THE IAC EURASIA
ARBITRATION WEEK 2026
AIFC Court & IAC Premises, Astana, Kazakhstan
30 June – 3 July 2026
30 June – 3 July 2026
days
hours
minutes
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Register for IAC EAW26
PLEASE NOTE: Attendance at Day 1, Day 2 and Young Lawyers' Day is free of charge. Please register via the form below.
Attendance at the Training Day requires a separate registration and is subject to a fee.
Attendance at the Training Day requires a separate registration and is subject to a fee.
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About IAC EAW26
IAC Eurasia Arbitration Week (EAW) connects the Eurasia and global arbitration and dispute resolution communities. It is a platform for leading arbitrators, private practice lawyers, in-house counsel, policymakers and academics to discuss modern arbitration and dispute resolution practices, opportunities, challenges, and solutions for business in Eurasia. Through a series of engaging discussions and expert panels, EAW aims to promote arbitration, ADR and the rule of law, and protect investor rights with independent,
trusted and cost-effective dispute resolution.
IAC EAW26 is the fourth annual Eurasia arbitration event to be held at the International Arbitration Centre. Last year, more than 400 participants attended EAW25 from the US, UK, Eurasia, Europe, and Asia.
trusted and cost-effective dispute resolution.
IAC EAW26 is the fourth annual Eurasia arbitration event to be held at the International Arbitration Centre. Last year, more than 400 participants attended EAW25 from the US, UK, Eurasia, Europe, and Asia.
IAC EAW26 Programme
(updates ongoing)
The Arbitrator’s Toolkit: From Appointment to Final Award
Training in collaboration with the Turkic Arbitration Association
Training in collaboration with the Turkic Arbitration Association
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
PLEASE NOTE: Attendance at the Training Day is subject to a registration fee. A separate registration form for the Training Day will be available soon.
PLEASE NOTE: Attendance at the Training Day is subject to a registration fee. A separate registration form for the Training Day will be available soon.
10:30 – 10:50
Registration
10:50 – 11:00
Opening Remarks
Speaker:
- Christopher Campbell-Holt OBE, Registrar & Chief Executive, AIFC Court & IAC
11:00 – 12:30
Training Session 1. Inside the Tribunal Room
Managing Parties, Evidence and Hearings
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Anna Guillard Sazhko, Independent Arbitrator & Counsel; Co-President, Turkic Arbitration Association
Speakers:
- Mahnaz Malik, Arbitrator & Barrister, 20 Essex Street Chambers
- Joe Tirado, International Arbitrator, Mediator & ADR Consultant, TiradoADR Limited
- Sergei Vataev, Partner, Legit Advocates' Bureau
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 15:00
Training Session 2. Being Appointed as an Arbitrator
Qualifications, Ethics, Challenges and Essentials of Case Management
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Mahnaz Malik, Arbitrator & Barrister, 20 Essex Street Chambers
Speakers:
- Gary Born, Partner & Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group, WilmerHale
- Prof. Loukas Mistelis, Professor, Queen Mary University; International Arbitration Partner, Clyde & Co
- Dr. Saltanat Imanova, Associate Professor, American University of Central Asia; Chairman of the Supervisory Board, ICA CCI KR
15:00 – 15:30
Coffee Break
15:30 – 16:30
Training Session 3. In Conversation with Gary Born
Decision-Making, Deliberations and Excellence in Arbitration
Moderator:
Speaker:
- Anna Guillard Sazhko, Independent Arbitrator & Counsel; Co-President, Turkic Arbitration Association
Speaker:
- Gary Born, Partner & Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group, WilmerHale
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
09:00 – 10:00
Registration & Welcome Coffee
10:00 – 10:30
Opening Ceremony
Speakers:
- Thomas Krümmel, IAC Chairman
- The Rt. Hon. The Lord Burnett of Maldon KG, AIFC Court Chief Justice
- Renat Bekturov, AIFC Governor
10:30 – 11:30
Panel 1. International Arbitration in Eurasia: Navigating Diverse Traditions, Frameworks & Cultural Expectations
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Thomas Krümmel, IAC Chairman
Speakers:
- The Rt. Hon. The Lord Burnett of Maldon KG, AIFC Court Chief Justice
