Maxim Kulkov spoke at the Russian International Arbitration Congress (RIAC)

On 14 May, KK&P Managing Partner Maxim Kulkov took part in a session entitled From Implicit to Explicit: Understanding Arbitrators’ Inherent Powers at the main RIAC conference. Maxim raised the question of who controls the arbitration process, the arbitrators or the parties to arbitration?

During the session, experts discussed the role of arbitrators’ powers, emphasising that such powers are a manifestation of the will of the parties, and that the arbitration rules serve as an agreement on the boundaries of their competence. Arbitrators should act as judges, ensuring that the proceedings are conducted fairly and effectively, while the parties retain the right to shape the process. An important aspect is the balance between the independence of the arbitrator and the participation of the parties, which forms the basis for trust in the process. According to the speakers, modern arbitration has become an industry in which joint agreement on procedures is necessary from the very beginning to achieve transparency and make the proceedings effective.

The other speakers were Fatima Balfaqeeh (Advocates & Legal Consultancy), Bernardo M. Cremades (B. Cremades y Asociados), David Goldberg (Pinna Goldberg), Lilia Klochenko (Klochenko & Partners) and Abraham Vergis (Providence Law Asia).

The RIAC was held for the first time and was organised by the Russian Arbitration Centre (RAC). The programme featured a comprehensive business agenda, including the main RIAC event and variety of satellite events, the aims of which were to bring together legal professionals, scholars, and practitioners from around the world to engage in thoughtful discussions on the evolving landscape of international arbitration.