. Judges and experienced litigators will provide practical insights into how such conflicts are handled in court and what lessons can improve contractual alignment.
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch Break
16:00 - 19:00
Optional Activity
20:00
Optional Dinner
9th Annual T.R.A.D.E. Conference
18:00
Regristrations oepn
18:00 - 22:00
Welcome reception and dinner
09:00 - 09:30
Welcome address
09:30 - 10:30
This panel compares the suitability of different legal systems as governing law for international commercial and distribution contracts. Four speakers will each present a jurisdiction and explain how it deals with key issues such as liability caps, termination rights, force majeure, competition rules, and the courts’ interpretive approaches. The aim is to highlight the practical consequences of legal choice in contract design and dispute outcomes.
10:30 - 11:30
Product compliance is placing growing pressure on cross-border commercial relationships — particularly in complex distribution chains. This panel explores how contracts can be used to allocate responsibilities and manage risks between producers, importers, principals and distributors. The session will focus also on the interplay between contractual clauses and insurance coverage, offering practical insights into how liability for non-compliance can be effectively managed and transferred.
11:30 - 12:00
Coffee Break
12:00 - 13:00
This panel focuses on how distribution contracts must evolve in response to longer-term, sector-wide developments. In industries like renewable energy, digital platforms and e-mobility, traditional distribution models are being challenged by new technologies, public policy goals and competition enforcement. Speakers will discuss how lawyers are adapting commercial agreements to respond to pressures such as sustainability targets, public subsidies, and antitrust scrutiny of exclusive or long-term arrangements.
13:00 - 14:15
Lunch Break
14:15 - 15:15
Geopolitical risk and sudden regulatory change can severely disrupt international trade contracts. This panel examines how cross-border agreements are affected by sanctions regimes, export restrictions, licence withdrawals, or emergency legislation. Topics include the use of force majeure and hardship clauses, allocation of risk, and dispute resolution when contracts become impossible or unlawful to perform
15:15 - 15:45
Coffee Break
15:15 - 17:00
Finalising a cross-border contract often means navigating tight deadlines, complex liability and warranty provisions, compliance obligations, applicable law, and dispute resolution clauses. In-house counsel must balance commercial pressures with legal safeguards. How can external lawyers add decisive value?
This session will explore how in-house and external counsel can work together effectively throughout contract review and negotiation. It will show how their cooperation can streamline the review process, sharpen the handling of sensitive clauses, and keep negotiations both efficient and protective of the client’s position. Participants will gain practical insights into how a well-structured lawyer–client partnership can deliver stronger, safer international agreements.
This session will explore how in-house and external counsel can work together effectively throughout contract review and negotiation. It will show how their cooperation can streamline the review process, sharpen the handling of sensitive clauses, and keep negotiations both efficient and protective of the client’s position. Participants will gain practical insights into how a well-structured lawyer–client partnership can deliver stronger, safer international agreements.
20:00
Dinner
10:00 - 11:00
This joint session focuses on the legal challenges arising from EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contracts in international projects. From the structuring of tender procedures and contract negotiation to the identification of potential sources of dispute, the session will explore the lifecycle of EPC agreements across both private and public sectors. Particular attention will be paid to issues of compliance, key contractual provisions, claims management and dispute resolution mechanisms. Bringing together insights from litigation, T.R.A.D.E., and public procurement practices, the session will offer practical takeaways on how legal professionals from different backgrounds can collaborate to anticipate challenges and manage legal risks throughout the EPC process.
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 - 12:30
This session delves into disputes arising from complex public-private projects, where courts are tasked with interpreting layered contracts that intersect with procurement rules, administrative obligations, and commercial agreements. Legal professionals face challenges in resolving conflicts between clauses, managing overlapping regulatory frameworks, and allocating risk when public and private obligations collide. Drawing from real-life litigation cases, the panel will examine how clearer contract drafting, well-structured procurement documents, and strategic litigation choices can prevent costly disputes. Judges and experienced litigators will provide practical insights into how such conflicts are handled in court and what lessons can improve contractual alignment.
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch Break
16:00 - 19:00
Optional Activity
20:00
Optional Dinner
4th Public Procurement Conference
18:00 - 22:00
Welcome reception and dinner
18:00
Registrations open
09:00 - 09:30
Welcome address
09:30 - 10:30
Public buyers are no longer neutral facilitators — they are increasingly strategic actors using procurement to achieve broader policy goals. This panel will explore how governments influence market access, competition, and legal risk through the very design of tender documents. From technical specifications and eligibility criteria to contractual terms and evaluation methods, the panel will analyze how choices made during the drafting phase impact bidder participation, litigation risks, and broader market dynamics.
10:30 - 11:30
Sensitive sectors, like public services or defense, requires a robust approach to ensure fairness, transparency, and value for money while mitigating potential risks. Procurement in sensitive sectors—such as defense, healthcare, public security, and critical infrastructure—raises unique legal and strategic challenges. Governments often rely on exemptions or special regimes to safeguard national interests, public order, or classified information. However, these carve-outs can create legal uncertainty for economic operators and raise concerns about transparency, proportionality, and equal treatment. This panel will examine the fine line between legitimate strategic procurement and potential misuse of exceptions that may shield procedures from oversight or competition.