- Prof. Maria Chiara Malaguti, President Emeritus, UNIDROIT & Professor of International Law, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore
- Prof. Loukas Mistelis, Professor, Queen Mary University; International Arbitration Partner, Clyde & Co
- Joe Tirado, International Arbitrator, Mediator & ADR Consultant, TiradoADR Limited
- Aigoul Kenjebayeva, Partner, Dentons
11:30 – 12:00
Coffee Break
12:00 – 13:00
KEYNOTE SPEAKER. International Arbitration: Past, Present & Future
Moderator:
Speaker:
- Thomas Krümmel, IAC Chairman
Speaker:
- Gary Born, Partner & Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group, WilmerHale
13:00 – 13:10
Group Photo
13:10 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 15:00
Panel 2. Investment Opportunities & Risks in the Dispute Resolution Context
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Anna Guillard Sazhko, Independent Arbitrator & Counsel; Co-President, Turkic Arbitration Association
Speakers:
- Dr. Yulia Levashova, Associate Professor of International Investment Law, Nyenrode Business University
- Kevin Nash, Director General, LCIA
- Konstantin Christie, Partner, Peter & Kim
- Dr. Eda Manav Özdemir, Head of the International Arbitration Department, Secretariat General of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye
- Elijah Putilin, Arbitrator & Counsel, Putilin Dispute Management
15:00 – 15:30
Coffee Break
15:30 – 16:30
Panel 3. Resolving Complex Disputes in the Middle Corridor & Silk Road: An Integrated Approach
Moderator
Speakers:
- Dr. Kabir Duggal, Lecturer, Columbia Law School; Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Speakers:
- Prof. Zhang Zhiyong, Professor of Law & Director of the Center for International Business and Tax Law, Peking University
- Dr. Saltanat Imanova, Associate Professor, American University of Central Asia; Chairman of the Supervisory Board, ICA CCI KR
- Dr. Mukhit Yeleuov, Partner, ADL Disputes
- Zhanna Temirbayeva, Senior Director, Ankura
- Ruslan Bayramov, Founding Partner, Legalize
16:30 – 17:30
Panel 4. Cross-Border M&A Disputes: Why They Arise & How to Resolve
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Joe Tirado, International Arbitrator, Mediator & ADR Consultant, TiradoADR Limited
Speakers:
- Yasin Ekmen, Secretary General, Istanbul Arbitration Centre
- Anastasiia Dulska, Associate, Bär & Karrer
- Matthew Drossos, Partner, White & Case LLP
- Bakhyt Tukulov, Partner, TKS Disputes
- Ardak Idayatova, Partner & Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Kinstellar
17:30 – 18:00
Special Panel. Access to Justice in Arbitration in Central Asia
Moderator:
Speaker
- Aigoul Kenjebayeva, Partner, Dentons
Speaker
- Lawrence Teh, Global Co-Head of International Arbitration Practice, Dentons
18:00 – 20:00
IAC EAW26 Sundowner supported by the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan
Thursday, 2 July 2026
09:00 – 10:00
Registration & Welcome Coffee
10:00 – 11:00
Panel 1. AI in Arbitration: Appropriate Use, Limits & Ethics
Moderator
Speakers:
- Jue Li, CEO, Legal Go Intelligence
Speakers:
- Alexandre Vagenheim, VP Institutional & Legal Affairs, Jus Mundi
- Ziping Wei, Director of Supervision and Coordination Division & Secretary General of South China Sub-commission, CIETAC
- Dr. Kabir Duggal, Lecturer, Columbia Law School; Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
- Filip Nordlund, Legal Engineering Manager & Practice Lead for International Arbitration, Legora
11:00 – 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:00
Queen Mary International Arbitration Survey: Global Trends, User Expectations & the Path Forward
Speaker:
- Prof. Loukas Mistelis, Professor, Queen Mary University; International Arbitration Partner, Clyde & Co
12:00 – 13:00
Panel 2. Arbitration from the Inside: What In-house Counsel Really Want
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Jeff Erlich, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan
Speakers:
- Artem Timoshenko, Managing Partner, Unicase
- Nurzhan Kosbayev, Director of Legal Department, The National Bank of Kazakhstan
- Elyar Aliyev, Vice President Legal, bp
- Samir Abdullayev, Director, Legal Western & Central, Alstom
- Zmarak Khan, Deputy Chief Counsel, CLDP
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 14:45
DEBATE. Procedural Efficiency in Arbitration: Myth, Mantra or Menace?
