A sector analysis of claims and dispute causation: From Insight to Foresight
A regional analysis of the causes of claims and disputes on engineering and construction projects
Join HKA Partners and subject matter experts Tim Harwin and Stefan Brill in this interactive webinar as they identify the most prevalent causes of claims and disputes in the African region and share how you can better mitigate risks, minimise disruption, and deliver more successful projects.
Timothy Harwin is a civil engineer with nearly 25 years of experience in the construction industry. He has acted as a delay expert witness on more than 20 occasions. Tim has testified and been cross-examined as an expert witness in arbitration proceedings, including giving concurrent evidence. Tim specialises in the analysis of delay, disruption, and programming on construction projects.
Stefan Brill is a legal professional with over 22 years of experience in legal, commercial, quantum, delay, and claims-related roles. Over the past 11 years, he has specialised in construction and engineering, particularly power generation. His proficiency encompasses an array of disciplines, including claims and contract management, dispute resolution, and strategic advisory consultancy.
What will you learn?
The main disruptors of projects in your sector in Africa.
Ways to avoid the industry and Africa’s most common pitfalls – from contracts to design to behaviours.
Case studies on how real-life challenges can be resolved.
How to use the CRUX Interactive Dashboard to benchmark your performance.
We are pleased to announce that Loes van Bohemen will be speaking at the Global Class Actions and Mass Torts Conference 2026 with Perfect Law in London.
Loes will be joining a distinguished panel on “Damages Calculation and the Role of the Expert”, exploring how economic and expert evidence is developed, tested and relied upon in complex collective redress and mass tort proceedings.
The session will feature leading voices from across the international community, including:
Sam Marden, Vice President, European Competition Practice, Charles River Associates (UK)
A great panel for anyone interested in damages methodologies, expert evidence, and the evolving landscape of mass claims.
Join us in London
The Global Class Actions and Mass Torts Conference is a leading international forum focused on collective redress, bringing together judges, practitioners, economists and experts to examine how large‑scale claims are litigated and resolved across jurisdictions.
Loes van Bohemen is an economist with over 10 years of experience. She has assisted the named damages expert on several occasions.
Loes has been involved in arbitration and litigation proceedings regarding competition and commercial damages in the Netherlands and the UK. She has produced sections of expert reports and assisted in preparation for cross-examination.
Loes specialises in disputes involving interchange fees, cartel damages, and abuse of dominance. She has expertise in qualitative and quantitative analysis. Her qualitative analysis includes market definition, theory of harm, infringement of competition law, and assessment of market dominance, and her quantitative analyses involve overcharge, pass-on, loss of profits, and interest calculations.
Maintaining High Investigation Standards in a Shifting Regulatory and Geopolitical Landscape
As global enforcement priorities evolve and geopolitical tensions reshape regulatory expectations, investigation teams face mounting pressure to uphold rigorous standards in increasingly complex environments.
This panel, moderated by Priya Giuliani (Partner, HKA), brings together senior legal and investigations leaders to explore how banks can maintain investigative integrity, independence and quality amid heightened scrutiny, cross‑border risk and public interest.
Through candid discussion and real‑world insight, panellists will examine how enforcement trends are changing, what regulators now expect from investigation functions, and how institutions can future‑proof their approaches without losing professional judgement at the point of decision‑making.
Panel Speakers
Jamas Hodivala KC, Matrix Chambers
Tom Littlechild, Assistant General Counsel – International Financial Crime & Regulatory Expert, Wells Fargo
Maureen Lewis, Managing Director – Litigation, Investigations & Enforcement, Barclayss
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is designed for those responsible for managing culture, conduct, and regulatory risk across AFB member banks. It will be particularly valuable for:
Senior Managers
MLROs
Heads of Compliance, Risk and Legal
Culture and Conduct Leads
Priya Giuliani
Priya Giuliani is a Partner in HKA’s Investigations & Compliance practice with nearly 30 years of experience working with international banks, regulators, and law enforcement on financial crime risk management, governance, conduct and culture. She has extensive Skilled Person experience under the FCA’s s166 framework and deep insight into how cultural misalignment, weak escalation pathways and hierarchical norms can create compliance blind spots, the core themes explored in this workshop.
Priya is a recognised thought leader on organisational culture, behavioural science and the link between human behaviour and regulatory outcomes. She recently authored Culture Isn’t a Patch, It’s the Platform, which highlights culture as the “invisible operating system” of organisations, and she regularly speaks at industry conferences on how behavioural science can transform compliance and strengthen cultural integrity.
