12 February 2026
Alexandria, Egypt – The Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), in collaboration with Alexandria University, successfully concluded the 7th Annual AlexU-CRCICA International Arbitration Conference. The prestigious event took place on February 12, 2026, at the iconic Bibliotheca Alexandrina, bringing together leading legal practitioners, academics, and law students for a day of high-level discussions on contemporary issues in arbitration and international trade law.
Opening Ceremony
The conference commenced with opening remarks delivered by distinguished figures representing the institutional, academic, and supporting partners of the initiative:
- Dalia Hussein (Director of CRCICA)
- Mohamed Okasha (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Alexandria University)
- Girgis Abdelshahid (Shahid Law Firm, Platinum Sponsor)
- Amr A. Abbas (Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy, Gold Sponsor)
- Richard Tibichrani (Eldib Advocates, Gold Sponsor)
- Ronald Brand (Center for International Legal Education – CILE, Strategic Partner)
Panel Discussions Overview
Panel 1: Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration: Balancing Transparency, Strategy, and Procedural Fairness
Moderated by Dr. Dalia Hussein (Director of CRCICA), this panel explored the evolving dynamics of third-party funding. The distinguished panelists shared profound insights into maintaining fairness and transparency:
- Judge Dr. Abdelmohsen Sheha (Second Vice-President, United Nations Appeals Tribunal and Senior Judge of the Egyptian State Council)
- Fatma Khalifa (Counselor at the Foreign Disputes Department, Egyptian State Lawsuits Authority)
- Robert Cimmino (Associate, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP)
- Mohamed Samy (Partner, Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy)
Panel 2: Party Autonomy versus Mandatory Rules: Limits, Justifications, and Contemporary Challenges in International Arbitration
Moderated by Mr. Girgis Abd El-Shahid (Managing Partner, Shahid Law Firm), the second session debated the delicate balance between the autonomy of the parties and the constraints of mandatory legal rules. The panel featured:
- Abdallah El Shehaby (Founding Partner, Jurisera)
- Amr Abbas (Partner and Head of Regional Arbitration & Competition Practices, Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy)
- Mahmoud Elkharashy (Vice President, Egyptian State Lawsuits Authority – ESLA)
- Mohamed Shelbaya (Founding Partner, Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes)
Panel 3: Procedural Efficiency versus Due Process: Revisiting Arbitration’s Enduring Dilemma
Moderated by Prof. Dr. Ismail Selim (International Arbitrator at Selim Arbitration and Associate Professor at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), this panel tackled the perpetual tension between ensuring a speedy procedure and upholding due process. The speakers included:
- Liz Taylor (Senior Associate, Reed Smith LLP)
- Muhammad Ussama (Senior Partner, Shalakany Law Office)
- Sarah A. (Senior State Counsellor, Foreign Disputes and International Arbitration Department, ESLA)
- Yehia Shahine (Head of the Arbitration Practice, ALC – Alieldean Weshahi & Partners)
Panel 4: Hardship (Imprévision), Force Majeure, Frustration, and Changed Circumstances (Wegfall der Geschäftsgrundlage): Comparative Doctrines and Their Place in the CISG
The final panel, moderated by Prof. Ronald A. Brand (Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg University Professor and Academic Director at CILE, University of Pittsburgh School of Law), provided a comprehensive comparative analysis of contractual disruptions and their application under the CISG. The panel featured:
- Judge Lokmen Kassim (Judge-Rapporteur, Egyptian State Council)
- Sherif Elsaadani (Partner and Head of Arbitration, Mena Associates in association with Amereller)
- Dr. Ismail Selim (International Arbitrator at Selim Arbitration and Associate Professor at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne)
CRCICA and Alexandria University extend their gratitude to all the speakers, sponsors, and attendees whose participation contributed to the outstanding success of this annual milestone.
