Past Events

On 12 October 2016, Dr. Khaled El Shalakany, Senior Managing Partner of El Shalakany Law Firm, delivered a lecture on “Mediation as an Amicable Dispute Resolution Technique”. The speech shed light on the advantages of using mediation to settle disputes and the role of the Egyptian ADR Association to promote the culture of mediation in Egypt. Attendees, drawn from various professional backgrounds, triggered lively discussions to explore more about the use of mediation in given sectors.

Supported by the CRCICA, the LCIA Arab Users' Council held a Symposium on “Gas Pricing Related Disputes” in Cairo on 10 October 2016. The event started by an informative discussion looking at recent developments in the sector’s contracts and disputes while a second session explored wide-ranging implications for evaluation, pricing and damages. A final debate considered the sector’s many emerging issues. A write up of this symposium entitled

The Conference  “Key Issues in International Investment Arbitration highlighted the most important and most controversial investment arbitration-related issues and clarified some confusing concepts in the multi-sided relation between host states and foreign investors as precisely reflected in ICSID Caseload. The program included topics on the definition of the investor and the elimination of related ambiguity likely to invoke the denial of benefits condition. Also, expropriation, its definitions and damages, was explored intensively.  "How Transparent Could Investment Arbitration Be?” was one of the Conference’s core questions. In exploring answers, the role of states and Amicus Curiae in enhancing transparency of investment dispute resolution was thoroughly discussed. The focus of the final session was “The Review of Investment Arbitration Awards: A Retro/Pro-spective Analysis”, in the course of which the appeal of arbitral awards proposal was discussed in a thoroughly analytic context. The keynote speech delivered by H.E. Awn Al Khasawnah,eliminated conceptual unfamiliarity related to the overlap of Public International Law and international investment law which sometimes causes confusion in the course of investment dispute resolution. This exceptionally rich agenda was tackled by 20 expert and speakers from Arab and European Countries as well as the United States of America. The outreach of the Cairo ICSID events scored 23 countries in attendance being Algeria, Belgium, Cyprus, Egypt, France, German, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Sudan, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA and Yemen.  

CRCICA hosted the ABA Continuing Legal Education Reception and Closeout Program on 19 September 2016. The audience comprised of lawyers, members of law school faculty, government officials as well as representatives from USAID and stakeholders interested in taking the program forward. Speakers were Ray Micklewright, Country Director, Egypt, ABA ROLI; Carl Anderson, USAID; Sherry Carlin, Mission Director, USAID Egypt; Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Chairperson, CLE Advisory Board and Robert Grey, ABA. Speeches highlighted the overall success of the program for having provided continuing legal education over six years for more than 1600 young Egyptian lawyers.

The second May Seminar focused on “FIDIC and Egyptian Law: What You Must Know?” and was delivered by Mr. Scott Lambert, Regional Head – Construction & Infrastructure- Al Tamimi & Co. The seminar examined how the Egyptian Law interacts with the written terms of the FIDIC’s general conditions (focusing on the 1999 Red Book) and explained that what is written may not legally mean what it says. Special focus was given to time bars, limited damages, limitation of liability, variations, suspension and termination. Also, the speaker considered some of the common amendments to the clauses and some practical contract administration tips. In conclusion, Mr. Lambert communicated an important message that balancing common law contracts under civil law can be tricky and that users should know their projects to correctly decide which model FIDIC standard contract to use. Attendees represented the Egyptian construction community and got engaged in lively discussions.