About the ACi 2026 Banking Forum
The ACi 2026 Banking Forum is a premier, full‑day gathering of investigation professionals, legal experts and senior leaders from across the financial services sector.
Hosted by Barclays at Canary Wharf, the forum brings together practitioners from some of the world’s leading financial institutions to examine the most pressing challenges facing banking investigations today.
This year’s agenda focuses on the issues that matter most to the profession, including:
Designing investigation frameworks that can scale
Integrating AI tools without undermining human judgement
Managing legal privilege and sensitive matters
Navigating high‑profile cases in the public eye
Maintaining investigation standards amid global enforcement change
With speakers from institutions including Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, Citi, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and leading KCs, the forum offers a rare opportunity to benchmark practice and engage in frank, peer‑to‑peer discussion.
International banks operating in the UK often navigate complex cultural tensions between home‑country norms and UK regulatory expectations. These differences can shape how risk is assessed, how issues are escalated, and how accountability is exercised with direct implications for compliance and supervisory outcomes.
This interactive HKA workshop, delivered in partnership with Association of Foreign Banks (AFB), explores how cultural friction arises in cross‑border banking environments and how it can unintentionally create compliance blind spots, weaken escalation pathways and undermine effective challenge.
Through practical case studies, scenario‑based discussion and expert insight, participants will examine how to align behaviours, decision‑making and communication styles with the UK’s principles‑based regulatory framework, while strengthening speak‑up culture and accountability across international teams.
Why Attend?
Understand how UK regulators interpret and respond to cultural misalignment
Learn how to embed proportionate, judgement‑led regulatory decision‑making
Strengthen “speak‑up” culture, escalation pathways, and internal challenge
Apply practical techniques to support cultural alignment in international teams
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is designed for those responsible for managing culture, conduct, and regulatory risk across AFB member banks. It will be particularly valuable for:
Senior Managers
MLROs
Heads of Compliance, Risk and Legal
Culture and Conduct Leads
Speaker Bios
Priya Giuliani
Priya Giuliani is a Partner in HKA’s Investigations & Compliance practice with nearly 30 years of experience working with international banks, regulators, and law enforcement on financial crime risk management, governance, conduct and culture. She has extensive Skilled Person experience under the FCA’s s166 framework and deep insight into how cultural misalignment, weak escalation pathways and hierarchical norms can create compliance blind spots, the core themes explored in this workshop.
Priya is a recognised thought leader on organisational culture, behavioural science and the link between human behaviour and regulatory outcomes. She recently authored Culture Isn’t a Patch, It’s the Platform, which highlights culture as the “invisible operating system” of organisations, and she regularly speaks at industry conferences on how behavioural science can transform compliance and strengthen cultural integrity.
Noémi Klein
Noémi Kleinis a Director in HKA’s Investigations & Compliance team, bringing more than a decade of experience in financial crime risk management, compliance and investigations across global banks, consulting firms and regulatory environments. Her work includes Skilled Person Reviews, business‑wide risk assessments, target operating model transformations, and large‑scale remediation programmes for major international financial institutions.
Noémi’s career includes roles at international financial institutions including ING, Standard Chartered, Citibank and MoneyGram, where she has worked across Europe, Asia, the US and the Middle East. She regularly contributes to industry dialogue through speaking engagements, moderating workshops, and authoring thought leadership.
About the AFB
Association of Foreign Banks (AFB) was established in 1947 to be the voice of foreign banks in the UK. Foreign banks oversee over half of all regulated capital in the UK and significantly underpin UK GDP. They engage in a wide range of banking and investment business activities, primarily in the wholesale markets. Foreign banks make a significant contribution to the UK as a major international financial centre; and to the depth and breadth of markets globally, facilitating global trade.
These firms play an important part in the UK economy by investing and supporting new business, as well as providing jobs across the country. AFB represents the interests of foreign banks in the UK to stakeholders, including HM Treasury and regulators. It has around 170 banks in its membership, representing c80% of the market, including GSIBs such as Citigroup, Bank of China, JP Morgan, and BNP Paribas.
Please note you will receive confirmation of your booking via email within 24 hours. Should you not receive confirmation, please contact AFB to double-check if your booking was successful. If you would like to submit a question or have any specific areas that you would like the session to address, please send them to AFB at secretariat@foreignbanks.org.uk.
