BRICS+ New Economy
Legal Forum 25

The Challenge:
The rule of law has not been abolished—it has been hijacked from within. States have learned to cloak political persecution in procedural legitimacy. Personal sanctions bypass due process. Criminal investigations manufacture "facts" to justify expropriation. AI-powered disinformation campaigns destroy reputations before any judicial ruling. Formal legality persists while substantive justice evaporates.

Traditional investment arbitration alone is no longer sufficient when entire institutional architectures—courts, prosecutors, media, international organizations—can be instrumentalized for political ends.

The Response:
This breakfast session brings together six practitioners who have fought state overreach across multiple jurisdictions and won. From EU sanctions challenges to defending against politically motivated prosecutions, from exposing corporate complicity in conflict minerals to combating sophisticated disinformation, these experts reveal how law has been weaponized—and how to fight back.

Moderator: Ivan Gordienko, Partner, Steptoe International (UK)

Among the speakers:

• Robert Amsterdam, Founder & Managing Partner, Amsterdam & Partners LLP (UK/USA)
  Four decades exposing judicial weaponization. Notable cases: defending Khodorkovsky, Tanzania's Tendulisu, Armenia's Karapetyan, Ukrainian church, DRC in precedent-setting Apple litigation
  The Dialectics of Polarization: How Personal Sanctions Pervert the Rule of Law
• William Julié, Founding Partner, WJ Avocats (France)
  EU sanctions litigation expert. Landmark victories for high-profile businessmen
  Fighting Back: Winning Sanctions Cases and Strategic Criminal Defense
• Gonzalo Boye, Honored Lawyer, Professor of Criminal Procedural Law (Spain)
  Eight years political prisoner, now counsel to President Puigdemont. Seven countries rejected Spain's extradition requests
  The Kidnapping of Justice: When Democracies Prosecute Political Opposition
• Michael Farrant, Founder, Farrant Group (UAE/UK)
  Strategic communications expert
  Beyond the Courtroom: AI-Powered Disinformation and the Speed of Modern Propaganda
• Liliya Aubakirova, Solicitor, Amsterdam & Partners LLP (UK)
  Specialist in politically sensitive international cases
  Narrative and human rights advocacy as remedies against political distortions of the rule of law beyond arbitration
• Prashant Kumar, President, The Bar Association of India, Co-chair of the NeLi National Committee in India (India)
  Led South Asian judicial missions, addressed Nepal's constitution convention, founded New Delhi International Rule of Law Convention
  Integrated Strategy: Investment Protection Across Multiple Forums

Moderator: Lachlan Kitchen, well-known media personality and radio host based in Dubai

Among the speakers:

• Arthur Machado, Global Investor & Diplomacy Strategist at ARKA, Co-chair of the NeLi National Committee in Brazil (Brazil)
  Analysis of the current economic challenges of BRICS+ countries and an overview of key business sectors contributing to growth and international cooperation: finance and investment, e-commerce, agriculture, energy, logistics and transport, metallurgy, mining industry, oil and gas.
  The role of political and diplomatic interaction in reducing geopolitical risks and strengthening multilateral cooperation amid global instability
• Abdulla Baqer, Regional Director for the Middle East and Eurasia, Dubai Chambers (UAE)
  Investment potential of Dubai within the development of BRICS+: the financial sector and investments as the foundation for infrastructure modernization and economic growth support
• Eugene Booysen, CEO, Cape Town Stock Exchange (South Africa)
  Innovative solutions for the capital market and digital services as drivers of cross-border integration and economic structure renewal supporting trade links within the bloc
• Vitaliy Gan, Director of Marketing, Rosatom International Network (Russia)
  Nuclear Energy – pathway to just and sustainable future
• Vladimir Aptekarev, Deputy General Director for Commercialization of Floating Energy Solutions, Rosatom Machine Building (Russia)
  Floating power units – an effective solution to the global energy supply problem
• Irina Akopyan, Deputy General Director for Economics and Finance, A7 Holding (Russia)
  Business in new realities: how technology and infrastructure are changing the rules of the game in international markets
• Alan Gandelman, CEO of Sefer Investimentos, Co-chair of the NeLi National Committee in Brazil (Brazil)
  BRICS+ Legal Index and Doing Business BRICS+ Guide
• Evgeniy Etin, GR Director, RWB (Wildberries&Russ) (Russia)
  Wildberries&Russ as a Driver of the New Economy: Transforming E-Commerce into Real Sector Growth, Technology, and Employment across the BRICS+ Space

Ballroom А

Panel Discussion 1 "Assessment of the Enforceability of Arbitral Awards and Decisions of State Courts"

