12 I SEP I 2025
Vilnius Arbitration Day 2025
HEROES OF ARBITRATION
Great Power
Great Responsibility
Great Opportunity
VILNIUS ARBITRATION DAY 2025
12 I SEPTEMBER I 2025
AGENDA
@Vilnius Town Hall
Didžioji str. 31, Vilnius
08:30 – 09:00
Registration and Welcome Coffee
09:00 – 09:20
Welcome Speech by Chairman of VCCA Vitalija Baranovienė
09:20 – 09:25
Introduction of Keynote speaker
by Vilija Vaitkute Pavan, Partner at Ellex Valiunas
09:25 – 10:00
Keynote Speech by Roland Ziadé Partner,
Global Co-Head of International Arbitration, Linklaters
10:00 – 10:05
Introduction to the “Through the Eyes of Business” Focus
by Gediminas Dominas FCIArb, Partner at WALLESS
10:05 – 10:25
Through the Eyes of Business: Is Arbitration the Real Hero?
By PhD Knut Høivik
Associate professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Bergen and independent arbitrator
10:25 – 10:30
Welcome and Logistics Remarks from Organising Committee
10:30 – 11:00
Networking Break and Coffee
Stream 1
“Procedural Questions”
Stream moderator: Renata Beržanskienė
Stream 2
“Substantive Questions”
Stream moderator: Prof. Dr. Solveiga Vilčinskaitė
Stream 1
“Procedural Questions”
Stream moderator: Renata Beržanskienė
11:00 – 12:10
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: granting interim relief in the international commercial arbitration: courts vs arbitral tribunals
Moderator:
- Associated Professor Albertas Šekštelo (Motieka&Audzevičius)
Speakers:
- Justyna Szpara, FCIArb (Łaszczuk i Wspólnicy)
- Dr. Nikolaus Pitkowitz, M.B.L.-HSG (Pitkowitz & Partners, Vienna International Arbitral Centre)
- Jan K. Schäfer, LL.M (King & Spalding’s)
- Dr. Niels Schiersing, LLD (Independent International Arbitrator)
- Jesper Tiberg (Westerber & Partners)
5 minutes technical break for change of panel
12:15 – 13:25
Nightmares for Heroes: Fighting Inefficiency
Moderator:
- Ieva Rimavičienė (Sorainen)
Speakers:
- Dr. Galina Zukova (Zukova Legal)
- Niuscha Bassiri (ArbBoutique)
- Dr. Greg Lourie (Schellenberg Wittmer’s)
- Michael Polkinghorne (White & Case)
13:30 – 14:45
Lunch Break
14:45 – 15:55
Fifty shades of bias: where is the Rubicon of impartiality?
Moderator:
- Gediminas Dominas, FCIArb (WALLESS)
Speakers:
- Caroline Falconer (SCC Arbitration Institute)
- Volodymyr Yaremko (Mayer Brown)
- Paweł Pietkiewicz (Greenberg Traurig)
- Jerker Kjellander (Vinge)
5 minutes technical break for change of panel
16:00 – 17:10
Too Much Love Will Kill You: Striking the Right Balance in National Courts’ Role in the Arbitration Process
Moderator:
- Paulius Docka, FCIArb (QND LEGAL)
Speakers:
- Julien Maire du Poset (Lead up)
- Marc Keidan (Keidan Harrison)
- Shai Sharvit (Partner, Herzog Fox & Neeman)
- Malgorzata Surdek-Janicka (SURDEK Arbitration, Vice-President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration)
- Henrik Sajakorpi (Secretary General of the Finland Arbitration Institute)
Stream 2
“Substantive Questions”
Stream moderator: Prof. Dr. Solveiga Vilčinskaitė
11:00 – 12:10
Supercharging Heroes in Arbitration: The Promise and Peril of Artificial Intelligence
Moderator:
- Professor Dr. Rimantas Simaitis, MCIArb (Cobalt)
Speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Maud Piers (Ghent University)
- Khayat Dany (Mayer Brown)
- Ginta Ahrel (Westerberg & Partners)
- Lucas De Ferrari (White & Case)
- Aarif Abraham (Doughty Street International)
5 minutes technical break for change of panel
12:15 – 13:25
The European Love/Hate Affair: Navigating EU Law in Commercial Arbitration
Moderator:
- Simona Budreikaitė (Ellex Valiunas)
Speakers:
- Dr. Boris Kasolowsky (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer)
- Isabelle Michou (Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan)
- Dr. Paschalis Paschalidis (Arendt & Medernach)
- Robert Price (Latham & Watkins)
- Adelina Prokop (Clifford Chance)
13:30 – 14:45
Lunch Break
14:45 – 15:55
Taking Shareholder Disputes to Arbitration: Challenges and Perspectives
Moderator:
- Gailė Juozapaitytė LL.M. (TGS Baltic)
Speakers:
- James Herbert (Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes)
