Category: News

Our delegation attended the conference on 23 October in Istanbul. Filip Živanović, Danica Misojčić, Milan Jovin and Maja Todorović, all under 35, took part in the Workshop on 24 October. Dragan Psodorov and Milan Perić also represented SCL Serbia at the ESCL General Assembly.

SCL Serbia covered the conference attendance of all four younger members and the workshop places for two of them. ESCL funded the workshop places for the other two, and we are grateful for that support.

Our thanks to European Society of Construction Law (ESCL) and Society of Construction Law Türkiye for hosting an excellent event.

On 15 October 2026, SCL Serbia held a panel discussion in Belgrade on concurrent delay. When Employer Delay and Contractor Delay overlap, who bears the consequences? Contracts rarely deal with this, yet the answer determines entitlement to an extension of time, recovery of costs and the Employer’s right to delay damages.

The question was opened through debate rather than presentations. The discussion covered the difference between true concurrent delay and concurrent effect, the approach of the Delay and Disruption Protocol, and contract provisions that address the issue.

Panellists:

• Ivana Panić
• Boris Baklaja
• Dragan Kostadinov
• Vladimir Vencl

Moderator: Milan Perić

The summary and photos are on the Past events page.

Professor Doug Jones AO, international arbitrator and recipient of the 2025 SCL International Medal, will deliver a keynote address at SCLI 2027 in Belgrade.

His address, Who Disputes That There Is a Dispute: The Challenge of Diversity of Expertise in International Construction Dispute Resolution, considers how dispute boards and arbitral tribunals can draw on the right combination of technical and legal expertise. Lawyers have come to dominate arbitral tribunals, while technical experts once played a greater role. Professor Jones will examine how the need for expertise can be recognised and how diversity of expertise can be deployed on dispute boards and in international construction arbitration.

The full summary and biography are on the SCLI 2027 website.

The SCL UK Astra International Conference took place in Belgrade on 1 and 2 October 2026. It brought together construction law professionals from across the globe for panel discussions, expert-led sessions and a keynote from Mr Justice Constable, Judge in Charge of the Technology and Construction Court.

SCL Serbia members among the speakers:

• Milan Perić: Session 1, Construction DABs in Practice
• Jovan Nikčević: Session 3, The Persuasion Gap
• Dragan Psodorov and Senka Mihaj: Session 4, Delegating to AI
• Katarina Obradović Baklaja: Session 5, Risk Allocation in an Age of Permanent Disruption

We thank SCL UK for bringing the conference to Belgrade. Videos and photos are on the Past events page.

SCL Serbia is launching its first Mentoring Scheme for students and young professionals interested in construction law and construction dispute resolution.

Over nine months from November 2026, small groups of mentees will work with an experienced mentor and a facilitator. The scheme is free of charge and open to non-members.

Applications are made through a short questionnaire, in Serbian, on the Mentoring Scheme page, by 31 October 2026.

On 22 September 2026, SCL Serbia held a lecture with the Construction Industry Association of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. It considered whether the Protocol’s concepts and principles apply under the law of the Republic of Serbia, and whether they are compatible with it.

The panellists were both members of the team that translated the second edition of the Protocol into Serbian. The lecture followed the presentation of the translation at the Chamber on 26 February 2026.

Panellists: Milan Lazić and Dragan Psodorov
Moderator: Jovana Rubežić

We thank the Chamber for its cooperation. The summary and photos are on the Past events page, and the translation is available to download here.

On 10 September 2026, SCL Serbia held a panel discussion in Belgrade on who owns the float in a construction programme. The question appears simple but rarely has a simple answer. It becomes decisive when float must be taken into account in establishing entitlement to an extension of time and the associated costs.

The panel examined the question from the perspectives of the employer, the contractor, legal counsel and arbitration. The event was attended by 33 members, who took an active part in the discussion.

Panellists: Senka Mihaj, Jovana Rubežić, Mikhail Pokataev and Filip Živanović
Moderator: Milan Perić

The summary and photos are on the Past events page.

A strong programme, and a welcome occasion to host the international construction law community in Belgrade.

Registrations Are Open for the ESCL Conference 2026.

Join leading practitioners, academics, and industry professionals in Istanbul for two days of discussions on current developments, emerging challenges, and future trends in construction law and dispute resolution.

23–24 October 2026

The Marmara Pera Hotel, Istanbul, Türkiye

Save the date!

29 September – 1 October 2027

Belgrade, Serbia