Joint Maritime and Tourism & Sports Conference Preliminary Programme

Malaga, 12 – 13 November 2026

7 CPD Hours, APIL Accredited

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Conference venue:

Hotel Catalonia Molina Lario

C. Molina Lario, 20, Distrito Centro, 29015 Málaga, Spain

You can book your room in
The Hotel via this link

WEDNESDAY 11 November 2026

Welcome day

19:00 – 22:00

Opening Drinks Reception

Venue TBC

Antonio Martín Restaurant

Pl. de la Malagueta, 4, Málaga-Este, 29016 Málaga, Spain

Thursday 12 NOVEMBER 2026

Day 1 Maritime

Chair: Ioannis Pavlakis – Maritime SIG Chair – Pavlakis-Moschos Law Firm, Greece

09:00 – 09:30

Registration

09:30 – 09:45

Welcome and Opening:

Liam Moloney - PEOPIL President

Ioannis Pavlakis – Maritime SIG Chair – Pavlakis-Moschos Law Firm, Greece

09:45 – 10:30

Personal Injury on Pleasure Boats (Skippered & Bareboat Charters) & Day-Cruise Vessels in Seas & Lakes – Liability of Owners & Insurers

- Liability of owners, skippers, and charterers for passenger injury claims, Insurance coverage, Jurisdiction and applicable law

- Passenger injury and fatality claims, Insurance obligations and Direct Liability of Insurers

Speakers:

Giulia Oberto – Studio Legale Bona -Oliva & Associati, Italy
Marco Bona – Chair of the PEOPIL Tort Reform and Access to Justice and Full Compensation SIG, Studio Legale Bona Oliva & Associati, Italy

10:30- 11:15

Personal Injury During Regattas & Competitive Sailing Events

- Liability during sailing competitions, Role of organizers and clubs, Expert evidence and technical analysis, Insurance disputes arising from regatta accidents

Speakers:

TBC

11:15 – 11:30

Coffee Break

Afternoon Chair: Marco Bona, Chair of the PEOPIL Tort Reform and Access to Justice and Full Compensation SIG, Studio Legale Bona Oliva & Associati, Italy

11:30 – 12:15

Cruise Passenger Claims – Tourism Law vs Maritime Law: Pending French Case Before the European Court of Justice (ECJ)

- Liability of cruise operators and travel organizers, Conflict between: Package travel/tourism law and Maritime liability law, Strict liability regime under French law, Preliminary ruling request by the French Cour de Cassation, Recent Opinion of the Advocate General, Comparative approaches across EU jurisdictions

Speakers:

Valérie Augros – Valérie Augros Avocat, France

12:15 – 13:00

Experts & Marine Accident Investigations, Satellites & Space Technology

- Role of surveyors and technical experts, Investigations by maritime authorities, Port State Control procedures, Collection and preservation of evidence, Use of VDR and digital data
- Satellite navigation and communications, Cybersecurity and GPS interference, Autonomous vessel liability, Satellite evidence in disputes

Speaker:

Stefano Bertone – Ambrosio & Commodo, Italy

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch

14:00 – 14:45

Environmental Damage & Pollution from Military Activities / Strait of Hormuz – Seafarers' Rights During Armed Conflict

- Oil spills and wartime pollution, State responsibility and compensation, Environmental claims by affected states
- War-risk obligations of shipowners, Crew rights, Repatriation and compensation, War-risk insurance, Protection under international law
- Seafarers claims due to war / Hormuz detention

Speaker:

TBC

14:45 – 15:30

Interpretation & Application of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

- Critical issues
- Different interpretation and application by member states and case law

Speakers:

TBC

14:30 – 14:45

Refreshment Break

Speakers:

Ioana Culachi – JGV & Associates, Romania
Remus Robu – Remus Robu Sollicitors, England

15:30 – 16:00

Coffee Break

16:00 – 16:45

Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A

Speakers:

Philip Mead – 12 KBW, England

15:30 – 15:45

Quiz Master:

Closing remarks

Liam Moloney - PEOPIL President

Ioannis Pavlakis – Maritime SIG Chair – Pavlakis-Moschos Law Firm, Greece

Ian Denham – SIG Secretary/Outer Temple, England

20:00 – onwards

Dine arounds - Women in Law

New for PEOPIL, the WTLC have a long standing tradition of arranging casual, 4-6 person dinners across the city where a conference is being held. The meal is self funded and a great opportunity to meet a small number of new people in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, whilst enjoying a different part of the city. We have booked a few tables at different times and venues across the city to try and cater for everyone.

20:00 – 00:00

Conference Dinner

Trocadero Casa de Botes

P.º de la Farola, 25, Distrito Centro, 29016 Málaga, Spain

Please note that the dress code for the evening is formal evening attire. We kindly encourage all guests to dress accordingly to match the elegant atmosphere of the event.

FRIDAY 13 November 2026

Day 2 Tourism & Sports

08:00 – 09:00

Morning Yoga - sponsored by Stewarts

This entry level yoga session with www.sarahflorance.yoga will be suitable for all participants and will ease you into the conference weekend.

Mats, changing rooms, water and herbal teas will be provided. Please wear comfortable, flexible clothing suitable for yoga.

Roger de Llúria 115, 2º Barcelona

2 minutes walking from/to the Barcelona Bar Association.

Additional registration required

Cost included within delegate fee.

09:00 – 09:30

Registration

09:30 – 09:45

Welcome and Opening:

Liam Moloney - PEOPIL President

Philip Banks - Chair of the PEOPIL Tourism & Sports SIG

09:45 – 10:00

Opening remarks

Speakers:

Cheryl Palmer-Hughes, PEOPIL Vice President / Stewarts, England
Laura Yaeger, AAJ Parliamentarian / Justice Law Collaborative, US

MORNING SESSION

Chair: Philip Banks - Chair of the PEOPIL Tourism & Sports SIG

09:45 – 10:30

Claims Arising from the White Island Volcanic Eruption Disaster

Speaker:

Charles Siegel – Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, USA

10:30 – 11:15

Claims Involving Injury at Spanish Owned Hotels and Resorts

Speaker:

Natalia Astigarraga – Astrom Legal, Spain

11:15 – 11:45

Coffee Break

11:45 – 12:45

Claims Involving Sexual Assault at Hotels or on Cruise Ships

Speakers:

Anirudh Mandagere – Deka Chambers, England

12:45 – 13:50

Lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION

Chair: Philip Banks - Chair of the PEOPIL Tourism & Sports SIG

13:50 – 14:30

How to Respond to Video Surveillance Evidence of Injured Clients

Speakers:

Jeff Simm – Director, Lumina Group Ltd., England

14:30 – 15.15

International US waivers, Forum Selection and Arbitration Clauses

Speaker:

Tom Scolaro – Scolaro Law, USA

15:15 – 15:30

Coffee Break

15:30 – 16.20

Dangers and Experiences of Injured Clients Using Social Media - pannel session

Pannelists:

Chair: Philip Banks – Chair of the PEOPIL Tourism & Sports SIG, England
David Almagro – Estudio Juridico Almagro, Spain
Mirella Hartman – Beer Advocaten, Netherlands
Solenn Le Tutour – Le Tutour Avocats, France

16:20 – 16.30

Closing Remarks:

Liam Moloney - PEOPIL President

Philip Banks - Chair of the PEOPIL Tourism & Sports SIG

Pannelists:

Chair: Phil Banks –
David Almagro – Estudio Juridico Almagro
Mirella Hartman – Beer Advocaten
Solenn Le Tutour – Le Tutour Avocats

19:00 – 00:00

Cocktail Reception

Batik Terrace C/ Alcazabilla, 12, Distrito Centro, 29015 Málaga, Spain

Joint Maritime and Tourism & Sports Conference Preliminary Programme