17th ICC Russia International Arbitration Conference

Registration

Program

Contacts

ICC Russia 25: Setting Standards, Delivering Arbitration, Building Trust

For 25 years ICC Russia has been the center of expertise and a cornerstone for businesses operating globally, providing expert guidance and advocacy. By uniting top professionals and promoting global standards, we have built the trust of our community and fostered a space for transparent dialogue.

The ICC Russia Arbitration Conference is the premier event for the professional community, bringing together arbitrators, consultants, in-house counsel, and representatives of arbitral institutions.

We invite you to join us!

General
Partner

Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners

General Partner

Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners

In Their Own Words

We are witnessing sustained pressures on arbitration as an effective dispute‑resolution mechanism: jurisdictional battles and the rising use of anti‑arbitration injunctions; controversial legal measures, including the EU’s 18th sanctions package, aimed at limiting enforcement of awards in favour of Russian investors in EU Member States; high‑profile cases and notable victories by Russian companies on the international arena; and successful challenges to arbitrators that require a re‑examination of standards of impartiality and independence.
In ICC Russia’s 25th anniversary year we will convene leading arbitration practitioners, in‑house counsel and experts for an open, solutions‑oriented dialogue and the formulation of concrete measures to safeguard the New York Convention framework and preserve arbitration as the preferred method for resolving cross‑border disputes. Join the discussion — your insights and experience are vital to shaping resilient, balanced approaches for protecting the international justice system.

Dmitry Dyakin

Head of Dispute Resolution, Partner, Advocate, Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners

Over the past year, significant amendments have been introduced to Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, which have affected judicial protection not only for European but also for Russian companies. Of particular relevance is Article 11(c) of Regulation No 833/2014, which prohibits legal assistance to Russian courts, as well as the enforcement of Russian judicial acts adopted on the basis of Articles 248.1 and 248.2 of the Russian Commercial Procedure Code (APK RF). Recent application of the rules on exclusive jurisdiction by Russian courts has raised significant questions regarding whether this mechanism is an effective legal remedy for protecting the interests of Russian entities, and in which cases.

Alexander Bezborodov

Partner, Advocate, LL.M., ADVANT Beiten

Independence, impartiality and neutrality of arbitrators are fundamental to due process in arbitration and to confidence in this method of resolving international disputes. In an environment of geopolitical conflicts, these guarantees take on heightened importance, particularly for Russian parties facing Western opponents in foreign-seated arbitrations. At the session we will discuss how arbitration is responding to these modern challenges, how effective the challenge procedure is, and what Russian parties should bear in mind to ensure the formation of a genuinely impartial tribunal.

Vadim Vunukainen

Partner, Advocate, Dispute Resolution Practice, Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners

Today, AI is no longer limited to legal research or document automation. In international arbitration, it is already being used to draft procedural orders, summarize the parties’ positions, prepare procedural calendars, and sometimes even to produce a draft of the reasoning section of an award. Technologies such as Technology-Assisted Review, analytics platforms like Lex Machina and Premonition, the Arbitrator Intelligence service, and even AI “digital secretaries” currently being tested by some institutions are increasingly applied.

However, new opportunities also bring new risks. The recent case LaPaglia v. Valve demonstrated that the use of generative AI can become grounds for challenging an arbitral award: the losing party argued that the arbitrator had “delegated” reasoning to ChatGPT. This raises a fundamental question: where is the boundary between permissible use of AI and impermissible delegation of decision-making?

Elena Lebets

Senior Associate, Dispute Resolution Practice, Nordic Star

Russian parties currently face a number of challenges in international arbitration. Even so, turning to arbitration frequently remains the most viable mechanism to vindicate the rights of Russian parties, including in sanction-related disputes. Moving disputes into Russian courts is not always the preferred strategy. Consequently, it is crucial to develop tailored dispute strategies on a case-by-case basis. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to cross-border disputes.

Alexey Yadykin

Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Stonebridge Legal

December 2nd we will reconvene to summarize key outcomes of 2025, analyze precedents, and develop practical approaches for navigating the new business environment.
The event format combines plenary sessions with thematic parallel roundtables, addressing both strategic considerations and applied solutions.

Conference Partners

Conference Program

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Welcome Speech

Tatiana Monaghan, Secretary General, ICC Russia.
Alexandre Fessas, Secretary General, ICC International Court of Arbitration.

Tatiana Monaghan

Secretary General, ICC Russia
Alexandre Fessas

Secretary General, ICC International Court of Arbitration

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Keynote speech

Dmitry Dyakin, Head of Dispute Resolution, Partner, Advocate, Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners.

Dmitry Dyakin

Head of Dispute Resolution, Partner, Advocate, Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners

Session I Partners

Session I

Arbitration in the Context of Sanctions: 2025 Review and Key Challenges

Moderator: Vladimir Pestrikov, Partner, Advocate, Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners.

Speakers:

Alexey Dudko, Senior Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution and Investigation Practice, LEVEL Legal Services. Topic: Sanctions as a change of circumstances under a contract: problems, approaches, and solutions.
Andrey Ushakov, Counsel, Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Voskhod Law Firm.
Alexey Yadykin, Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Stonebridge Legal. Topic: The Impact of Sanctions on Russian Companies’ Access to International Arbitration.

