Disputes Day 2025 provides insights on dispute avoidance and resolution in strategic projects – Register to the event now!
Strategic projects are a necessity for remaining competitive, since they drive growth, innovation and large-scale development. However, managing risks and avoiding disputes throughout the project lifecycle is increasingly challenging, as strategic projects have become more complex. Krogerus Disputes Day 2025 on 18 March will focus on navigating the operational landscape of strategic projects and providing practical insights on how to manage risks and resolve disputes effectively in these high-stakes projects.
Date & time: Tuesday, 18 March 2025 from 12 noon till 7 pm
Venue: Little Finlandia, Karamzininranta 4, Helsinki
Join us for Krogerus Disputes Day 2025, our annual live conference offering practical insights to help companies navigate the complexities of legal disputes. The event is hosted by Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution, Kirsi Kannaste, Partner Thomas Kolster and other Krogerus’ dispute resolution experts.
Strategic projects drive growth, but they tend to be prone to disputes
Strategic projects – be they greenfield production facilities, acquisitions, or new product launches – are the backbone of many sectors. Strategic projects enable companies to drive growth, for example, by enhancing productivity, developing innovative technologies and expanding into new markets. They can strengthen the company's competitive position, attract investments and create opportunities for long-term profitability and sustainability.
Nevertheless, strategic projects often come with a unique set of challenges that can result in disputes, especially when the complexity and financial stakes are high, and regulatory environments grow more complex by the day. "Managing these business-critical disputes effectively is vital to minimising risks and maintaining momentum in high-stakes strategic projects", says Kirsi.
The complexity of strategic projects leads to risk management related challenges
Strategic projects involve significant financial, operational and regulatory risks. As these projects are often critical for businesses, disputes are not uncommon. Managing risks and avoiding disputes throughout the project lifecycle has, however, become increasingly challenging, since:
- Strategic projects have become more complex, with multiple interconnected parties not always in direct contractual relationships.
- The effects of decisions multiply and affect an increasing number of intertwined interests, which can make the project more prone to disagreements.
- The alignment of interests and compliance with sometimes divergent regulatory requirements further complicate the management of the project.
- Fostering clear communication between the different stakeholders requires both time and systematic efforts.
Strategic projects may lead to various types of disputes from court proceedings and arbitration to administrative processes. The dispute can arise from various factors, such as contract interpretation issues, unforeseen external circumstances or change in scope. "A key challenge in managing disputes related to strategic projects is balancing project continuity with an on-going dispute. Especially if the dispute is business-critical, the impact can potentially have substantial effects on the strategic project and its success", adds Thomas.
Disputes Day offers insights on the management of strategic projects – from potential risks to disputes
"The overall goal of Disputes Day is to shed light on recent trends in strategic projects, the best practices for managing such projects, and how to avoid and resolve business-critical disputes effectively in these high-stakes projects", summarise Kirsi and Thomas, and add: "In our day-to-day jobs, our focus is on helping our clients navigate complex legal situations and the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. With Disputes Day, we wanted to extend some of our Dispute Resolution teams' daily discussions to our external stakeholders, and bring together experts from different sectors to share knowledge and experiences related to the successful management of strategic projects."
The participants will gain insights on risk mitigation and dispute avoidance at every stage of the strategic project, from early planning to execution. Additionally, the event will shed light on how disputes arise in such projects and how to balance project continuity with an on-going dispute.
During the event we will cover the following topics with our renowned guest speakers:
- Successful project management from planning to execution, in a panel discussion with Leena Kujansuu-Tikkanen from Hitachi Energy, Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen from Åbo Akademi University, and Sami Laine from Krogerus. Drawing on real-world experiences, the panel will explore strategies for mitigating risks at every stage of the project, from contract drafting to the end of the warranty period. Key topics of the discussion include drafting contracts that anticipate potential issues, fostering clear communication between stakeholders and developing proactive dispute avoidance strategies.
- Lessons learned from strategic projects triggered by external disruption, with Johanna Ijäs, VP and Head of Compliance & Risk Management at Metso.
- Managing business critical disputes, in a panel discussion with Andrew Cannon from Herbert Smith Freehills, Micaela Thorström from Stora Enso, and Nuno Bizarro from Sonae. The panel will explore the key challenges in managing disputes and the roles various stakeholders – project managers, contractors, and financiers – play in dispute resolution. The discussion aims to understand how disputes arise in such projects, which parts of the project are particularly dispute-prone and the impact of an expanding regulatory framework.
- Recent developments in international arbitration, with Gary Born, Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.
Register by 3 March
Registration is open until Monday, 3 March or until the event is fully booked. Read more about the event and register on the Disputes Day's website!