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Thomas Krümmel, IAC Chairman
Speakers:
- Artem Doudko, Partner, International Arbitration, Osborne Clarke LLP
- Mahnaz Malik, Arbitrator & Barrister, 20 Essex Street Chambers
14:45 – 15:45
Panel 3. Enforcing Arbitration Awards: Strategies for Success
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Christopher Campbell-Holt OBE, Registrar & Chief Executive, AIFC Court & IAC
Speakers:
- Sergei Vataev, Partner, Legit Advocates' Bureau
- Dr. Ilia Rachkov, Partner, Nektorov, Saveliev & Partners
- Tatiana Menshenina, Partner, Fladgate LLP
- Caitlin Walczyk, Associate, White & Case LLP
- Askar Konysbayev, Partner, GRATA International
15:45 – 16:00
Closing Ceremony
Speaker:
- Thomas Krümmel, IAC Chairman
Young Lawyers’ Day at the IAC EAW26: Arbitration Leaders of Tomorrow
In collaboration with the Commercial Law Development Program
In collaboration with the Commercial Law Development Program
Friday, 3 July 2026
09:30 – 10:00
Registration
10:00 – 10:15
Opening Remarks
Speakers:
- Zmarak Khan, Deputy Chief Counsel, Commercial Law Development Programme (CLDP)
- Meray Ozat, Head of Centre for Global Policy Leadership, AIFC Court & IAC
10:15 – 10:30
Programme Overview
Speakers:
- Faridun Isomatov, Programme Coordinator, CLDP
- Ansar Ismagulov, Associate, ADL Disputes
10:30 – 11:30
The Role of Law Schools in the Future of ADR
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Ana Khurtsidze, Dean of Law School, University of Georgia (Tbilisi)
Speakers:
- Hiro Aragaki, Professor of Law & Faculty Director, Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution, University of California College of Law
- Deanna Parrish, Clinical Instructor, Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Programme
- Dr. Kabir Duggal, Lecturer, Columbia Law School; Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
- Mukhit Yeleuov, Partner, ADL Disputes
11:30 – 12:00
Coffee Break
12:00 – 13:00
International Law & Practice of ADR
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Daniil Litosh, Associate, Unicase
Speakers:
- David Hunt, Partner, Boies Schiller and Flexner (UK)
- Yerkin Budenov, Counsel, ADL Disputes
- Caitlin Walczyk, Associate, White & Case LLP
- Anna Guillard Sazhko, Independent Arbitrator & Counsel; Co-President, Turkic Arbitration Association
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 15:00
Regional Update: ADR Trends in Central Asia & South Caucasus
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Usen Tastanbekov, Associate, Kinstellar
Speakers:
- Mikhail Shuganov, Associate, White & Case LLP, Astana
- Akzhan Sheraliyeva, Associate, GRATA International
- David Tabatadze, Chairman, Georgian Association of Arbitrators
- Erik Manukyan, Junior Associate, Sigma Law Group
15:00 – 15:45
From Law School to Global Practice: Career Pathways for Young Lawyers
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Meray Ozat, Head of Centre for Global Policy Leadership, AIFC Court & IAC
Speakers:
- Faridun Isomatov, Programme Coordinator, CLDP
- Zhanara Kurenkeeva, Legal Counsel, Coca Cola Bishkek Bottlers CJSC
- Ruijia Zhang, Legal Assistant, Harneys Law Firm
- Akzhan Sargaskayeva, Partner, GRATA International
15:45 – 16:45
The Role of Practical Programs in the Development of ADR Education
Moderator:
Speakers:
- Jaba Gvelebiani, Founding Partner, Gvelebiani Law
Speakers:
- Islambek Rustombekov, Vice Rector, Tashkent State University of Law
- David Tabatadze, Chairman, Georgian Association of Arbitrators
- Narmin Abdulova, Legal Counsel, Roxcel Holding GmBH
- Bokhodir Dadaev, President, Central Asia Dispute Resolution Association
16:45 – 17:00
Closing Remarks
Speakers:
- Zmarak Khan, Deputy Chief Counsel, CLDP
- Meray Ozat, Head of Centre for Global Policy Leadership, AIFC Court & IAC
IAC EAW26 Speakers
(updates ongoing)
- Partner & Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group, WilmerHale
- Professor, Queen Mary University; International Arbitration Partner, Clyde & Co
- President Emeritus, UNIDROIT; Professor of International Law, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore
- International Arbitrator, Mediator & ADR Consultant, TiradoADR Limited
- Arbitrator & Barrister,
20 Essex Street Chambers - Partner, Dentons
- Director General,
London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) - Partner, TKS Disputes
- IAC Chairman
- AIFC Court Chief Justice
- Registrar & Chief Executive,
AIFC Court & IAC - Independent Arbitrator & Counsel; Co-President, Turkic Arbitration Association
- Associate Professor, American University of Central Asia; Chairman of the Supervisory Board, ICA CCI KR
- Associate Professor of International Investment Law, Nyenrode Business University
- Partner, Peter & Kim
- Head of International Arbitration & Alternative Solutions Department, Secretariat General of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye
- Partner, Legit Advocates' Bureau
- Partner, ADL Disputes
- Managing Director, Ankura
- Partner & Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Kinstellar
- VP Institutional & Legal Affairs, Jus Mundi
- Legal Engineering Manager & Practice Lead for International Arbitration, Legora
- Director of Legal Department, The National Bank of Kazakhstan
- Partner, Nektorov, Saveliev & Partners
- Partner, International Arbitration, Osborne Clarke LLP
- Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan
- Vice President Legal, bp (Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye)
- Professor of Law & Director of the Center for International Business and Tax Law, Peking University
- CEO, Legal Go Intelligence
- Director of Supervision and Coordination Division & Secretary General of South China
Sub-commission, CIETAC - Partner, White & Case LLP
- Managing Partner, Unicase
- Associate, White & Case LLP
- Arbitrator & Counsel,
Putilin Dispute Management - Partner, GRATA International
- Partner, Fladgate LLP
- Lecturer, Columbia Law School; Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
- Samir AbdullayevLegal Director Western & Central Asia, ALSTOM
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Our address
AIFC Court and IAC Premises, 55/16 Mangilik El Avenue,
Block C3.1, Astana, Kazakhstan
Block C3.1, Astana, Kazakhstan
IAC EAW26
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Contact us
Tel: +7 (7172) 64 73 73
Email: Communications@aifc-iac.kz
Email: Communications@aifc-iac.kz
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