Following the main programme (Three issues in comparative contract law), this dedicated roundtable invited associates to continue the conversation in a smaller, interactive setting designed specifically for younger practitioners.

Building on the themes of good faith, contractual interpretation and change of circumstances, the session moved from theory to practice: How do these concepts arise in real cases? How should counsel frame them strategically? Where do comparative differences truly matter, and where do they converge?

Facilitated by Monika Diehl, Vivek Kapoor and Gustavo Moser, the discussion was designed to be participatory and informal. The aim was to create a space in which associates can engage confidently with complex comparative concepts, connect with peers, and develop a stronger sense of agency in shaping legal argument.

The roundtable took place during the cocktail reception (4.30pm – 5.30pm CET).

SPEAKERS

Monika Diehl focuses on dispute resolution, including commercial and investment arbitration, and is a member of our International Arbitration Group. She has many years of experience representing clients in complex litigation and international arbitration disputes spanning a variety of sectors, including oil & gas, renewables, infrastructure, real estate, TMT and finance. She has a notable track record in investment treaty arbitrations, with a particular focus on the CEE region. Her expertise is further enriched by the time spent on secondment with the Frankfurt international arbitration team. She also has extensive experience in cross-border regulatory and white-collar crime internal investigations, as well as compliance.

Vivek Kapoor is a specialist advocate with a practice in international arbitration and commercial litigation. He is recognised for his expertise in high-value, multijurisdictional cases related to energy, infrastructure and construction, natural resources, mining and commodities, banking and financial services, civil fraud and asset tracing, sanctions, investor-state dispute settlement and public international law. He is described in leading legal directories as “an excellent litigator”, “an expert in law”, “an excellent advocate” and “a great strategic decision maker”. Clients rate “his ability to find novel legal solutions to some of the most difficult situations is remarkable” and that he “thinks of every scenario for a case and prepares for each one, including complex and difficult ones”. His “ability to make simple arguments explaining complex legal points in both law and fact” is described as “a case winner”. In a leading judgment in the English High Court, the Judge described Vivek’s submissions as “able and persuasive”. Vivek acts for Sovereign states and state-entities, leading Fortune 500 corporations, multinational and regional corporations, principals and their business from a wide range of geographies. Vivek has an established practice as counsel before the English courts and in international arbitration. He also acts in courts of India, DIFC and ADGM, and has in the past acted in matters before the highest courts of Singapore and Hong Kong. He also acts as arbitrator in international arbitrations. He is frequently appointed as presiding, sole and co-arbitrator in LCIA, ICC and SIAC arbitrations, amongst others. Most of Vivek’s counsel work is as lead counsel or sole counsel, though he regularly acts as part of large counsel teams. His work often has connections in India, Africa, Middle East, and Central and East Asia.

Gustavo Moser practises as an independent arbitrator and consultant and is an arbitration specialist with LexisNexis Arbitration in London. He is admitted in England and Wales, Portugal and Brazil. He previously served as legal counsel at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and as legal officer at the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Centre in Geneva, and has also practised in Paris and in his native Brazil. He acts under leading institutional and ad hoc rules and has been a member of the Court of Arbitration of the Tashkent International Arbitration Centre (TIAC) since 2025. Gustavo holds a Ph.D. in International Commercial Law from the University of Basel, Switzerland. He has taught arbitration, negotiation, international sale of goods and intellectual property law, including at Queen Mary University of London and the Swiss International Law School. He is the author of several books on arbitration and cross-border commercial law.