5th Annual Litigation Conference / 9th Annual T.R.A.D.E. Conference / 4th Public Procurement Conference

Sofia, Bulgaria

01 October 2026 - 03 October 2026

Go to the event details

5th Annual Litigation Conference

Thursday 01 October 2026

18:00 Registrations open
18:00 » 22:00 Welcome reception and dinner

Friday 02 October 2026

09:00 » 09:30 Welcome address
09:30 » 11:30 Session 1: Quantifying Loss – Mastering Damages Assessments and Calculation
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.
11:30 » 12:00 Coffee Break
12:00 » 13:00 Session 2: The Power of Proof: Enhancing Your Evidence Strategy with International Insights
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.
13:00 » 14:15 Lunch Break
14:15 » 15:15 Session 3: Check Your Privilege – How Confidential Are Your Client Communications?
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.
15:15 » 15:45 Coffee Break
15:45 » 17:00 Session 4: Winning Through Precision – Elevate Your Drafting Skills
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.
20:00 Dinner

Saturday 03 October 2026

10:00 » 11:00 Joint session 1: EPC Contracts in International Projects: From Procurement to Dispute Resolution
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 Session 2 - When Public Meets Private: Litigation in Layered Contracts
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

Thursday 01 October 2026

18:00 Regristrations oepn
18:00 » 22:00 Welcome reception and dinner

Friday 02 October 2026

09:00 » 09:30 Welcome address
09:30 » 10:30 Sesison 1: Beauty contest of applicable laws: who wins the risk game in trade and distribution?
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 Session 2: Product compliance in international contracts: Allocating responsibility and managing risk
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 Session 3: Distribution in transition: adapting contracts to sectoral and regulatory shifts
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 Session 4: Trading with the world on fire: sanctions, export control and regulatory shock
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 Session 5: Closing the gaps: How external lawyers can support in-house counsel in international contract negotiations
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.
20:00 Dinner

Saturday 03 October 2026

10:00 » 11:00 Joint session 1: EPC Contracts in International Projects: From Procurement to Dispute Resolution
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 Session 2 - When Public Meets Private: Litigation in Layered Contracts
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

Thursday 01 October 2026

18:00 » 22:00 Welcome reception and dinner
18:00 Registrations open

Friday 02 October 2026

09:00 » 09:30 Welcome address
09:30 » 10:30 Session 1: Gatekeepers of the Market – How Governments Shape Access to Public Contracts in an Era of Strategic Tender Design
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 Session 2: Untouchable Tenders? Strategic Procurement in Sensitive Sectors
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 Session 3: Contractual Clauses vs. Tender Rules: Managing Conflicts During Execution
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 Session 4: From Dynamic Purchasing Systems to Digitalization: Opportunities or Hidden Traps of Public Procurement
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 Session 5: Greener, Fairer, Smarter
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

Saturday 03 October 2026

10:00 » 11:00 Joint session 1: EPC Contracts in International Projects: From Procurement to Dispute Resolution
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 Session 2 - When Public Meets Private: Litigation in Layered Contracts
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