SLOVENIAN ARBITRATION CONFERENCE 2025
Evolving Trends in International Arbitration: From State Involvement to Construction Dispute Management
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (Hall A)
We invite you to participate in the Slovenian Arbitration Conference 2025, the central event in the field of arbitration in Slovenia. The conference will provide an opportunity for in-depth reflection on current challenges and opportunities in arbitration practice.
Through discussions among renowned experts, we will shed light on key issues faced in practice and encourage the exchange of professional opinions and sharing of experiences. The content will be shaped by an opening keynote lecture, followed by three round tables. We look forward to once again co-creating a space for strengthening and developing arbitration in the Slovenian environment.
PROGRAMME
| 9.00 – 9.30 |
Registration |
| 9.30 – 9.45 |
Welcoming remarks and Opening of the Conference
mag. Marko Djinović, M.Sc., Executive Director of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
Prof. Dr. Aleš Galič, University of Ljubljana – Faculty of Law; President of Ljubljana Arbitration Centre
|
| 9.45 – 10.15 |
Opening lecture
Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in International Commercial Arbitration, Arbitration and EU competition law
Jean – Françoise Bellis, Van Bael & Bellis, Brussels, Belgium
|
| 10.15 – 11.15 |
Panel /Session 1: State Enterprises & State in International Arbitration
Moderator: Peter Rižnik, Independent Arbitrator, Rižnik Disputes, Vienna, Austria
State in International Arbitration – experience and challenges of State Attorney
Nataša Pintar Gosenca, M.Sc., Senior State Attorney, Head of International Section, State Attorney's Office, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Post Achmea Era in Intra-EU Investment Arbitration: what has changed?
David Premelč – Attorney at Law, Senior Partner, Law Firm Rojs, Peljhan, Prelesnik & partners, Ljubljana, Slovenia
The State as a Client: Legal and Strategic Nuances in International Arbitration
Alptuğ (Alp) Tokeşer, LL.M., Alp Arbitration, Zurich, Switzerland
Managing Parallel Proceedings: Arbitration vs. Domestic Litigation Against States
Matija Urankar, LL.M. (USF), partner, Law Firm Senica & Partners, Ltd., Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| 11.15 – 11.30 |
COFFEE BREAK |
| 11.30 – 12.45 |
Panel / Session 2: Multi-tiered Dispute Resolution Clauses
Moderator: dr. Petra Rihar, LL.M, Attorney at Law, Rihar & Thouvenin Dispute Resolution, Zurich, Switzerland
Dispute avoidance as Contractual Risk Allocation
Prof. Tomislav Borić, University of Graz, Austria
Understanding Dispute Management Tools in FIDIC Contracts: A Key to Effective Multi-Tiered Resolution
Christopher Seppälä - Independent Arbitrator, Expert, Counsel, Paris, France
Multi-tiered Dispute Resolution Clauses – Counsel`s Perspectives
Nastja Merlak, LL.M, Partner, Law Firm Jadek & Pensa, Ljubljana, Slovenia
How business structure multi-tiered dispute mechanisms
Nejc Lahne – General Manager, E-On Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia; member of the Ljubljana Arbitration Centre Board
|
| 12.45 – 14.00 |
LUNCH |
| 14.00 – 15.30 |
Panel / Session 3: Construction disputes and Arbitration
Moderator: Petja Plauštajner, Attorney at Law, Law Office Plaustajner, Ljubljana, Slovenia; member of the Board of the Ljubljana Arbitration Centre
From Claim to Award: Effective Case Management in Construction Arbitration
Maja Menard, Ph.D., Attorney at Law and arbitrator, Parter, Law Firm Fatur & Menard, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Extension of Time Claims and Delay Analysis in Construction Disputes
Thierry Linares, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting, Paris, France
Burden of proof in Construction Arbitration
Mag. Tamara Manasijević, Attorney at Law, ARP, Vienna, Austria
Designing for delivery, not disputes: A Contractor`s approach to conflict prevention,
Janez Škrabec - General Manager, Riko d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia
FIDIC and the Engineer: A Key Player in Minimizing Delays and Disputes
Robert A. Werth - DiplArb, FCIArb, Arbitrator, Adjudicator and Mediator, Werth Consult, Essen, Germany
|
| 15.30 – 15.45 |
Closing remarks
Full Professor mult. Dr. h.c. Vesna Rijavec, Ph.D., vice-president of the Board of the Ljubljana Arbitration Centre |
| 15.45 - 16.30 |
Networking |
The event will be held in English.
REGISTRATION FEE:
- 100 € without VAT
- - for students 25 € without VAT
The fee includes the participation at the conference, refreshments during coffee breaks, lunch and a closing reception on at the end of the conference.
The final deadline for any cancellation of participation is at least one day before the event. In the case of later cancellation, or if you do not cancel, we will charge an administrative fee of €50.00 + VAT. You can send your cancellation to the email address arbitraza.lj@gzs.si.
Free parking for participants is available in the first basement of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia.
In case of any questions, please contact arbitraza.lj@gzs.si