Conference

European Mining Conference: Developments in Deep-Sea Mining and the EU Critical Raw Materials Act

Date: Friday 20 October 2023
Time: 10:00 - 19:00
Location: Wijnhaven
Turfmarkt 99
2511 DP The Hague
Room: 3.46

Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies together with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are pleased to invite you to the upcoming European mining and critical raw materials conference on 20 October 2023, to be held in person at the Hague Campus of Leiden University in the Netherlands.

Due to its strategic importance and high-risk nature, mining critical raw materials (whether on land or in the seabed) is tightly regulated and prone to legal disputes. The impending introduction of the ISA’s regulatory framework for deep-sea mining exploitation and the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act highlights the strategic importance of critical raw materials to the modern European economy, and will also raise a host of new issues and challenges for industry players.

For this reason, we have assembled a conference of leading experts from the International Seabed Authority and various European Institutions, as well as seasoned industry leaders, legal practitioners, and academics to share their unique perspectives in this important field.

Agenda

Friday 20 October 2023
10:00 - 10:45	Registration and Coffee
10:45 - 11:00	Welcome Remarks Prof. Eric De Brabandere, Director of the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies
11:00 - 11:30	Keynote Address Deep sea mining in the Area: Where we stand and how we move forward Keynote Speaker: Michael Lodge, International Seabed Authority Secretary-General
11:30 - 12:30	Panel 1 The Mining Code: Moving from Exploration to Exploitation Moderator: Katherine Khan, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Counsel Panellists: Mariana Durney, International Seabed Authority, Legal Counsel Dr. Hilde Woker, Assistant Professor of Public International Law at Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies (Leiden University) Daniel Rincon, Global Sea Mineral Resources, Senior Legal Counsel
12:30 - 14:00	Lunch
14:00 - 15:00	Panel 2 Resolving deep sea mining disputes: UNCLOS Dispute Settlement Mechanisms Moderator: Dr. Daniel Peat, Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, Associate Professor Panellists: Dr. Cymie Payne, Rutgers University and IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law, Ocean Law SG Chair Alexandra van der Meulen, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Counsel Evgeniya Goriatcheva, Permanent Court of Arbitration, Senior Counsel
15:00 - 16:00	Panel 3 The European Critical Raw Materials Act: Securing sustainable access to critical raw materials for the EU’s green and digital transition Moderator: Samantha Tirthdas, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Support Lawyer Panellists: Dr. Anna Marhold, Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, Assistant Professor Dr. Florian Anderhuber, Euromines, Director for Energy and Climate Prof. Kathleen Claussen, Georgetown University Law School, Professor
16:00 - 16:30	Coffee Break
16:30 - 17:30	Panel 4 Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Mining: Emerging Challenges in the Mining Industry Moderator: Prof. Eric De Brabandere, Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, Director Panellists: Eric Leikin, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Partner Jack Stirzaker, The Brattle Group, Principal William Panlilio, Litigation Capital Management, Global Disputes Counsel and Investment Manager
17:30 - 18:00	Closing Remarks Eric Leikin, Partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
18:00 - 19:00	Evening Cocktail Reception

For further information about this event or if you have any accessibility requirements, please reach out to Samantha Tirthdas at Samantha.Tirthdas@freshfields.com