Chairman's Note
Dear Members of the European Society of Construction Law (ESCL),
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the General Assembly for electing me to serve as Chairman of the Council. Your support means a great deal to me. I am excited to take on this role and contribute to the continued success of our Society. Over the past decade, our community has offered me countless opportunities for learning and collaboration, and I am grateful for the chance to give back.
In my vest of new Chairman, I am thrilled to bring to your attention some of the exciting events we have lined up, particularly the ESCL Conference 2024, which was held on 18 October in the beautiful city of Antwerp, Belgium.
The conference was exceptionally well-organized, covering a wide range of topics such as the design responsibility, the architect's role, construction standards, regulatory frameworks, early contractor involvement, procurement processes, fit-for-purpose buildings, circular construction, etc. These topics, of great relevance to the European construction sector, were discussed with numerous references to real-world examples, legislation, and areas for improvement. The ESCL Conference 2024 was a resounding success, providing a unique opportunity to network with delegations from member states, practitioners from beyond the EU, and academics seeking new research avenues in the construction field. The success of the ESCL Conference 2024 is due to the hard work of Luc Imbrechts, member of the Council, and his team. Their meticulous attention to detail has made this conference a truly enjoyable and productive event, fostering new ideas and inspiring future endeavors.
ESCL Webinars:
In September and October 2024, we hosted two engaging webinars. On 19 September, Francesco Capotorto of Ankura (London) delivered a comprehensive presentation on 'Recent Developments in Construction Disputes: Unraveling Artificial Intelligence's Impact in Expert Witness Investigations'. On 23 October, Florian Englert of Prof Englert and Partners Rechtsanwälte (Germany) delved into the complex issue of 'Offshore explosive ordnance clearance as a European challenge', highlighting its significant impact on the construction sector, particularly renewable energy projects. Both webinar presentations are now publicly accessible on the ESCL website. We are currently planning our next events for early 2025 and invite you to submit proposals for potential topics and speakers. The Council will carefully evaluate each suggestion, considering the originality of the topic, the speaker's expertise, and their geographic location to ensure a broad European reach.
ESCL Conference, Naples, 26 September 2025 - Save the Date
As anticipated in our previous newsletter of October 2024, the next ESCL Conference will be held on 26 September, 2025, in the wonderful city of Naples (Italy). The conference will be dedicated to analyzing and delving into the complex and fascinating balance between the interests underlying a Construction Project and those related to the cultural context in which it is situated. "Construction Projects and Cultural Context" is the title of a conference that will focus on analyzing the importance of respecting the cultural context, the development of smart cities in ancient cities, the proliferation of renewable energy production plants in proximity to contexts of high artistic impact, the inevitable coexistence of people from different origins and the related construction of works that are inserted in places of different origins, and so on.
Further details will be available soon on this newsletter and on the ESCL and ISCL websites.
Call for abstracts
We invite potential speakers to submit abstracts for panels and sessions, contributing to the diverse and rich discussions at the ESCL Conference of Naples dated 26 September 2025 and dedicated to “Construction Projects and the Cultural Context”.
The deadline is set for January 17th, 2025.
ESCL Workshop, Naples, 27 September 2025
For the first time, participants at the ESCL Conference will have the opportunity to attend an in-depth workshop on 27 September, the day after the conference.
This will be an in-depth analysis session limited to 20 participants. With the support of esteemed speakers, attendees will analyze and discuss new developments in construction law, with a particular, though not exclusive, focus on “ADR and cultural property”.
Further details will be available soon on this newsletter and on the ESCL and ISCL websites.
This is the beginning of a new journey together to promote the study of the construction industry, the exchange of ideas, and the affirmation of new opportunities for personal, cultural, and professional growth.
Warm regards,
Roberto Panetta
Chairman of Council, ESCL
| 
