2026 LAW PRO

23rd Annual International Conference on Law
organized by the Law Unit of the Athens Institute

Tentative Program (Athens Local Time)

13-18 July 2026
9 Chalkokondili Street, 10677 Athens, Greece

(Note 1: the program is organized along time slots and not according to common theme)
(Note 2: at the end of each session questions and discussions will follow)


Monday 13 July 2026


08:30-09:00
Registration

09:00-09:45 Opening Speech and Welcoming Remarks
Speakers:
Gregory T. Papanikos, President, Athens Institute & Professor (Adjunct), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.

09:45-11:30 Session 1
Session 1a
Moderator: 
Jorge Emilio Núñez, Head, Law Unit, Athens Institute & Reader, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
Session 1b
Moderator: 
Elias Grivoyannis, Associate Professor, Yeshiva University, USA.
  1. Llezlie Green, Professor, Georgetown University Law Center, USA.
    Title: Democratic Erosion in Frontline Courts.
  2. L. Ali Khan, Emeritus Professor, Washburn University School of Law, USA.
    Title: War Powers, Immunity, and Disregard for International Law: The Rise of an Unaccountable U.S. President.
  3. Atinuke Adediran, Associate Professor, Fordham University School of Law, USA.
    Title:  Presidential Power and the Corporate Governance of Race.
  4. Shpresa Salihu, PhD Candidate, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
    Title: The International Law of Disobedience International Law is Dead, Long Live International Law.
  1. Hyeon Tak Shin, Professor, Korea University, South Korea.
    Title: AI Sycophancy and the Regulatory Gaps.
  2. Michael Birnhack, Professor, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
    Title: Demonstrations as a Site of Surveillance.
  3. Claudio Sarra, Associate Professor, University of Padova, Italy.
    Title: Talking with the Machine: Legal Relevance of Algorithmic Persuasion.
  4. Doina Popescu Ljungholm, Senior Lecturer, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Romania.
    Title: Ensuring Justice and Non-discrimination in Automated Decision-Making: A Fundamental Rights Perspective.
  5. Mthuthukisi Malahleka, PhD Candidate, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
    Title: The Right to Erasure in the Presence of Data Leakage: A Law and Economic Approach.

 

11:30-13:00 Session 2
Session 2a
Moderator: 
L. Ali Khan, Emeritus Professor, Washburn University School of Law, USA.
Session 2b
Moderator: 
Claudio Sarra, Associate Professor, University of Padova, Italy.
  1. Prapin Nuchpiam, Associate Dean for Academic and International Affairs, National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Thailand.
    Title: Applying the Veil Piercing Doctrine in Thailand: The Study of Section 44 of the Consumer Case Procedure Act.
  2. Elias Grivoyannis, Associate Professor, Yeshiva University, USA.
    Title: The Malpractice Decoupling: A Five-Iteration Meta-Synthesis and Conceptual Framework for Forensic Economics.
  3. Jacomina Horn, Associate Professor, University of the Free State, South Africa.
    Title: A South African Approach to the Transformation of Property Characteristics.
  4. Nick Papatheodorakos, Faculty Member, Concordia University, Canada.
    Title: The Case for Labour Board Appointments in Arbitration Cases.

  1. Hafiz Gaffar, Associate Professor, Sultan Qaboos University, College of Law, Oman.
    Title: The Integration of Clinical Legal Education in Omani Law Schools: Challenges and Expectations.
  2. Mahlubandile Ntontela, Lecturer, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.
    Title: Incorporating Multilingualism into the Learning and Teaching of the Llb Curriculum at Nelson Mandela University.
  3. Jill St George, Lecturer, The Open University, UK.
    Title: Constructing a Legal Gap Analysis: Barbados and LGBTQ+ Persons.
  4. Magdalena Katz, Independent Researcher, Poland.
    Title: The EU as an Area of Freedom, Security and … Diplomacy.

