About 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 (IAC). Last year, more than 400 participants attended EAW25 from the US, UK, Eurasia, Europe, and Asia.
EAW26 Programme
(updates ongoing)
Training in collaboration with the Turkic Arbitration Association
The Arbitrator’s Toolkit: From Appointment to Final Award
Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Please note: Attendance on 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
  • 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:
  • Anna Guillard Sazhko, Independent Arbitrator & Counsel

Speakers:
  • Mahnaz Malik, Arbitrator & Barrister, Twenty Essex
  • 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:
  • Mahnaz Malik, Arbitrator & Barrister, Twenty Essex

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:
  • Anna Guillard Sazhko, Independent Arbitrator & Counsel

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:
  • 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:
  • Thomas Krümmel, IAC Chairman

Speaker:
  • Gary Born, Partner & Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group, WilmerHale
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 15:00
Panel 2. Investment Opportunities & Risks in the Dispute Resolution Context
Moderator:
  • Anna Guillard Sazhko, Independent Arbitrator & Counsel

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 (Uzbekistan)
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 – TBA

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
16:30 – 17:30
Panel 4. Cross-Border M&A Disputes: Why They Arise & How to Resolve
Moderator:
  • Joe Tirado, International Arbitrator, Mediator & ADR Consultant, TiradoADR Limited

Speakers:
  • Ardak Idayatova, Partner & Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Kinstellar
  • Bakhyt Tukulov, Partner, TKS Disputes
  • Matthew Drossos, Partner, White & Case LLP
17:30 – 18:00
Special Panel. Access to Justice in Arbitration in Central Asia
Moderator:
  • Aigoul Kenjebayeva, Partner, Dentons

Speaker – TBA
18:00 – 20:00
Sundowner (Reception) 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
  • Christopher Campbell-Holt OBE, Registrar & Chief Executive, AIFC Court & IAC

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
  • Jue Li, CEO, Legal Go Intelligence
  • 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:
  • Jeff Erlich, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan

Speakers:
  • 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, Commercial Law Development Program
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 14:45
DEBATES. Procedural Efficiency in Arbitration: Myth, Mantra or Menace?
Moderator:
  • Thomas Krümmel, IAC Chairman

Speakers:
  • Artem Doudko, Partner, Osborne Clarke
  • Mahnaz Malik, Arbitrator & Barrister, Twenty Essex
14:45 – 15:45
Panel 3. Enforcing Arbitration Awards: Strategies for Success
Moderator:
  • 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
15:45 – 16:00
Closing Ceremony
Speaker:
  • Thomas Krümmel, IAC Chairman

TBA

EAW26 Speakers
(updates ongoing)
  • Artem Doudko
    Partner, Osborne Clarke
  • Jeff Erlich
    Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan
  • Elyar Aliyev
    Vice President Legal, bp (Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye)
  • Prof. Zhang Zhiyong
    Professor of Law & Director of the Center for International Business and Tax Law, Peking University
  • Jue Li
    CEO, Legal Go Intelligence
  • Zmarak Khan
    Deputy Chief Counsel, Commercial Law
    Development Program
  • Ziping Wei
    Director of Supervision and Coordination Division & Secretary General of South China
    Sub-commission, CIETAC
  • Matthew Drossos
    Partner, White & Case LLP
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AIFC Court and IAC Premises, 55/16 Mangilik El Avenue,
Block C3.1, Astana, Kazakhstan
IAC EAW26
About IAC EAW26
Programme
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Email: Communications@aifc-iac.kz
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