Topics for discussion:

The impact of sanctions on Russian companies' access to international arbitration
Russian court practice regarding Articles 248.1 and 248.2 of the Commercial Procedure Code of the Russian Federation
Risks of arbitral awards enforcement in “unfriendly” jurisdictions

Vladimir Pestrikov

Partner, Advocate, Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners
Alexey Dudko

Senior Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution and Investigation Practice, LEVEL Legal Services
Alexey Yadykin

Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Stonebridge Legal
Andrey Ushakov

Counsel, Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Voskhod Law Firm

Coffee break

12:00 PM – 12:15 PM

Session II Partners

Session II

12:15 PM – 01:45 PM

State Courts and Arbitration: Competition or Cooperation?

Moderator: Fedor Belykh, Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution, Construction and Sanctions Practices, E L W I.

Speakers:

Alexey Panich, Partner, Advocate, Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration Practice, Nikolskaya Consulting.
Elena Trusova, Partner, Advocate, Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property Practices, ALUMNI Partners.
Ilya Zharsky, Managing Partner, Expert Group Veta. Topic: Arbitration and litigation: divergent approaches to expert evidence.
Mikhail Sondor, Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Major Industrial Holding.
Representative, Asari Legal.

Topics for discussion:

Enforcement of arbitral awards in the current geopolitical environment
The role of state courts in supporting or hindering arbitration
Case law on issuing anti-arbitration and anti-suit injunctions

Fedor Belykh

Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution, Construction and Sanctions Practices,
E L W I
Elena Trusova

Partner, Advocate, Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property Practices, ALUMNI Partners
Alexey Panich

Partner, Advocate, Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration Practice, Nikolskaya Consulting
Ilya Zharsky

Managing Partner, Expert Group Veta
Mikhail Sondor

Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Major Industrial Holding

01:45 PM – 02:30 PM

Lunch at the restaurant

Session III Partners

Session III

02:30 PM – 04:00 PM

Resolving Disputes with Russian Parties in Foreign Courts and Arbitration

Moderator: Evgeny Raschevsky, Partner, Head of the Practice of International Arbitration and Litigation, EPAM Law.

Speakers:

Vadim Vunukainen, Partner, Advocate, Dispute Resolution Practice, Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners. Topic: Challenges, neutrality, and selection criteria for arbitrators.
Vladimir Nefediev, Managing Partner, Fidem Research Group.
Stepan Sultanov, Partner, Head of International Commercial Arbitration Practice, LL.M., KIAP Law Firm. Topic: Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Court Judgments and Arbitral Awards in Russia.
Natalia Andreeva, Senior Associate, Dispute Resolution Practice, KKMP. Topic: The practice of dispute resolution in foreign arbitration institutions, current cases.

Topics for discussion:

Case studies and current trends in foreign arbitral institutions
Pros and cons of choosing Eastern vs. Western forums for dispute resolution
Enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Russia

Evgeny Raschevsky

Partner, Head of the Practice of International Arbitration and Litigation, EPAM Law
Vadim Vunukainen

Partner, Advocate, Dispute Resolution Practice, Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners
Vladimir Nefediev

Managing Partner, Fidem Research Group
Stepan Sultanov

Partner, Head of International Commercial Arbitration Practice, LL.M., KIAP Law Firm
Natalia Andreeva

Senior Associate, Dispute Resolution Practice, KKMP

Coffee break

04:00 PM – 04:15 PM

Round Table Partners

Session IV

04:15 PM – 06:00 PM

Round Tables

1. Investment Arbitration: New Challenges for Russian Investors
Moderator: Yuri Babichev, Partner, International Arbitration and Cross-Border Dispute Practice, ALUMNI Partners.

Topics for discussion:

Opportunities and risks of investment arbitration for Russian companies
Impact of sanctions on investment protection abroad
Strategies for minimizing risks when investing in “unfriendly” jurisdictions

2. Anti-Suit Injunctions in Russia and Abroad: Challenge or Opportunity?

Moderators:

Alexander Bezborodov, Partner, Advocate, LL.M., ADVANT Beiten.
Alexander Khretinin, Counsel, Dispute Resolution Practice, Orion.

Topics for discussion:

Use of anti-suit and anti-arbitration injunctions in Russia
Response of foreign courts to Russian injunctions
Effect of such injunctions on international arbitration agreements

3. Artificial Intelligence in Arbitration: Prospects and Limitations
Moderator: Elena Lebets, Senior Associate, Dispute Resolution Practice, Nordic Star.

Topics for discussion:

Application of AI in evidence analysis and drafting of arbitral awards
Ethical and legal issues surrounding AI use in arbitration
Impact of technology on the efficiency of arbitration proceedings

4. Round tables by HKIAC, DIAC, SIAC

Yuri Babichev

Partner, International Arbitration and Cross-Border Dispute Practice, ALUMNI Partners
Alexander Bezborodov

Partner, Advocate, LL.M., ADVANT Beiten
Alexander Khretinin

Counsel, Dispute Resolution Practice, Orion
Elena Lebets

Senior Associate, Dispute Resolution Practice, Nordic Star

06:00 PM – 07:00 PM

Networking & Cocktail

Your Perfect Cocktail. Your Perfect Suit. Both Tailor-Made.
Stay to get it, leave to forget it.

Prize Sponsor

The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the program

Last Year's Conference

Venue

The Atrium Hall is a spacious and bright “inner courtyard” of the luxurious European hotel Baltschug Kempinski
Special accommodation rates are available for conference participants from December 1 to 3. Please check with the organizer for details.

Address