Main Conference of RIAC 2026

22 September 2026

The Carlton, Moscow

RIAC continues to grow as a platform bringing together both the Russian legal community and international practitioners to engage in discussion of fundamental and pressing issues in international commercial arbitration.

The RIAC 2026 Main conference, as the flagship event of the Congress, has featured world-renowned speakers and focus on timeless questions of arbitration that remain relevant regardless of changing legislation or global developments.

The Сonference opened with a Dialogue (10:00-11:30) that set the intellectual tone for the sessions that followed and highlighted the key themes of the overall programme. The session featured leading experts in international arbitration:

• Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Founding Partner and Head of International Arbitration, Construction and Energy Groups, Zulficar & Partners Law Firm, President of the Subcommittee on International Arbitration of the Board of the Russian Arbitration Center;
• Dr. Roman Khodykin, Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner Law Firm.

Moderator: Valeria Senatorova, CEO, Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration.

12:00-13:30 - Session I. The Story of Arbitration: Who Writes, Who Tells, Who Believes?

A central theme of the session was the question of who shapes the rules and narratives of arbitration. Is the procedural framework still largely a product of Western legal traditions, or is there space for broader inclusion of diverse legal cultures and approaches? If so, how can such inclusion be achieved without being perceived as a departure from established standards? Taking a historical perspective, the discussion considered whether arbitration today can meaningfully be described as truly international, delocalised, or increasingly shaped by regional dynamics.

The session also examined whether arbitration has remained faithful to its original promise of efficiency, or whether, in seeking to avoid procedural challenges and ensure enforceability, it has gradually come to resemble formal court litigation.

Ultimately, the discussion aimed to offer a clearer view of where arbitration is heading and whether meaningful changes are needed for its future development.

Speakers:

• Dr. Nasser Mehsin Al-Adba, Managing Partner, Head of Arbitration department, Omani & Partners;
• Dr. Victor Leginsky, Independent Arbitrator, Mediator, FCIArb;
• Giulio Palermo, Partner, GPA LAW;
• Dr. Pinky Anand, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and judge of the Bahrain International Commercial Court (BICC);
• Andrey Gorlenko, Partner, Head of International Dispute Resolution, Ivanyan and Partners.

Moderator: Vladimir Talanov, Partner, EPAM Law.

14:30-16:00 - Session II. When Parties Choose, but Not Decide: Limits to Party Autonomy.

This session focused on legal and practical constraints limiting party autonomy in determining different aspects of arbitration procedure. The session explored how courts and tribunals balance respect for party autonomy with the need to uphold mandatory rules, public policy considerations, and the integrity of the legal system.

Drawing on comparative legal analysis and recent developments in judicial and arbitral practice, the session aimed to provide a nuanced and practical understanding of party autonomy as a cornerstone of international commercial arbitration – one that is fundamental and sacred, yet not unlimited.

Speakers:

• Vsevolod Taraskin, Partner, Dyakin, Gortsunyan and Partners, Advocate;
• Ali Al Hashimi, Regional Managing Partner, Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel;
• Andrey Panov, Partner, Head of International Arbitration and Litigation, Denuo;
• Dr. Paul Key, KC, barrister, Essex Court Chambers;
• Dr. Christopher To, Independent Arbitrator, Mediator, Adjudicator.

Moderator: Ana Stanič, Director, E&A Law Limited, member of the PCA Court of Arbitrators.

16:30-18:00 - Session III. Who Has the Final Word? Jurisdiction and the Reach of Kompetenz-Kompetenz.

Although widely recognised as a fundamental rule empowering arbitral tribunals to rule on their own jurisdiction, practical operation of Kompetenz-Kompetenz principle varies, particularly in systems where courts retain an active or even decisive role. Against this backdrop, the session offered a comparative overview of who ultimately leads in determining jurisdiction – courts or arbitral tribunals – and how concurrent jurisdiction operates in practice.

Particular attention was paid to the extent to which courts may mandate or pre-determine the existence of arbitral jurisdiction, and how such interventions interact with the authority of arbitral tribunals. The session also explored under what circumstances the powers of arbitrators may be revived following judicial involvement, and whether this may require the dispute to be reconsidered by a differently constituted tribunal.

Speakers:

• Ahmed Ibrahim, Independent Arbitrator, Founder of Ibrahim ADR;
• Dr. Dmitry Kaysin, Partner, Co-Head of Dispute Resolution Practice, Asari Legal;
• Avinash Pradhan, Head of International Arbitration Practice, Co-Head of South Asia Desk, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, Partner, Christopher & Lee Ong;
• Dr. Wei Sun, Managing Partner, Zhong Lun Law Firm;
• Jean-François Tossens, Partner, Hanotiau Tossens Goldman Gonne.

Moderator: Olga Tsvetkova, Managing Partner, Brevia Law Offices.

Terms of participation

RIAC 2026 has now concluded. Please follow the updates on our website for information on registration for RIAC 2027.

For any questions or further information, please contact the Organiser at riac@centerarbitr.ru.