Open Forum - Project procurement: rules and systems for success

Our next Centre of Construction Law & Dispute Resolution Open Forum will be held on Thursday, February 19th 2026.

It will explore procurement rules, systems and contracts that support successful project outcomes, improved value and reduced risks.

A first panel will look at how Constructing the Gold Standard is transforming the UK and international frameworks with speakers sharing insights from successful frameworks across the UK and Europe. Speakers will also focus on the defence and nuclear sectors and the type of contracts and procurement strategies that help integrate teams and improve outcomes. Another panel will look at reforms and revisions of procurement legislation across the EU and the Procurement Act so far in the UK.

The conference chair will be Visiting Professor Nicholas Gould of Fenwick Elliott and our speakers include senior representatives from universities across Europe as well as client organizations and contractors, such as:

University of Birmingham • King’s College London • Fusion4Energy• European Commission • Ministry of Justice • Crown Commercial Service • University of Copenhagen • University of Milan

Registration will start at 9.30 am and presentations will run from 10.00 pm to 4 pm, followed by drinks and networking. A sandwich lunch will be provided.

We welcome people across the construction industry with an interest in procurement, construction contracts, as well as the nuclear and defence sector.

Schedule:

09.00 – 09.15: Registration and coffee

09.15 - 09.30: Welcome and overview: Chair Prof. Nicholas Gould, Professor at King’s

College London

• Panel One: Constructing the Gold Standard – how is this transforming UK and international frameworks?

09:30 – 09:50: Prof. David Mosey, King’s College London and NEC Contract Board – Creating and verifying the Gold Standard for collaborative frameworks and framework contracts

09:50 – 10:10: Dawn Mathias, Crown Commercial Service – Creating and delivering the largest construction frameworks in Europe

10:10 – 10:30: Stephen Binnerslie, Ministry of Justice – The story of a successful construction alliance

10:30 – 10:50 : Dr. Roxana Vornicu, King’s College London – An international Gold Standard for framework contracts with Q&A

11:00 – 11:20: Coffee Break

• Panel Two: Defence and nuclear in the spotlight – new procurement rules for new construction contracts?

11:20 – 11:40: Prof. Martin Trybus, University of Birmingham– Reform of the EU Defence Procurement Directive

11:40 – 12:00: Karoly Olajos Tamas, Fusion4Energy– The new era of Collaborative Fusion Contracts

12:00 – 12:20: Shy Jackson – A modern approach to procurement of nuclear works

12:20 – 12:40: Stefan Dudas, In house counsel Framatome – What makes or breaks a nuclear project? With Q&A

13:00 – 14:00 : Lunch

• Panel Three: A new era for construction procurement - what has changed and has it been improved?

14:00-14:20: Prof. Carina Risvig, University of Copenhagen – Revision or reform of procurement legislation in the EU

14:20 – 14:40: EU Commission representative on procurement reform in the EU

14:40-15:00: Prof. Sara Valaguzza, University of Milan – Collaboration as the new paradigm in Italy

15:00-15:20: Prof. Albert Sanchez Graells, University of Bristol: The Procurement Act so far- what is new and what is old? with Q&A

16:00 – 17:00 : Networking and drinks reception