Moderator: Tatyana Neveeva, Managing Partner, VERBA LEGAL (Russia)

Among the speakers:

• Tariq Khan, Head of International Arbitration, M&CO Legal (UK)
  Development of arbitration centers: new hubs of attraction, and assessment of the enforceability of awards
• Sergey Levichev, Partner, Uppercase Legal (UAE)
  Courts vs. arbitration: whose decisions are more effective in terms of enforcement efficiency in 2025?
• Valeria Senatorova, Chairwoman, RAC (Russia)
  Interaction between state courts and arbitration: facilitating arbitration proceedings and ensuring enforceability of decisions
• Massimo Campa, Partner, Campa Avvocati (Italy)
  Sanctions risk of arbitration proceedings
• Joanne Lau, Secretary General, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) (Hong Kong)
  Risks of parallel proceedings: minimizing the risks of contradictory decisions
• Radmila Radzivil, Managing Partner, Pravyy Bereg (Russia)
  Development of new arbitration institutions in BRICS+ countries: creation of the East Siberian International Arbitration Center
• Prashant Kumar, President, The Bar Association of India, Co-chair of the NeLi National Committee in India (India)
  Features of the enforcement of court decisions in parallel proceedings in the BRICS+ space
• Boris Telyatnikov, Partner, Enyo Law (UK)
  Anti-suit injunctions and their enforcement in support of arbitration proceedings following UniCredit v. RusChemAlliance

Ballroom В

Round Table 1.1 "Investment climate of BRICS+ countries: promising sectors and guarantees and protections"

Moderator: Konstantin Olefir, Partner, Orion (Russia)

Among the speakers:

• Olga Sorokina, Managing Partner, O2 Consulting, Oxygen Empire Dubai (Russia)
  Building the Future in a New Multipolar World: Legal Tools for Business Expansion in the BRICS+ Countries
• Alexander Panov, Senior Partner, Verba Legal (Russia)
  Investing in the Indian Market: Strategies, Prospects, and Guarantees
• Luan Queroz Barral, Head of the Compliance Department, Chamber of Commerce of Mercosur and the Americas (Latam)
  Assessment of investment attractiveness of specific economic sectors in BRICS+ countries: energy, agro-industrial, construction
• Fedor Kovatev, Executive Director for legal support of PPP projects, Sovcombank (Russia)
  Implementation of public-private partnerships and effective financial models as tools to accelerate infrastructure, logistics, and energy projects
• Tamrin Darbakov, Junior Partner, Head of Mauritius Office, Uppercase Legal (UAE)
  Legal aspects of establishing joint ventures in BRICS+ countries: what needs to be considered?
• Daria Makarova, Head of BRICS+ Division, IPN Partners (UAE)
  Special economic zones and preferential regimes: effective tools for attracting investments?

Ballroom С

Round Table 1.2 "Technologies of the Future: Current Issues within BRICS+"

Moderator: Ziad Ali, CEO and Founder, The Law (Egypt)

Among the speakers:

• Bruno Barata, General Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Federal Council, Order of Attorneys of Brazil (Brazil)
  Overview of advanced technologies and innovations contributing to business success
• Alexander Makarov, CEO of TraceCORE (UAE)
  Development of key economic sectors of BRICS+ countries through technology import
• Sergey Chapaev, Partner, ELWI (Russia)
  Specific features of M&A transactions in high-tech markets: traps and pitfalls in BRICS+ countries
• Sergey Zuikov, Managing Partner, Zuikov and Partners (Russia)
  Overview of the most prominent court decisions in the field of intellectual property in the UAE on the BRICS+ scale
• Sergey Medvedev, Senior Partner, Gorodissky & Partners (Russia)
  Legal protection and enforcement of industrial designs in the UAE

Ballroom D

Round Table 1.3 "Why is it necessary to spend time and money on arbitration disputes involving Russian parties today?"

Moderator: Andrey Panov, Partner, Head of International Arbitration and Litigation Practice, Denuo (Russia)

Among the speakers:

• Andrey Panov, Partner, Denuo (Russia)
• Igor Klushin, Senior Associate, Denuo (Russia)
• Marat Khasanshin, Associate, Denuo (Russia)
• Vladimir Nefedyev, Partner, Fidem Research Group (UAE)
• Jessica Miller, Director, Strela Advisory (UK)

Ballroom А

Panel Discussion 2 "International Arbitration: Effective Strategies in 2025"

Moderator: Denis Almakaev, Partner, Head of International Litigation Practice, Level Legal Services (Russia)

Among the speakers:

