On March 28, 2023, Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin & Partners (RGD) law firm, in partnership with  the CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center, hosted a panel discussion titled "Bridging the Gap for CIS Disputes" at the Paris Arbitration Week. RGD was the only Russian firm invited to contribute to the business program of this event.

The panel discussion focused on the impact of sanctions on the global arbitration market and the importance of ensuring proper access and representation in arbitration proceedings, despite various restrictions and concerns.

The discussion was moderated by Yan Kalish, Counsel at RGD Dispute Resolution Practice and Anthony Walker, Partner & Head of English Law Practice at RGD. They noted that for Russian parties, the debate about the proposed shift from European arbitral seats and institutions to Asian seats and institutions has been ongoing for almost a decade. Until recently, this was just another topic for discussion. Yet, today this shift has become a reality, as demonstrated by the official statistics of Asian arbitral institutions, such as SIAC and HKIAC. One of the challenges that CIS parties need to keep in mind when selecting Asian seats and institutions is that sanctions continue to apply to arbitrators based on their nationality, making it difficult to select arbitrators from certain countries.

Several outstanding law professionals joined the lively discussion, including Steven Finizio, Partner at WilmerHale; Evgeniya Rubinina, Partner at Enyo Law; Andrea Pinna, Founder of Pinna Legal; and Vanina Sucharitkul, Partner at Rajah & Tann Asia.

"We are truly proud to have been invited to contribute to the business program of the Paris Arbitration Week and get a chance to share our insights on CIS disputes with such a distinguished audience. We believe that events like this are essential for advancing the legal profession and facilitating international dialogue. The discussion has been highly informative and thought-provoking, and we have received positive feedback from the guests who appreciated the opportunity to engage with leading experts in our field," noted Yan Kalish.

After the event, participants and guests had a cocktail reception at the Café M at the Hyatt Paris Madeleine where they carried on their conversations in an informal setting, indulging in the delicious cuisine prepared by Chef Sebastien Roux and champagne.

Cyril Baillieul captured the essential moments as the official photographer for the session.