Bridging borders: how to handle litigation and business contracts in a multi-jurisdictional context

Konstanz, Germany

03 July 2025 - 05 July 2025

Bridging borders: how to handle litigation and business contracts in a multi-jurisdictional context


Thursday 03 July 2025

18:00 » 20:00 Welcome Reception 

More information will soon be shared
20:00 Optional dinner
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Friday 04 July 2025

09:30 » 10:30 Panel 1 - Navigating Jurisdictional Conflicts and Forum Shopping: Strategies and Implications for Legal Outcomes

This panel will explore the complexities of jurisdictional conflicts and the practice of forum shopping in international disputes. Experts in the field will discuss strategies for effectively navigating disputes involving multiple jurisdictions and the critical factors influencing forum selection. The panel will also examine the legal, strategic, and practical implications of these choices on case outcomes. The discussion will provide a deeper understanding of how to manage jurisdictional issues and leverage forum selection to achieve favorable legal results.
10:30 » 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 » 12:00 Panel 2 - Conflict of Laws and Choice of Law Clauses: Mitigating Challenges in Divergent Legal Systems

This panel will delve into the intricate landscape of conflict of laws in international disputes, exploring the challenges posed by divergent legal systems and the pivotal role of choice of law clauses in addressing these complexities. Experts from legal practice and academia will examine various scenarios and practical strategies for drafting, enforcing, and interpreting choice of law clauses effectively, addressing also common pitfalls and best practices from a drafting and structuring perspective. Through insightful analysis and case studies, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how these clauses can mitigate jurisdictional conflicts, optimize legal outcomes, and enhance international dispute resolution processes. 
12:00 » 13:00 Lunch
13:00 » 14:00 Panel 3 - International commercial courts as an alternative to international commercial arbitration?

In recent years a growing number of countries have created so-called “international commercial courts” (ICCs) with two aims: competing in the global arena as forum of choice where international litigants may decide to adjudicate their disputes; and offering a practical alternative to international commercial arbitration. In the EU, France, Germany and the Netherlands have so far created three ICCs with the additional aim of competing with London, at a moment in which “Brexit” meant for England to be disconnected – at least for the time being – from the European Judicial Area.
This panel will explore which commercial courts have been created in EU and all over the world, what is their status and rules, what advantages and disadvantages they present when compared to international arbitration and how businesses are adapting to these new judicial options.
14:00 » 14:30 Coffee Break
14:30 » 15:30 Panel 4 - Balancing Transparency and Confidentiality: Practical Strategies for Cross-border Contracts and Disputes

In today’s globalized economy, cross-border contracts and disputes present unique challenges that require a delicate balance between transparency and confidentiality. This panel will explore practical strategies that legal practitioners and businesses can employ to navigate these complexities while protecting sensitive information and maintaining regulatory compliance. In particular the panel will cover the importance of transparency in fostering trust and cooperation among international stakeholders while delineating when confidentiality is crucial for protecting proprietary information, strategies for drafting contracts that appropriately balance transparency and confidentiality provisions, including data protection considerations as well as best practices for negotiating dispute resolution mechanisms that respect the confidentiality of the parties while ensuring transparency in the process.
15:30 » 16:00 Coffee Break
16:00 » 17:00 Panel 5 - Navigating Corporate Governance in Multinationals: Ethical Dilemmas, Board Duties, and Liability Risks

In the complex landscape of international business, multinational corporations encounter various ethical dilemmas that challenge their governance structures. This panel will examine the critical responsibilities of boards in addressing these challenges while navigating potential liability risks. Key topics will include identifying and addressing ethical dilemmas that arise in diverse cultural and regulatory environments, the evolving responsibilities of board members in upholding accountability and transparency in multinational settings, assessing liability risks associated with governance failures, including the implications of non-compliance with local and international regulations and effective strategies for implementing governance practices that promote ethical conduct and safeguard against potential liabilities.
20:00 Dinner
More information will soon be shared

Saturday 05 July 2025

10:00 » 11:00 Panel 6 - International Collective Claims: Strategies for Substantiation and Financing

This panel will delve into the intricacies of substantiating and financing international collective claims. Featuring leading experts in international law, finance, and litigation, the discussion will cover a range of critical topics.
Key points include:
  • Evidence Gathering and Presentation: Best practices for collecting, verifying, and presenting evidence in diverse legal jurisdictions.
  • Legal Frameworks: Navigating the complexities of various international legal systems and understanding how they impact collective claims.
  • Funding Mechanisms: Exploring innovative financing options such as litigation funding, insurance, and partnerships to support large-scale legal actions.
  • Impact of collective claims on international business operations, discussing strategies for businesses to manage and mitigate risks associated with collective litigation.
  • Case Studies: Examination of successful and unsuccessful international collective claims to extract valuable lessons and strategies.
11:00 » 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 » 12:30 Panel 7 - Contracts with Antitrust and Industry Specific Issues: How to Mitigate Risks while Drafting and Negotiating Contracts, Peculiarities of Dispute Resolution

Experts will discuss antitrust risks and relevant risk mitigation tools which may be applied while drafting and negotiating agreements, as well as peculiarities of litigation in such cases. The panel will also cover specific sector related issues which should be taken into account (including those ones related to Life Sciences & Healthcare, Food & Beverage, Agriculture, IT, Media & Telecommunications, Sports, Real Estate, Environment & Energy, Banking & Finace, Transport & Logistics, E-Commerce etc.).
12:45 » 13:00 Closing remarks on the seminar by the Academic Coordinators from the OC – a few comments on the most important aspects of the seminar
13:00 » 14:00 Lunch
15:00 Optional programme and optional dinner
More information will soon be shared