Inaugural Armenia Arbitration Conference

Jordi Paniagua
Professor of Economics, University of Valencia

Professor Jordi Paniagua highlighted the crucial role of a robust and effective international arbitration legal framework in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). He presented data demonstrating the relationship between FDI, geographic distance, economic size, and contractual friction.

Hovsep Patvakanyan
Head, Investment Council of Armenia

Mr. Hovsep Patvakanyan identified the four primary considerations for investors contemplating investment in a country: market potential, talent availability, bureaucratic efficiency, and tax policies. He further elaborated on Armenia's current initiatives aimed at attracting foreign investors.

Yeghishe Kirakosyan
Representative of the Republic of Armenia on International Legal Issues

Mr. Yeghishe Kirakosyan emphasized that the creation of AMCA enhances Armenia's appeal as an arbitration destination and promotes the growth of alternative dispute resolution methods. This positioning establishes Armenia as a regional center for resolving disputes, including those involving foreign investors.

Aida Avanessian
Lecturer, American University of Armenia and French University of Armenia

Professor Aida Avanessian provided an overview of the legal framework governing arbitration in Armenia. She further addressed the enforceability of arbitral awards in the country.

George Svanadze
Partner, MG Law, and Managing Partner and Head of Litigation Practice, Andersen Georgia

Mr. George Svanadze offered perspectives on potential areas for cooperation within the realm of international arbitration across the region. He also suggested opportunities for both collaboration and constructive competition between the Georgia International Arbitration Center (GIAC) and AMCA.

Sergey Brutyan
Managing Partner, Schultze, Brutyan and Partners

Mr. Sergey Brutyan discussed the consequences of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict on international commercial arbitration and its potential implications on Armenia's arbitration development. He proposed that AMCA could provide a viable solution to the challenges arising in arbitration cases involving Russian parties.

Galina Zukova
Partner, ZUKOVA Legal

Ms. Galina Zukova provided valuable insights on how aspiring international arbitrators could further develop their expertise. She highlighted the value of collaborating with established arbitration centers to enhance technical proficiency.

Narine Avetisyan
Senior Investment Officer, Armenia Resident Mission, ADB

Ms. Narine Avetisyan highlighted the role of multinational development banks, such as ADB, in driving private sector growth and enhancing the investment climate in Armenia. She underscored the private sector's pivotal role in fostering Armenia's sustainable economic growth.

Ara Khzmalyan
Partner, ADWISE Business and Legal Consulting

Mr. Ara Khzmalyan provided an overview of the establishment of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia (AMCA). Additionally, he emphasized the crucial importance of building trust in arbitration institutions.

Andrea Carlevaris
Partner, BonelliErede

Mr. Andrea Carlevaris stressed the importance of creating a steering committee within an arbitration center. He also underscored the center's need for independence, qualified arbitrators, and robust promotion to attract cases.

Annette Magnusson
Co-Founder, Climate Change Counsel

Ms. Annette Magnusson shared the results of the 2022 report on operational and optimal models for AMCA. The report analyzed AMCA's mandate, services, governing structures, and the responsibilities of its governing bodies. Ms. Magnusson noted that AMCA’s working rules have evolved considerably since the 2022 assessment.

Patricia Shaughnessy
Associate Professor, Law Department, Stockholm University

Professor Patricia Shaughnessy accentuated the importance of maintaining the independence, impartiality, and integrity of an arbitration center. She stressed that the center's structure, governance, and operations must fully embody these principles.

Harout Samra
Representative, Armenian General Benevolent Union, and Co-Founder, Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia (AMCA)

Mr. Harout Samra discussed the Armenian General Benevolent Union’s (AGBU) role in establishing AMCA. He also highlighted the impact of arbitration on a country's legal culture, noting that international arbitration practice has evolved towards a global norm. The establishment of AMCA positions Armenia as a full participant in this global standard.

Levon Golendukhin
Representative, Armenian Bar Association, and Co-Founder, AMCA

Mr. Levon Golendukhin described the Armenian Bar Association's (ABA) involvement in AMCA's creation. The ABA expressed satisfaction in participating in this initiative, which perfectly aligns with the organization's goal of fostering a rule-of-law-based society in Armenia.

