“The Future of Dispute Resolution – Evolutionary Transformation without Disruption”

Like any other profession, trade and business, the legal profession has been undergoing significant change since the global financial crisis of the years 2007 and 2008. New tendering practices and pricing models for legal services, the market entry of alternative service providers and the emergence of legal tech tools are just a few prominent examples of these changes.There is no doubt that these changes impact the role, work and, consequently, business models of lawyers. They are so substantial that some even proclaim the end of lawyers.

In his keynote, Johannes P. Willheim, will talk about the changes which affect the work of disputes lawyers specifically and his vision of the disputes professionals of the future. His outlook is positive for those in need of the support of dispute professionals as well as the professionals themselves. In his view, the current developments are not disruptive but rather evolutionary, transforming disputes lawyers to holistic dispute professionals. Dispute professionals who not only represent their clients in specific expert proceedings, but rather advise their clients how to best deal and manage disputes and guide them through the process.

Johannes is convinced that the transformative evolution of dispute professionals will not only lead to new, more extensive, law firm offerings, but also new academic training offerings for disputes professionals.

Johannes Willheim has 20 years of experience in large-scale and high-stakes international arbitration and complex litigation involving antitrust, corporate and post-transaction, energy, engineering and construction (EPC and EPCM), distribution, insurance, IP, and regulatory disputes. Johannes also is experienced in arbitrating and litigating cases involving EU competition law, distribution, and IP (including patent) issues both on the enforcement and defense sides. He is currently handling major gas price revision disputes throughout Europe for one of the world's leading producers of natural gas. Johannes works out of Jones Day’s Frankfurt, London, and Paris Offices.

Johannes's work is characterized by a holistic approach aimed at the effective and efficient management of disputes and their resolution. He acts as a trusted party advisor to clients prior to, during, and post formal proceedings, as well as an advocate in formal arbitration, litigation, and ADR proceedings. Johannes has been appointed as an arbitrator, mediator, and independent expert in DIS, ICC, VIAC, and other institutional and ad hoc arbitration and mediation proceedings.

In addition to his disputes work, Johannes coordinates the Firm's Austrian law desk, which includes several lawyers admitted to the Austrian bar who offer a wide range of Austrian corporate, commercial, and regulatory services, particularly in the areas of M&A and financial services transactions. He and his Austrian qualified colleagues regularly represent Jones Day clients before Austrian courts and governmental authorities.

Johannes is a guest lecturer on topics relating to international arbitration at academic institutions around the globe, and he is a frequent speaker at arbitration, antitrust, and energy conferences. He is the author of numerous publications related to these topics.

This is event is cosponsored by the University of Chicago Law School's International Programs and the International Law Society.

Lunch will be provided.