11:30 - 12:00
Coffee Break
12:00 - 13:00
Public procurement contracts often reflect tension between pre-award tender documentation and post-award contract terms. This panel will address the legal consequences when contractual provisions contradict the procurement documents or deviate from the initial offer. We will examine case studies where such discrepancies have led to disputes or even contract terminations, and discuss best practices for minimizing legal risk during contract drafting and negotiation. The focus will be on ensuring legal certainty and compliance throughout the entire procurement lifecycle.
13:00 - 14:15
Lunch break
14:15 - 15:15
Modern procurement tools such as dynamic purchasing systems (DPS), electronic catalogues, and fully digital tendering platforms promise greater flexibility, efficiency, and transparency—but they also bring new legal and practical challenges for both bidders and contracting authorities. This panel will explore how the digital transformation of public procurement is reshaping procedural design and market access, with a focus on the legal risks hidden beneath the promise of innovation. We will examine recurring issues such as insufficient transparency in DPS call-offs, overly complex qualification systems, unclear award criteria, and bidder exclusion risks due to technical irregularities or platform failures. The panel will also consider how automation and AI-based procurement tools affect accountability and legal certainty.
15:15 - 15:45
Coffee Break
15:45 - 17:00
This panel will explore how public procurement is evolving from a purely administrative process into a strategic policy instrument capable of shaping the future of our societies. As governments increasingly aim to address climate change, social inequality, and technological advancement through their purchasing power, procurement procedures are being reimagined to reflect these goals. We will discuss how legal practitioners can assist both contracting authorities and bidders in navigating complex requirements related to green criteria, inclusive employment practices, and digital readiness.
20:00
Dinner
10:00 - 11:00
This joint session focuses on the legal challenges arising from EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contracts in international projects. From the structuring of tender procedures and contract negotiation to the identification of potential sources of dispute, the session will explore the lifecycle of EPC agreements across both private and public sectors. Particular attention will be paid to issues of compliance, key contractual provisions, claims management and dispute resolution mechanisms. Bringing together insights from litigation, T.R.A.D.E., and public procurement practices, the session will offer practical takeaways on how legal professionals from different backgrounds can collaborate to anticipate challenges and manage legal risks throughout the EPC process.
11:00 - 11:30
Lunch Break
11:30 - 12:30
This session delves into disputes arising from complex public-private projects, where courts are tasked with interpreting layered contracts that intersect with procurement rules, administrative obligations, and commercial agreements. Legal professionals face challenges in resolving conflicts between clauses, managing overlapping regulatory frameworks, and allocating risk when public and private obligations collide. Drawing from real-life litigation cases, the panel will examine how clearer contract drafting, well-structured procurement documents, and strategic litigation choices can prevent costly disputes. Judges and experienced litigators will provide practical insights into how such conflicts are handled in court and what lessons can improve contractual alignment.
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch Break
16:00 - 19:00
Optional Activity
20:00
Optional Dinner
Fees & General Info
There are currently no registration fees available.General terms and conditions
By registering you have to accept the general terms and conditions and accept that your registration is considered binding immediately, but participation to the event is possible only after full payment of the registration fee.
Please note that any arrangements related to the participation of the participant in an AIJA event, including but not limited to booking or cancellation of accommodation or flights, as well as respecting the cancellation deadlines indicated in the general terms and conditions, are the sole responsibility of the participant. AIJA shall not be held liable for any expenses the participant may suffer as the result of participant’s failure to comply with his/her obligations.
It is recommended for each participant to purchase a cancellation and travel insurance.
Please note that in-house counsel registrations are subject to review and confirmation by AIJA. AIJA considers in-house counsel professionals who hold a university degree in law allowing access to a bar association and practicing law as an in-house counsel in private, public, or non-profit companies, institutions or organisations. Please note that in-house counsel who are at the same time active as fee-earning lawyers or consultants are not eligible to the discounted in-house counsel fee.
Please read the general terms and conditions applicable for AIJA events.
Scholarships
If you are a lawyer under 35 years old and meet the requirements, apply to our Scholarship Programme for this event. You can check more details here.
Organising Committee
Hristo HADZHIILIEV
Advokatsko druzhestvo Stoyanov & Tsekova in cooperation with Schoenherr (BULGARIA)
Tsvetelina KOLEVA
Dimitrov, Petrov & Co. Law Firm (BULGARIA)
Monika KRIZANKOVA
HAVEL & PARTNERS s.r.o., advokatni kancelar (CZECH REPUBLIC)
Philippe LOIX
Laurius BV CVBA (BELGIUM)
Paulo NASSER
M Nasser Dispute Resolution (BRAZIL)
Alessandro PACI
RP Legal & Tax Associazione Professionale (ITALY)
Anouk ROSIELLE
Dentons Europe LLP (NETHERLANDS)
Sponsors
Gold
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