FIDIC in Focus

Venue:

Museum of Cycladic Art

Auditorium | 5th floor

4 Neofitou Douka Street, Athens

Join us for a highly anticipated conference, in partnership with ICC Hellas set to take place on 16 January 2024 in Athens. Through a selection of panellists and invited guests, this conference will have a focus on key developments and practical applications in construction projects and arbitration.

In spite of the widespread use of the FIDIC suite of contracts in international construction projects, their application remains relatively uncharted in Greek construction practice. With the Greek Civil Code's construction contract provisions underdeveloped, and limited experience in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as Dispute Adjudication Boards and Expert Determinations, the need for awareness and expertise is more pressing than ever. This is especially relevant as Greece embarks on construction projects worth over EUR11 billion.

This conference will address the key challenges in construction law, focusing on practical applications of FIDIC contracts, arbitration, and dispute resolution mechanisms, offering valuable insights for practitioners, in-house counsel, and industry professionals both in Greece and abroad.

13:30 – 14:00 Registration

14:00 – 14:15 Welcome & Introductions
Speakers:

• George Vlavianos – Partner, Dispute Resolution, Qatar Country Head, DLA Piper
• ICC Hellas Arbitration Committee

14:15 – 14:45 Opening Remarks
Speaker: Christopher Seppälä – Independent Arbitrator and Expert

14:45 – 16:00 Session 1 – Panel: Substantive Law Issues related to FIDIC Contracts
This panel will focus on substantive aspects of FIDIC contracts, including allocation of design risk, unforeseeability, exceptional events and hardship, notice and delay.

Moderator: George Panopoulos – Partner, Lambadarios Law Firm
Speakers:

• George Vlavianos – Partner, Dispute Resolution, Qatar Country Head, DLA Piper
• Sevag Panossian – General Counsel, Consolidated Contractors International Company
• Peny Petropoulou – Group Legal Manager, Archirodon Group
• Spyridoula Megalooikonomou – Legal Affairs Director & BU Partner, Metlen Group

16:00 – 16:30 Coffee Break

16:30 – 17:45 Session 2 – Panel: Dispute Resolution Issues related to FIDIC Contracts
This panel will focus on procedural aspects of FIDIC contracts and construction disputes, including pre-arbitral dispute resolution, dispute resolution boards (DABs), procedural issues arising from construction arbitration, as well as the role of experts.

Moderator: Stavros Michalopoulos – Senior Associate, DLA Piper
Speakers:

• Prof. Constantin Calavros – Managing Partner, Calavros Law Firm
• Natalie Kedikoglou – General Counsel (Greece), Eldorado Gold Corporation
• Dr. Franco Mastrandrea – Partner, Quantum Expert, HKA
• Dr. Jovan Nikčević – Managing partner, Nikčević Kapor

17:45 – 18:15 Closing Remarks
Speaker: George Vlavianos – Partner, Dispute Resolution, Qatar Country Head, DLA Piper

18:15 – 20:00 Networking Drinks & Canapes