- Ph.D. Michele Potestà (Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler)
- Ph.D. Jan Markiewicz, LL.M. (CMS)
- Dr. Phillip Landolt, FCIArb (Landolt & Koch)
- Olena Perepelynska (INTEGRITES law firm)
5 minutes technical break for change of panel
16:00 – 17:10
Arbitrability in Times of Insolvency: Navigating Stays and Enforcement
Moderator:
- Evaldas Pocevičius (Triniti Jurex)
Speakers:
- Dr. Ioana Knoll-Tudor (Addleshaw Goddard)
- Ben Sigler (Stephenson Harwood)
- Krzysztof Ciepliński (Gide Loyrette Nouel)
- Dr Barbara Maucher, FCIArb (Noerr PartG)
- Daniel Lander (Cirio)
11:00 – 12:10
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: granting interim relief in the international commercial arbitration: courts vs arbitral tribunals
Moderator:
- Associated Professor Albertas Šekštelo (Motieka&Audzevičius)
Speakers:
- Justyna Szpara, FCIArb (Łaszczuk i Wspólnicy)
- Dr. Nikolaus Pitkowitz, M.B.L.-HSG (Pitkowitz & Partners, Vienna International Arbitral Centre)
- Jan K. Schäfer, LL.M (King & Spalding’s)
- Dr. Niels Schiersing, LLD (Independent International Arbitrator)
- Jesper Tiberg (Westerber & Partners)
11:00 – 12:10
Supercharging Heroes in Arbitration: The Promise and Peril of Artificial Intelligence
Moderator:
- Professor Dr. Rimantas Simaitis, MCIArb (Cobalt)
Speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Maud Piers (Ghent University)
- Khayat Dany (Mayer Brown)
- Ginta Ahrel (Westerberg & Partners)
- Lucas De Ferrari (White & Case)
- Aarif Abraham (Doughty Street International)
5 minutes technical break for change of panel
12:15 – 13:25
Nightmares for Heroes: Fighting Inefficiency
Moderator:
- Ieva Rimavičienė (Sorainen)
Speakers:
- Dr. Galina Zukova (Zukova Legal)
- Niuscha Bassiri (ArbBoutique)
- Dr. Greg Lourie (Schellenberg Wittmer’s)
- Michael Polkinghorne (White & Case)
12:15 – 13:25
The European Love/Hate Affair: Navigating EU Law in Commercial Arbitration
Moderator:
- Simona Budreikaitė (Ellex Valiunas)
Speakers:
- Dr. Boris Kasolowsky (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer)
- Isabelle Michou (Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan)
- Dr. Paschalis Paschalidis (Arendt & Medernach)
- Robert Price (Latham & Watkins)
- Adelina Prokop (Clifford Chance)
13:30 – 14:45
Lunch Break
Ground floor Vilnius Town Hall
14:45 – 15:55
Fifty shades of bias: where is the Rubicon of impartiality?
Moderator:
- Gediminas Dominas, FCIArb (WALLESS)
Speakers:
- Caroline Falconer (SCC Arbitration Institute)
- Volodymyr Yaremko (Mayer Brown)
- Paweł Pietkiewicz (Greenberg Traurig)
- Jerker Kjellander (Vinge)
14:45 – 15:55
Taking Shareholder Disputes to Arbitration: Challenges and Perspectives
Moderator:
- Gailė Juozapaitytė LL.M. (TGS Baltic)
Speakers:
- James Herbert (Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes)
- Ph.D. Michele Potestà (Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler)
- Ph.D. Jan Markiewicz, LL.M. (CMS)
- Dr. Phillip Landolt, FCIArb (Landolt & Koch)
- Olena Perepelynska (INTEGRITES law firm)
5 minutes technical break for change of panel
16:00 – 17:10
Too Much Love Will Kill You: Striking the Right Balance in National Courts’ Role in the Arbitration Process
Moderator:
- Paulius Docka, FCIArb (QND LEGAL)
Speakers:
- Julien Maire du Poset (Lead up)
- Marc Keidan (Keidan Harrison)
- Shai Sharvit (Partner, Herzog Fox & Neeman)
- Malgorzata Surdek-Janicka (SURDEK Arbitration, Vice-President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration)
- Henrik Sajakorpi (Secretary General of the Finland Arbitration Institute)
16:00 – 17:10
Arbitrability in Times of Insolvency: Navigating Stays and Enforcement
Moderator:
- Evaldas Pocevičius (Triniti Jurex)
Speakers:
- Dr. Ioana Knoll-Tudor (Addleshaw Goddard)
- Ben Sigler (Stephenson Harwood)
- Krzysztof Ciepliński (Gide Loyrette Nouel)
- Dr Barbara Maucher, FCIArb (Noerr PartG)
- Daniel Lander (Cirio)
17:10- 17:30
Networking Break and Coffee
17:30 – 18:00
Closing Session, Moderator Duel and Wine
20:00 – 01:00
WHAT HAPPENS IN VILNIUS, STAYS IN VILNIUS!