Please note that the cost charged for this event is payable to AFB. HKA Global is not charging AFB or members for hosting this event. The delegate fees received for this workshop are invested in the ongoing running and administration of AFB.
HKA is pleased to be supporting and speaking at the DRBF 2026 International Conference, taking place from 13–15 May 2026 at the Auditorium Antonianum in Rome, Italy.
The annual conference of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) is a key international event for the global Dispute Resolution Board (DRB) community. The 2026 conference marks a milestone year, celebrating 30 years of DRBF, and will bring together practitioners, experts and industry leaders from around the world.
HKA at DRBF 2026
HKA is proud to be sponsoring the conference translation services, supporting inclusive and meaningful participation for an international audience. This aligns with HKA’s core purpose of decoding complexity. Here we are ensuring that language is not a barrier to collaboration, understanding or effective dispute resolution.
Francesco Capotorto will attend the conference on behalf of HKA, engaging with peers across the global DRB community and contributing to discussions on dispute avoidance and project delivery.
His session is entitled Intelligent Dispute Boards: Leveraging AI for Dispute Avoidance and Efficient Dispute Resolution
Join Us in Rome
The DRBF 2026 International Conference promises a thoughtful and practical programme, bringing together the global DRB community in a landmark year for the foundation.
We look forward to connecting with colleagues and contributing to the conversation in Rome.
Francesco Capotorto is a Chartered Engineer with over 20 years’ experience supporting delay and quantum experts on complex, high‑value disputes. He has assisted in arbitrations under ICC, LCIA and SIAC rules, as well as adjudications, litigation and negotiated resolutions, preparing expert reports and analyses on matters valued at up to $850 million. Francesco specialises in energy, power, oil and gas, offshore and industrial projects, with expertise spanning delay and disruption analysis, planning, contract management and ADR. Dual‑qualified in engineering management and construction law, he is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an active contributor to the international construction law community.
HKA is pleased to be speaking at the 1st Eastern European Regional Society of Construction Law (SCL) Conference, taking place on 27 April 2026 in Belgrade, Serbia.
Titled “Construction Across Borders”, this landmark event brings together construction law professionals from across Eastern Europe for a day of practical insight, regional collaboration and high‑level discussion.
11:10am: Construction and Contracting in the Nuclear Sector
This session will explore the legal, contractual and risk considerations unique to the nuclear sector, drawing on cross‑border project experience and international best practice.
Károly Bagócsi, Junior Partner, Balázs & Kovátsits Legal Partnership
Nicolas Bouchardie, Partner, White & Case
Roxana Vornicu, Managing Partner, Sirbu & Vornicu Law
Frank Thomas, Founding Partner, Thomas‑Koziarski Consulting
14:25pm: Digital Technologies and AI on Construction Sites and in Dispute Avoidance / Resolution
This panel will examine how digital tools and artificial intelligence are transforming construction delivery, claims management and dispute avoidance, and how these technologies are increasingly used in dispute resolution.
Živa Filipič, Managing Counsel, ICC International Court of Arbitration
Svetlana Borisova, Managing Director, Build DRS
Bence Rajkai, Senior Associate, Cerha Hempel
Stanisław Koziarski, Founding Partner, Thomas‑Koziarski Consulting
Milan Lazić, Senior Partner, Karanović & Partners
Yasemin Çetinel, Founder, Çetinel Law Firm
Join Us in Belgrade
Organised by the Society of Construction Law Serbia, together with the Bulgarian, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian and Turkish Societies of Construction Law, and in association with the European Society of Construction Law (ESCL) and SCL International, this conference marks the first regional SCL event for Eastern Europe.
The focus will be on practical experience rather than theoretical debate, addressing real‑world challenges in financing, delivering and resolving disputes on complex cross‑border construction projects.
Huseyin Karanci is a civil engineer with over 18 years’ experience specialising in construction programming, delay analysis and project management on complex, high‑value disputes. He has been appointed as delay and programming expert on multiple occasions and has provided expert opinion in arbitration, adjudication and mediation for building, infrastructure and energy projects exceeding £1 billion in value. Recognised by Lexology Index as a Future Leader in Construction, Huseyin brings extensive cross‑border project insight drawn from major projects across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Angelica Boca is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with over 25 years of experience in the construction and engineering industry and acts as a quantum expert on complex, high‑value disputes. She has extensive experience in international arbitration, UK adjudication and FIDIC dispute adjudication boards, providing expert evidence on claims exceeding €300 million across multiple European jurisdictions. Angelica specialises in the quantification of prolongation, disruption, acceleration and variation claims, and is widely recognised by Lexology Index as a leading professional in construction quantum and expert evidence.
