Organising Committee
Vienna
University of Vienna
Juridicum

Nikolaus Pitkowitz
Organising Committee (VIAC)
Nikolaus Pitkowitz is the founding partner and head of dispute resolution at Pitkowitz & Partners, Vienna, and Vice-President of VIAC. He holds law degrees from the University of Vienna (JD and PhD) and the University of Sankt Gallen, Switzerland (MBL) and is also qualified and certified as a Mediator. Dr. Pitkowitz has been practising law since 1985. His practice, which has always been very international with a strong focus on CEE, initially mainly comprised transactional work in the fields of Real Estate and M&A and soon expanded to international dispute resolution. Nikolaus Pitkowitz is considered one of the preeminent Austrian dispute resolution practitioners.

Shaun Henriques
Organising Committee (IBA)
An International ADR Expert with over twenty years experience handling high value and complex disputes, conflicts and cross-cultural situations as accredited Mediator, Arbitrator, ADR Counsel, Negotiator and Trainer, as well as being an Attorney-at-Law handling both litigation and transactions, and empanelled on a number of ADR rosters globally.
Relevant areas include: Agro/pharmaceuticals; Aircraft repossession, Aircraft lease, finance and maintenance; Banking; Commercial; Construction; Franchises; Hospitality; Joint ventures; Real estate, including resort hotels, sale, purchase and development; Shareholder disputes; Professional/medical negligence; Quasi criminal and Conflict zone resolution.
A dual citizenship of Jamaica and Germany, and since 2013 a resident of the U.A.E. Has served as a director on boards of directors and as legal advisor of both private and public entities/non governmental organisations in various industries including, hospitality, regional air charter, residential development, environmental protection and marine habitat sustainability. In addition to which he is also personally a principal shareholder in a number of entities between Jamaica and the U.A.E., all of the above underscoring international multi-cultural exposure, commercial acumen, and corporate governance credentials, and confirming an extensive and excellent capacity for complex mediation.

Blazo Nedic
Organising Committee (IBA)
Blazo Nedic, internationally accredited mediator, trainer, consultant and attorney. Regional Mediator of the World Bank Group and UN, member of the IMI Appraisal Committee, Officer of the IBA Mediation Committee. First president of the Serbian National Association of Mediators
Holds LL.M. in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University California, Postgraduate Diploma in International Business Law from London Metropolitan University, BA Law Degree from Belgrade University, and Advanced Certificate in Negotiation from Harvard Law School
Practiced law and mediated in the UK, USA, and Serbia. Mediated several hundred commercial, workplace, property, environmental and discrimination disputes, including 40 cases in LA Superior Court.

Natascha Tunkel
Organising Committee (IBA)
Natascha Tunkel is a highly accomplished lawyer and mediator with over fifteen years of experience in complex dispute resolution. She advises clients across all stages of proceedings, from initiation to enforcement, with a focus on commercial disputes in sectors such as technology, life sciences, energy, engineering, and intellectual property. Her academic background in procedural and insolvency law, paired with her practical expertise, makes her especially effective in multi-forum disputes. Recognized for her strategic insight and commercial acumen, Natascha acts as counsel, arbitrator, and mediator, delivering clear and pragmatic solutions even in the most challenging cases. She leads KNOETZL’s investigations team, bringing strong analytical skills and experience in asset tracing and data forensics to high-stakes matters. As a mediator, her calm, impartial approach and ability to distill complex issues into actionable strategies consistently achieve strong outcomes. She serves on the VIAC Mediation Advisory Board and as Vice Chair of the IBA Mediation Committee.

Elisabeth Vanas-Metzler
Organising Committee (VIAC)
Elisabeth Vanas-Metzler joined the VIAC Secretariat in October 2017. She is Deputy Secretary General of VIAC. Elisabeth Vanas-Metzler studied law at Vienna University (Mag. iur. 2003, Dr. iur. 2008), Geneva University (2002), and Harvard Law School (LL.M. 2007). She served as a research assistant at the Department for Business and Commercial Law at the Law Faculty of Vienna University. Later, she worked with renowned international law firms in Vienna (Austria) and Bogotá (Colombia), first as an associate and then as an attorney-at-law; her practice focused on international dispute resolution. Elisabeth Vanas-Metzler has been very active in this field, including publications, lectures, and memberships. She speaks German and English.