 

13:00-14:30 Session 3
Session 3a
Moderator: Jacomina Horn
, Associate Professor, University of the Free State, South Africa.
Session 3b
Moderator TBA
  1. Kamalesh Newaj, Associate Professor, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
    Title: Closing the Gap: Compensation for Sexual Harassment Under South Africa’s Occupational Injuries Framework.
  2. Daniel Fenwick, Senior Lecturer, Northumbria University, UK.
    Helen Fenwick, Professor, Durham University, UK.
    Title: Online Suicide Sites: Protection for Children Under Online Regulation?
  3. Ntandokayise Ndlovu, Senior Lecturer, University of Fort Hare & Child Rights Expert, African Union Commission on Child Rights, South Africa.
    Title: The Future Looks Bright on the Protection of the Rights and Dignity of Women: Reflections on the SADC Model on GBV and the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.
  4. Manuela Luciana Borgese, PhD Student, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy.
    Title: Protecting Minors in European Law: Consumer Regulation in Gaming.
  5. Sharna-Lee Clarke, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Law, Emeris University, South Africa.
    Title: Re-Imagining Equality and Participation under the African Human Rights System to Ensure Digital Accessibility and Political Participation of Children with Disabilities
  1. Rachelle Perkins, Associate Professor, George Washington University Law School & Tenured Professor, George Mason University Law School, USA.
    Title: Compliance Whiplash and the Politics of Invisible Income.
  2. Domenico Bilotti, Associate Professor, Magna Graecia University, Italy.
    Title: The Path to the Relationship between Constitutional and Religious Freedom: Joaquim, Telesio and Rossi.
  3. Veronique Tatchell, Lecturer, University of Fort Hare, South Africa.
    Title: Transforming Workplace Culture: Racism, Equality, and the Limits of Legal Regulation.
  4. Anka Mohoric Kenda, Affiliated Researcher, Institute of Public Administration, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
    Title: Realizing the Right to Life in the Context of Health Care.
  5. Anusara Sawangchai, PhD Student, Thammasat University, Thailand.
    Title: Barriers to Justice for Cyber Fraud Victims in Digital Banking System.

14:30-15:30 Lunch 

15:30-17:30 Session 4
Moderator:
Doina Popescu Ljungholm, Senior Lecturer, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Romania.
  1. Raphael Reiss, Research Assistant & PhD Student, University of Cologne, Germany.
    Title: A Comparative Overview of Confidentiality Protections in Mediation – How Safe are your Secrets?
  2. Mihaela Palade-Ropotan, PhD Student, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galati, Romania.
    Title: The Vision of Romanian Legislation Regarding the Admissibility of Evidence, in General, and Electronic Evidence, in Particular, in Cross-Border Criminal Proceedings Within the European Union.
  3. Wanchai Akpornpis, PhD Student, Thammasat University, Thailand.
    Title: The Senate’s Role in Overseeing the Reform of Justice in Thailand: A Case Study on Legislative Consideration and Public Participation.
  4. Anna Bogdanova, Postgraduate Student, Kazan Innovative University, Russia.
    Title: Responsibility for Attacks on the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure under the Laws of the People’s Republic of China.
  5. Zeynep Guler Ozer, Attorney at Law, Güler Law & Consultancy, Türkiye.
    Title: The Child’s Right to Know their Origins in Turkish Law: A Comparative Analysis with German and Swiss Law.
  6. Lavinia Olivia Iancu, Lecturer, Tibiscus University of Timișoara, Romania.
    Title: Recent Amendments to Romanian Insolvency Law.

 

18:00-20:00 Session 5 – Visit Aristotle’s Lyceum

This is not a guided tour, and participation in this visit is not included in any conference registration fee. It requires pre-booking. It includes visits to Aristotle’s Lyceum, the Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro), the National Garden, the statues of Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides, and Syntagma Square, where the tour concludes in front of the Hellenic Parliament. Click here for more details.

20:30-22:30 Athenian Early Evening Symposium (Sequence of Events: Ongoing Academic Discussions, Dinner, Wine and Water, Music, Dance)


Tuesday 14 July 2026


09:00-10:30 Session 6
Moderator: 
Raluca Laura Dornean Paunescu, Associate Professor, Dragan European University, Romania.
  1. Angela Busacca, Professor, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Italy.
    Title: Between Environmental Sustainability and Digital Transition: New Visions of Fishing Companies’ Social Responsibility.
  2. Magdalena Rybaczewska-Blazejowska, Professor, Kielce University of Technology, Poland.
    Title: Corporate Environmental Transparency: An Analysis of mWIG40 ESG Disclosure Practices.
  3. Tanya Wagenaar, Senior Lecturer, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.
    Title: Best Available Climate Science: A Guiding Principle or a Legal Obligation?
  4. Daniel Humpel, Lecturer, University of Fort Hare, South Africa.
    Title: Existing in the Periphery: Moral Patienthood as a Basis for Personhood for Non-human Animals.