Narine Avetisyan
Senior Investment Officer, Armenia Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Ms. Narine Avetisyan detailed ADB's in-depth examination of AMCA's future prospects using innovative thinking and foresight methodology for AMCA. The analysis identified three key areas for AMCA's growth: (i) adopting future-proof strategies and policies, (ii) prioritizing strong institutional knowledge management, and (iii) reinforcing consistent skills enhancement.

Rafik Grigoryan
Founder and Managing Director, Sigma Law Group

Mr. Rafik Grigoryan traced AMCA's history and development. He underscored the ability of an arbitration center to enhance a nation's legal system, particularly its alternative dispute resolution framework. Furthermore, he highlighted its potential to reduce the burden on the judicial system, a critical issue in Armenia.

Lilit Petrosyan
Deputy Director, AMCA

Ms. Lilit Petrosyan outlined the key features of AMCA's rules and underlined important factors for potential clients to consider when applying to the center. She noted that AMCA’s arbitration rules were created with input from leading national and international arbitration experts.

Tatevik Matinyan
Director-Secretary, AMCA

Ms. Tatevik Matinyan presented an overview of AMCA's operations and the services it provides. She emphasized that AMCA’s rules and regulations are grounded in international best practices while also addressing the needs of local businesses and the current conditions in Armenia.

Karen Arustamyan
FIDIC Certified Contract Manager – Construction Contract Management and Tender Expert, Technocrat Legal

Mr. Karen Arustamyan delved into the Armenian construction market, outlining its key characteristics. He shared his perspectives on the primary obstacles currently confronting the Armenian construction industry and offered potential solutions to overcome these challenges.

Aisha Nadar
Vice Chair, ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, Advokatfirman Runeland

Ms. Aisha Nadar highlighted the unique characteristics of the construction industry. Acknowledging the sector's propensity for disputes, she emphasized the importance of incorporating multi-tiered dispute resolution provisions into construction contracts. She argued that this approach is crucial for project success because it facilitates early identification and resolution of issues.

Julian Cohen
Head of Chambers, Resolution Chambers

Mr. Julian Cohen outlined the necessity of implementing a construction arbitration process in Armenia. He argued that arbitration accelerates dispute resolution, obviates the need for extensive training of decision-makers, and streamlines the dispute resolution process by narrowing down the issues to be resolved.

Andrey Artyushenko
Managing Partner, Artyushenko & Partners

Mr. Andrey Artyushenko underscored the importance of construction industry experience for arbitrators. He further highlighted the benefit of arbitration panels that include both a construction engineer and a lawyer.

Gurgen Grigoryan
Chairman, Armenian Association of Developers

Mr. Gurgen Grigoryan described the two primary types of construction disputes prevalent in Armenia. He also explained how his organization is actively working to increase awareness among developers about the advantages of arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism.

Hranush Aghayan
Co-Founder, Luyser Property Developer

Ms. Hranush Aghayan provided an overview of her firm's experience with construction disputes in Armenia. She highlighted the challenges involved in incorporating arbitration clauses into contracts with counterparties.

Vanik Margaryan 
Partner, AM Law Firm

Mr. Vanik Margaryan provided a comprehensive overview of the challenges encountered in arbitration for construction disputes. He underlined the critical need to bolster confidence in the institutional framework supporting arbitration.

Hayk Hovhannisyan
Managing Partner, HAP Law Firm

Mr. Hayk Hovhannisyan described a successful outcome in an international arbitration proceeding related to a construction dispute in Armenia. He emphasized that while each dispute has unique features and particulars, they all share a common factor: common sense. This should be considered when finding a resolution between the parties involved.

Artyom Geghamyan
Managing Partner, TABIA Legal Solutions

Mr. Artyom Geghamyan presented an overview of the mining industry and discussed its current challenges.

Marina Weiss
Partner, Bredin Prat

Ms. Marina Weiss discussed case typology in the mining industry. She emphasized the importance of a clear and precise understanding of all parties' obligations from the beginning, given the industry's current challenges.