• Jehad Kazim, Executive Director, Dubai International Arbitration Centre (UAE)
  Effectiveness of Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods (adjudication, mediation, etc.)
• Denis Almakaev, Partner, Head of International Litigation Practice, Level Legal Services (Russia)
  Is a return to European arbitration centers possible due to the restoration of economic ties?
• Dr Khaled Ali Alhadhrami, Managing Partner, Dr Khaled Ali Alhadhrami Lawyers and Legal Consultants (UAE)
  Development of arbitration centers in the BRICS+ region: the evolutionary path of Eastern and Asian centers
• Andrey Panov, Partner, Head of International Arbitration and Litigation Practice, Denuo (Russia)
  How to choose an arbitration center when structuring a deal considering all risks
• Elif Duranay, Partner, Potestas Partners, Founding Partner, Duranay, General Secretary, EDAC (Turkey)
  The increasing trend of utilizing third-party funding in international arbitration
• Bledi Albri, Advisor, Uppercase Legal (UAE)
  Prospects for the enforceability of decisions in BRICS+ member states
• Stepan Puchkov, Partner, Belgravia Law (UK)
  Advantages of using local arbitration centers in the new macroeconomic conditions
• Artur Zurabyan, Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration Practice, Art De Lex (Russia)
  Investment arbitration: сhallenges to sovereignty
• Diana Baizakova, Director, Tashkent International Arbitration Center (TIAC) (Uzbekistan)

Ballroom В

Round Table 2.1 "Investor Protection within BRICS+: Strategies and Tactics"

Moderator: Alexander Kukuev, Managing Partner, Uppercase Legal (UAE)

Among the speakers:

• Andrey Tsyganov, Deputy Head, The Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia (Russia)
  Cooperation of the antimonopoly authorities of the BRICS+ countries as one of the factors ensuring effective competition in the markets of the union
• Abdulla Baqer, Regional Director for the Middle East and Eurasia, Dubai Chambers (UAE)
  Guarantees for investors when starting a business in Dubai
• Alan Gandelman, CEO of Sefer Investimentos, Co-chair of the NeLi National Committee in Brazil (Brazil)
  Expansion of BRICS+: prospects of redistributing investment flows considering the opportunities of new jurisdictions
• Roman Bakanets, Partner, Orion (Russia)
  Creation of legal protection for investments in BRICS+. Prospects for forming unified investment legislation
• Raquel Rangel, member of the Executive Board, Instituto dos Advogados Brasileiros (IAB) (Brazil)
  To what extent do international arbitrations protect investors' interests?
• Dr. Mohamed Hassanein, Vice President (Egypt), The Pan African Lawyers Union (Egypt)
  Prospects for investors in disputes with states: the impact of the changing geopolitical landscape
• Andre Perfeito, Chief Economist and Partner, APCE (Brazil)
  Currency and regulatory restrictions on investment activities in BRICS+ countries
• Ivan Laskov, Partner, Firm One (UAE)
• Sergey Klimenko, Managing Partner, Firm One (UAE)
  Conclusion and enforcement of option agreements in accordance with the legislation of the UAE

Ballroom С

Round Table 2.2 "Doing Business: Best Practices of Companies"

Moderator: Leonid Ervits, Managing Partner, Level Legal Services (Russia)

Among the speakers:

• Leonid Ervits, Managing Partner, Level Legal Services (Russia)
  Typical challenges Western companies face when working with BRICS+ countries
• Veronika Siverova, Senior Lawyer, ITSWM (Russia)
  Redomiciliation of corporate structures from EU countries to BRICS+ countries
• Llewellyn Curlewis, Deputy Chairperson, Legal Practice Council of South Africa, Co-chair of the NeLi National Committee in South Africa (South Africa)
  Existing legal and economic challenges for companies from various economic sectors in BRICS+ markets
• Nariman Tanov, Senior Lawyer, Insight Business Services (UAE)
  Legal infrastructure of BRICS+: establishing companies and investment funds in the UAE as an instrument for accessing global markets
• Nikita Zharov, Director, TC UAE (UAE)
  Structuring holding companies in the BRICS + countries. Practical aspects of organizing holdings in the UAE.
• Maria Nikonova, Partner, PGP Tax & Legal (UAE)
• Vladimir Sokov, Managing Partner, Firm One (UAE)
  The UAE and the Gulf States in the BRICS+ system: tax reforms, new double taxation agreements, and increased cooperation in tax administration
• Evgeny Yuryev, Partner, Nikolskaya Consulting (Russia)
  M&A deals with a foreign element
• Alexander Alekseev, founder and partner, GSL LAW & CONSULTING (Russia)
  How to open an overseas bank account and overcome compliance. Enforcement practice and personal experience in 50 banks across 20 Countries worldwide

^*By invitation only