 

10:30-12:00 Session 7
Moderator: 
Magdalena Katz, Independent Researcher, Poland.
  1. Adriana Iuliana Stancu, Associate Professor, Dunărea de Jos University of Galați, Romania.
    Title: Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights in the Context of Globalization. Challenges and European Regulations.
  2. Gina Orga-Dumitriu, Associate Professor, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania.
    Title: Commission v. Malta: The End of Citizenship by Investment?
  3. Raluca Laura Dornean Paunescu, Associate Professor, Dragan European University, Romania.
    Title: Brief Considerations Regarding Virtual Private Space (VPS) in Tax Matters.
  4. Corina Negrutiu, Lecturer, Dragan European University, Romania.
    Raluca Laura Dornean Paunescu, Associate Professor, Dragan European University, Romania.
    Title: Transposition of European Directive 2024/2831 on Improving Working Conditions in Platform Work, a Difficult (Important) Mission for Member States.

 

12:00-14:00 Session 8
Moderator: 
Sharna-Lee Clarke, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Law, Emeris University, South Africa.
  1. Carlos Joel Tchawouo Mbiada, Senior Lecturer, University of Venda, South Africa.
    Title: South African Collective Bargaining Process: Is it Time for a Policy Change? A Reflection on National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa v. Trenstar.
  2. Jacqueline Maholo, Lecturer, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.
    Title: Bank Liquidation in South Africa: A Depositor Protection Perspective.
  3. Kais Nasser, Lecturer, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
    Title: The Interaction between Civil and Canon Laws: The Case of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
  4. Ilaria Nigro, PhD Student, University of Molise, Italy.
    Title: The Travel Rule and Unhosted Wallets: Regulation and Practical Implications.

 

13:30-15:00 Session 9 – Microsymposium on “Criminal Law in an Age of Democratic Decline: Institutions, Power, and Resistance”
Moderator TBA
  1. India Thusi, Professor & Senior Scientist, Kinsey Institute, Indiana University Bloomington, USA.
    Title: Corporeal Punishment.
  2. Alexis Hoag-Fordjour, David Dinkins ’56 Professor of Law & Co-Director of the Center for Criminal Justice, Brooklyn Law School, USA.
    Title: Challenging Evidence Law’s Carceral Curriculum.
  3. Ngozi Okidegbe, Professor, Boston University, USA.
    Title: Participation as Friction.
  4. Daniel Harawa, Professor, New York University School of Law, USA.
    Title: Racial Justice Federalism.
  5. Alice Abrokwa, Associate Professor, University of Virginia School of Law, USA.
    Title: Challenging State Force in Open Institutions.

15:00-15:45 Lunch 

15:45-19:30 Session 10
Old and New-An Educational Urban Walk
The urban walk ticket is not included as part of your registration fee. It includes transportation costs and the cost to enter the Parthenon and the other monuments on the Acropolis Hill. The urban walk tour includes the broader area of Athens. Among other sites, it includes: Zappion, Syntagma Square, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Ancient Roman Agora and on Acropolis Hill: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the Parthenon. The program of the tour may be adjusted, if there is a need beyond our control. This is a private event organized by the Athens Institute exclusively for the conference participants.

20:30-22:30
Closing Remarks by Gregory T. Papanikos: “Wine, Words, and Wisdom: An Ancient Athenian Dinner Symposium” followed by an Ancient Athenian Dinner


Wednesday 15 July 2026
An Educational Visit to Selected Islands
or Nafplio & Mycenae Visit


Thursday 16 July 2026
Visiting the Oracle of Delphi


Friday 17 July 2026
Visiting the Ancient Corinth and Cape Sounion


Saturday 18 July 2026
09:00-10:00 – The Academic Discussion continues in the downtown open agora (close to the Aristotelian Lyceum)
Refreshments are offered by the president of the Athens Institute. The purpose of this academic meeting is to engage in a comprehensive discussion regarding the future of education and research. click here for more details – (Pre-booking is required and the event will only be held if a minimum number of participants is reached)



Conference Venue: 9 Chalkokondili Street, 10677 Athens, Greece