We are pleased to announce that Juan Francisco Nasser, CFA will be speaking at Open Arbitraje, taking place on 7 May 2026 in Madrid, Spain.
Open Arbitraje is a leading international arbitration congress that brings together senior professionals from across the arbitration ecosystem, including law firms, in‑house counsel, arbitrators, experts, arbitration institutions and leading companies.
For two days, Madrid becomes the international capital of arbitration, hosting a conference that combines academic excellence, practical insight and an innovative delegate experience, designed to promote high-level knowledge exchange and meaningful networking.
Session Overview
Blind spots in M&A Arbitration, Transactional Insurance and W&I
Juan Francisco will participate in a panel exploring key risk areas and emerging issues at the intersection of M&A arbitration, transactional insurance and warranty & indemnity (W&I) policies, drawing on practical experience and case-driven insight.
The session will feature leading voices from across the international arbitration community, including:
Miguel Relaño, Clyde & Co
Cristina Soler, RAMCO Litigation Funding
Emma Morales, Simmons & Simmons
Roger Rubio, Profesor USIL / Presidente de AmCham Perú
Who Should Attend
Open Arbitraje is designed for professionals involved in international arbitration and dispute resolution, including:
Law firms and arbitration practitioners
In‑house counsel and corporate legal teams
Arbitrators, mediators and adjudicators
Experts and consultants
Arbitration institutions and funders
Companies engaged in cross-border disputes
Join Us in Madrid
Open Arbitraje offers a unique opportunity to engage with peers from across the global arbitration community, share insight on emerging trends, and connect with leading practitioners in a dynamic international setting. The programme reflects the realities of modern dispute resolution, blending theoretical analysis with real‑world perspectives from those actively shaping the international arbitration landscape.
Juan Francisco Nasser is a forensic accountant and corporate development professional with over 20 years’ experience, acting as a quantum and valuation expert in commercial disputes. He has provided expert testimony more than 65 times in arbitration and court proceedings, in both English and Spanish, on disputes exceeding €600 million, and is recognised as a Future Leader in Arbitration by Lexology Index.
He specialises in damages quantification, contentious valuations and complex financial analysis across sectors including energy, infrastructure, technology and real estate. Juan is a CFA charterholder, accredited valuation expert and practising forensic accountant, with international experience across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.
We are pleased to announce that Helen Collie will be speaking at ICLA 2026, taking place on 19–20 May 2026 in Dublin, Ireland, hosted at the iconic Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)
This landmark international conference will bring together senior legal, commercial and technical professionals to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the construction industry today: the successful delivery of megaprojects through innovative contracting and delivery models.
The 2026 conference theme, Megaprojects at home and abroad: Delivery models for project success and dispute avoidance, will explore how modern project delivery and contracting approaches can improve outcomes on large-scale infrastructure and construction projects, while reducing the risk of disputes. Through expert-led sessions and global case studies, the programme will examine how these models are being applied in practice and how they can be adapted to different legal and regulatory environments.
The ICLA 2026 Conference is designed for senior decision-makers and practitioners involved in megaproject delivery, including:
Government Officials and Policymakers: Responsible for infrastructure planning, procurement policy and regulatory frameworks
Construction Law Practitioners: Lawyers specialising in major projects, international contracts and dispute resolution
Major Contractors and Developers: Organisations delivering or pursuing megaproject opportunities
Project Finance Professionals: Banks, funds and advisors involved in infrastructure financing
Engineering and Design Firms: Providers of technical and advisory services on major projects
Dispute Resolution Professionals: Arbitrators, mediators and adjudicators specialising in construction
Academic Researchers: Scholars focused on project delivery, construction law and infrastructure policy
Helen will contribute her expertise as part of the conference programme, sharing insights drawn from her experience advising on complex construction and infrastructure matters. Her session will form part of the broader discussion on effective project delivery and dispute avoidance in large-scale projects.
Further details on Helen’s session and the full conference agenda will be announced by the organisers in due course.