Johannes P. Willheim
Partner, Jones Day

Mr. Johannes P. Willheim outlined common dispute types within the energy sector. He also highlighted key events shaping global energy markets.

Seda Shahinyan
Commissioner, Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia

Ms. Seda Shahinyan presented a detailed summary of the three key areas of focus within the Armenian energy sector. Additionally, she outlined the types of disputes handled by the Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia.

Arik Aslanyan
Partner, Fieldfisher

Mr. Arik Aslanyan discussed arbitration as a viable mechanism to resolve energy disputes and analyzed notable developments in the energy sector.

Abgar Budaghyan
Chief of Party, USAID Energy Secure Armenia Program, Tetra Tech

Mr. Abgar Budaghyan explored the potential opportunities of the energy transition and outlined strategies countries can employ to bolster energy security and accelerate the shift to clean energy. He emphasized arbitration as a vital tool in the framework for a successful clean energy transition.

Annette Magnusson
Co-Founder, Climate Change Counsel

Ms. Annette Magnusson conducted an in-depth analysis of the interplay between policy, legal frameworks, and the clean energy transition. She underscored that emerging energy technologies necessitate new policies. She argued that new international agreements, especially those replacing outdated investment treaties, are crucial.

Arman Aloyan
Head, Legal Department, Central Bank of Armenia

Mr. Arman Aloyan outlined the current dispute resolution methods employed in the financial services sector. He expressed confidence in AMCA's ability to become a leading authority in shaping not only arbitration law but also rule of law and the broader legal landscape in Armenia and the region.

Piruz Sargsyan
Financial System Ombudsperson of Armenia

Ms. Piruz Sargsyan outlined the role and responsibilities of the Office of the Financial System Mediator, an organization tasked with resolving disputes between consumers and financial institutions. She also described the decision-making processes and tools utilized by the office to address the issues brought to its attention.

Gor Margaryan
Managing Partner, Legalata Law Firm

Mr. Gor Margaryan analyzed consumer and commercial financial disputes, focusing on arbitration and current practices in Armenia. He also identified key trends within the financial sector.

Jirayr Habibian
Managing Partner, Matouk Bassiouny

Mr. Jirayr Habibian discussed banking and finance arbitration within the international context. He emphasized that increased foreign direct investment will lead to a greater demand for financial dispute resolution, and AMCA can be a significant player in this area.

Franz T. Schwarz
Vice Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

Mr. Franz T. Schwarz analyzed the financial industry's evolving stance on arbitration, noting a significant shift from opposition to strong support. He explored the reasons behind this change in attitude among financial sector players.

Thomas Snider
Partner and Head of International Arbitration, Charles Russell Speechlys

Mr. Thomas Snider provided an overview of expedited arbitration procedures. He noted that specific details can differ between institutions but generally involve a single arbitrator and a process completed within three to six months.

Kevin Nash
Registrar, Singapore International Arbitration Center

Mr. Kevin Nash discussed the application and optimization of artificial intelligence (AI) in international arbitration. He also explored potential obstacles to implementing this technology in arbitration proceedings.

Neeti Sachdeva
Secretary General and Registrar, Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration

Ms. Neeti Sachdeva discussed the use of virtual hearings in arbitration proceedings. She also explored other potential technological applications in arbitration and how parties and tribunals can effectively manage technology in these settings.

Natalia Petrik
Deputy Secretary General, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Institute

Ms. Natalia Petrik analyzed third-party funding in international arbitration, weighing its benefits against potential risks.

Diana Bayzakova
Director, Tashkent International Arbitration Center

Ms. Diana Bayzakova introduced the Tashkent International Arbitration Centre (TIAC) and its cross-institutional collaboration with other arbitration centers.

Mushegh Manukyan
International Mediator

Mr. Mushegh Manukyan updated attendees on recent mediation developments and highlighted the benefits of this process.

Catherine Rogers
Professor of Law, Bocconi University

Professor Catherine Rogers discussed the importance of establishing an arbitral institution's legitimacy. She emphasized that trust is crucial for attracting business and observed that AMCA has consistently demonstrated its commitment to building a legitimate institution.