CEPANI’s Annual Colloquium on “Default in International Arbitration – Striking the balance”
November 25, 2022
When one of the parties, especially the respondent (or one of them), is not participating in the entire proceedings (or part thereof), navigating between the sharp cliffs of due process and equality of arms can be difficult for an Arbitral Tribunal. This is even more so when international public policy is at stake.
There are no one-size-fits-all answers, especially when default is merely part of a ‘strategy’ or ‘tactic’ in anticipation of annulment proceedings or at the enforcement stage. Sure, Arbitral Tribunals have ex officio powers to investigate. In some circumstances there
is even a duty to investigate. But, do arbitrators have the duty to uphold the integrity of arbitration? What is the real scope of ‘ficta
confessio’ in international arbitration? How blind or naive should we allow an Arbitral Tribunal to be? To what extent is an Arbitral
Tribunal allowed to be street-smart, i.e. not to become the devil’s advocate? These and many more pressing questions will be dealt with during this event.
Confirmed speakers are: Niuscha Bassiri, (Partner at Hanotiau & van den Berg, Brussels), Hakim Boularbah, (Partner at Loyens & Loeff, Brussels), Ulrike Gantenberg (Partner at Gantenberg Dispute Experts, Düsseldorf), Anne K. Hoffmann, (Partner at Hoffmann Arbitration, Dubai), Anaïs Mallien (Associate at Loyens & Loeff, Brussels), Christina Mangani (Supervising Associate at Simmons & Simmons, Paris), Lisa Reiser (Senior Associate at Baker McKenzie, Frankfurt), Catherine Schroeder, (Partner at Schroeder Arbitration, Paris), Dirk De Meulemeester, (Partner at De Meulemeester & De Brabandere, Brussels), Benoît Kohl (President of CEPANI), Willem van Baren, (Former President of the NAI) Emma Van Campenhoudt, (Secretary General of CEPANI) Estelle Brisson, (LAA) Marc Henry, (President of the AFA) Rouven F. Bodenheimer, (DIS) and Friederike Schäfer (Former ICC counsel).
09:00 – 09:30 – Reception / Coffee
09:30 – 09:40 – Welcome
Professor Dr. Benoît Kohl, President of CEPANI and Professor of Contract Law, University of Liège
09:40 – 10:00 – Introduction – Striking the Balance – Setting the Stage
Mr. Dirk De Meulemeester, Honorary President of CEPANI, Partner at DMDB Law, Brussels
10:00 – 10:40 – Default at the pre-arbitration stage
Ms. Catherine Schroeder, Independent Arbitrator and Counsel, Schroeder Arbitration, Paris
Ms. Christina Mangani, Supervising Associate, Simmons & Simmons LLP, Paris
10:40 – 11:10 – Coffee Break
11:10 – 11:50 – Ficta Confessio: Default awards if parties do not show up?
Ms. Ulrike Gantenberg, Partners at Gantenberg Dispute Experts, Düsseldorf
Ms. Lisa Reiser, Senior Associate, Baker McKenzie, Frankfurt
11:50 – 12:30 – Devil’s advocate in default arbitration – Counterintuitive?
Ms. Niuscha Bassiri, Partner at Hanotiau & van den Berg, Brussels
12:30 – 14:00 – Walking Lunch
14:00 – 14:40 – Iura Novit Arbiter
Ms. Anne K. Hoffmann, LL.M, Partner at Hoffmann Arbitration, Dubai
14:40 – 15:20 – The Impact of Default on Post-Arbitration Proceedings
Mr. Hakim Boularbah, Partner at Loyens & Loeff, Brussels
Mr. Anaïs Mallien, Associate at Loyens & Loeff, Brussels
15:20 – 15:50 – Coffee Break
15:50 – 17:00 – Default and it consequences on the different procedural steps
Panel – Chair: Mr. Willem van Baren (NAI)
Panel members: Ms. Estelle Brisson (LAA), Mr. Marc Henry (AFA), Mr. Rouven Bodenheimer (DIS), Ms. Friederike Schäfer (former counsel ICC), Ms. Emma Van Campenhoudt (CEPANI)
17:00 – 17:10 – Closing remarks
Prof. Dr. Benoît Kohl, President of CEPANI
| When: 25.11.2022 as from 9.00 am to 17.30 pm |
| Where: VBO, Rue Ravensteinstraat 4, 1000 Brussel/Bruxelles |
| Price: CEPANI member= € 350,00 excl. VAT; Non-member = 375,00 € excl. VAT. A copy of the conference book is included in the price. CEPANI members benefit from a € 25,00 discount on the registration fee. |
| Cancellation: All cancellations must be communicated to CEPANI at least 3 working days before the day of the event in order to be taken into consideration. |