HKA experts will be speaking at the From Investment to Dispute Resolution: Türkiye – Romania Conference, a high‑level forum bringing together legal, commercial, and technical perspectives on cross‑border investment, construction contracts, and dispute resolution.
The conference explores the evolving legal and contractual landscape across Türkiye and Romania, with a particular focus on construction and infrastructure projects, economic rebalancing, and dispute resolution mechanisms in an increasingly complex global environment.
Panel 3: Construction Contracts and Dispute Resolution
15:15 – 16:45 (UTC/GMT +3)
Moderator Ekrem Kaya, Vice President, Society of Construction Law (SCL)
Panellists include:
Petru Nicolae
Matei Purice
Angelina Boca
İdil Bozoğlu
Bilge Müftüoğlu
The session will examine how construction contracts and dispute resolution approaches are adapting to economic volatility, technological change, and increasing complexity in cross‑border projects.
Meet the HKA Speakers
Ekrem Kaya is a Partner at HKA and a highly experienced disputes and expert services professional, specialising in construction and infrastructure projects. He has extensive experience acting as expert, adviser, and project leader in complex international disputes across arbitration and litigation.
Ekrem regularly supports clients on matters involving delay, disruption, quantum, and contract interpretation, particularly in large‑scale infrastructure and energy projects. His work spans multiple jurisdictions and dispute forums, and he is recognised for his ability to bridge legal, technical, and commercial considerations with clarity and rigour.
In addition to his role at HKA, Ekrem is Vice President of the Society of Construction Law (SCL), where he is actively involved in thought leadership and professional development within the international construction law community.
Angelina Boca is a Principal at HKA with expertise in construction disputes, expert services, and the application of data and technology in claims and dispute resolution.
Her work focuses on the analysis of complex project information, expert evidence development, and the evolving role of technology, including data analytics and AI‑enabled tools, in supporting expert assessments. Angelina has supported a wide range of domestic and international disputes, working closely with legal counsel and clients to deliver robust, defensible expert analysis.
At the conference, Angelina will explore how the role of the expert is evolving in the AI era, including the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies and what they mean for independence, judgement, and expert credibility.
Networking
A cocktails and networking reception will take place immediately following this panel session, providing an opportunity for delegates to continue discussions and connect with peers across the legal, construction, and infrastructure community.
Designed for busy AML, sanctions and financial crime practitioners, the seminar provides a comprehensive update on regulatory change, supervisory expectations, emerging risks, and best practice approaches across the sector. Delegates benefit from a mix of lecture‑style presentations and highly interactive sessions led by experienced industry specialists.
HKA Masterclass – Tuesday, 22 April
Addressing New & Emerging Risks Through Dynamic Risk Assessment – Strengthening Your Controls
Anu Ratan, EMEA Head of FCC RegChange & Global Programmes, BNY; FCC Co‑Chair, AFME
James Ward, Global Internal Audit – FinCrime & Fraud, HSBC
Matt Allen, Head of Policy & Complex Advisory, Economic Crime, Santander
This masterclass will examine how organisations can strengthen their control environments by adopting a more dynamic approach to risk assessment. The session will explore how emerging risks are evolving across the financial crime landscape, and how firms can adapt their frameworks, governance, and decision‑making processes to maintain resilience and compliance.
Attendees will gain practical insights into:
Enhancing cross‑functional collaboration to support better outcomes
Understanding new and emerging risk drivers
Moving from static to dynamic financial crime risk assessment
Strengthening controls and governance
Embedding agility into risk management frameworks
About the AMLP Forum Seminar
Now in its 22nd year, the seminar represents one of the UK’s leading gatherings for AML/CTF and financial crime professionals. The event brings together policymakers, regulators, law enforcement, and senior industry practitioners to share perspectives on strategic developments and the future direction of financial crime compliance.
Priya Giuliani is a specialist in financial crime investigations & compliance with nearly 30 years’ experience, including a decade as a Partner. She specialises in helping clients on a proactive basis to assess and manage the risk of financial crime including assessing governance, oversight, conduct, and training Senior Managers and Boards. Her investigative experience provides insight in to how various financial crime types (e.g. money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing, sanctions and tax evasion, bribery, corruption and fraud) can occur, including through the use of professional enablers, and the controls required to manage these risks effectively. Priya has been appointed on many Skilled Person engagements. Widely regarded as a well-qualified and highly experienced expert in financial crime risk management and investigations. She understands risk well and works with clients to assess and develop proportionate and effective control frameworks.