Vilnius Arbitration Day 2025 party
@Historic Power plant in Vilnius
Now museum of Energy and Technology
Rinktinės str. 2, Vilnius
20:00 – 01:00
WHAT HAPPENS IN VILNIUS, STAYS IN VILNIUS!
Vilnius Arbitration Day 2025 party
@Historic Power plant in Vilnius
Now museum of Energy and Technology
Rinktinės str. 2, Vilnius
Organizer
Media partners
Knowledge partner
Hosts
Supporting Organisations
Accommodation offers
Radisson Collection Astorija Hotel
Didžioji str. 35/2, LT01128 Vilnius, Lithuania
Special price until September 1st.
10 September
Partners’ events
14:00 – 16:00
ICC YAAF: Take the Witness (Lithuanian Edition)
Venue:
TGS Baltic, Konstitucijos ave. 21A, Vilnius
Organizers:
ICC YAAF & TGS Baltic
10 September
Partners’ events
18:00 – 20:00
SCC Arbitration Training: Practical Insights and Tips
Venue:
The Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, Statehood room (2nd floor) (Gediminas ave. 51, Vilnius)
Organizers:
SCC & MOTIEKA Law firm
Experienced SCC arbitration practitioners will offer practical guidance on navigating SCC proceedings—from filing a claim to enforcement. This training will focus on real-life procedural nuances, strategic insights, and common pitfalls. Ideal for both new and experienced arbitration counsel looking to sharpen their skills and stay current with SCC practice trends.
11 September
Partners’ events
10:00 – 12:00
Off the Record: How Arbitrators are Chosen, Appointed, and Work Together
Venue:
TGS Baltic office, Konstitucijos av. 21 a.
Organizers:
The event is organized by the CIArb with TGS Baltic
Moderator: porf dr Solveiga Vilcinskaite
Participants of the discussion:
• Gaile Juozapaityte, LLM, TGS Baltic,
James Herbert (Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes)
• Ph.D. Michele Potestà (Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler)
• Ph.D. Jan Markiewicz, LL.M. (CMS)
Dr. Phillip Landolt, FCIArb (Landolt & Koch)
• Katrīna Salmgrieze, TGS Baltic.
11 September
Partners’ events
16:00 – 18:00
DIS@Vilnius: DIScover Ways to Involve Third Parties in Arbitration – German and Baltic Perspectives
Venue:
Ellex Valiunas office, Vilnius
Organizers:
The event is organized by the DIS, the DIS40 (below40 organization of the DIS) and hosted by Ellex Valiunas
The German Arbitration Institute (DIS) is pleased to present an engaging and informative event at Vilnius Arbitration Day 2025, focusing on the role of third parties in international arbitration. This session will provide participants with valuable insights into DIS’ institutional framework and rules, followed by a dynamic discussion between leading German and Lithuanian arbitration practitioners.
11 September
Partners’ events
18:30 – 21:00
Deliberations –
mystery revealed?
Venue:
To be announced
Organizers:
VIAC-MOTIEKA
Deliberations are always a mystery for the counsel and becoming arbitrators. What is the structure of deliberations, who takes the lead, how to behave, and what are the dynamics of this important step that is always behind the curtain of secrecy? During our event, we will attempt to lift the veil on deliberations and explore this process through the insights of our esteemed speakers and audience. See you there! Do not miss the chance to engage with this intriguing topic!
12 September
Partners’ events
08:00 – 08:45
SAA Breakfast. Arbitration: New Developments and the Impact of AI
Venue:
Restaurant Kristoforas (Didžioji st. 32, Vilnius Town Hall).
Organizers:
SAA & MOTIEKA Law firm
Start your Vilnius Arbitration Day with a forward-looking session on the latest SCC arbitration updates and the disruptive impact of Artificial Intelligence with Swedish Arbitration Association. Speakers will explore the evolving role of AI in arbitration—from case preparation to decision-making—and how practitioners can navigate new challenges while seizing emerging opportunities. A must-attend for arbitration professionals ready to future-proof their practice.
13 September
Partners’ events
09:30 – 11:00
Arbitration
Run 2025
Venue:
Starting at Cathedral Square
Organizers:
COBALT
Arbitration Run 2025 awaits you in the heart of Vilnius city centre, promising an invigorating experience on 13 September (Saturday) at 9.30 AM. Starting at Cathedral Square, runners will embark on a two-lap route, soaking up the charm of the old town and the energy of the new town.
13 September
Partners’ events