Albanian 
David GREER
Arbitrator
Sokol ELMAZAJ
Arbitrator
Jason Frederick Emert
Arbitrator
Gail WARRANDER
Arbitrator
Albert ISLAMI
Arbitrator
American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo
Tel: +383 38 609 013, +383 48 109 900
Fax: +383 38 609 012
Email: info@amchamksv.org
AmCham
Street “Perandori Justiniani”, no. 132, 10000, Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo
Roster of Arbitrators
Bashkim UKA
Arbitrator
Betim SHALA
Arbitrator
Remzije ISTREFI
Arbitrator
Vigan ROGOVA
Arbitrator
Xhevdet SHALA
Arbitrator
Shaban MUHARREMI
Arbitrator
Mentor HAJDARAJ
Arbitrator
Kujtim KËRVESHI
Arbitrator
Valbon MULAJ
Arbitrator
Marilyn ZELIN
Arbitrator
Ilir GAXHA
Arbitrator
Alessandro VIDONI
Arbitrator
Charles T. KOTUBY Jr.
Arbitrator
Anton NOKAJ
Arbitrator
Ardian KRYEZIU
Arbitrator
Dren SALIHU
Arbitrator
Fisnik SALIHU
Arbitrator
Fitore MORINA
Arbitrator
Hilmi ZHITIJA
Arbitrator
Jusuf BYTYQI
Arbitrator
Korab R. SEJDIU
Arbitrator
Kujtesa NEZAJ - SHEHU
Arbitrator
Merita STUBLLA - EMINI
Arbitrator
Muhamet SHALA
Arbitrator
Naim KRASNIQI
Arbitrator
Njomëza ZEJNULLAHU
Arbitrator
Shemsi KELMENDI
Arbitrator
Shibani SHAH
Arbitrator
Ardeshir ATAI
Arbitrator
Cornel MARIAN
Arbitrator
Fabricio FORTESE
Arbitrator
Roman REWALD
Arbitrator
Fouad EL SADDI
Arbitrator
Klentiana MAHMUTAJ
Arbitrator
Arthur
TRALDI
Arbitrator
David Greer
David Greer is the Director of the USAID Contract Law Enforcement (CLE) Program in Kosovo.
Mr. Greer is an international law expert with over 14 years of experience, including more than eight years directing international development projects for USAID contractors, the U.S. Department of Commerce and international NGO projects in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union states.
Mr. Greer has worked on and led technical assistance projects in 13 countries (including a regional program for Southeast Europe) in commercial law, alternative dispute resolution, capital markets and securities regulation, land law and land use, banking, insurance, judicial reform, regulatory and tax administration reform, and in pre- and post-accession legal and institutional adjustment to WTO membership. Mr. Greer has also taught law courses at the American University of Central Asia, George Mason University, and was a teaching assistant at the George Washington University Law School and the Southern Illinois University School of Law.
Prior to working internationally, Mr. Greer served as a judicial assistant, and worked for nearly three years in Insurance law. Mr. Greer holds an LL.M. (with Highest Honors) in International and Comparative Law from the George Washington University Law School, a JD (cum laude) from the Southern Illinois University School of Law, where he was also Editor in Chief of the SIU School of Law’s Law Journal, and a B.A. from Illinois State University. Mr. Greer is a member of the Colorado Bar, and an arbitrator with the Commercial Arbitration Association under the Chamber of Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, where he also served, from 2003-2005 as a member of the Board of Directors.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Jason Frederick Emert, Esq. is an attorney, arbitrator, public affairs consultant, strategic advisor, and professor who specializes in dispute resolution, government affairs, sports business, international law and global affairs. He is founder of The Law Office of J. Frederick Emert, P.A. based in Florida and president of The Emert Group, a global advisory firm whose clients have ranged from members of Congress to the Prime Minister of Jamaica to global corporations. Additionally, he founded the athletic representation, marketing, and consulting agency LeConte Sports Management and currently is an advisor to the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).
Furthermore, Jason has earned numerous awards for leadership, including: Greater Knoxville 40 under 40; The Daily Advertiser Acadiana 20 under 40; ”Future 40" by Maverick PAC; “Future Leader in Foreign Policy” by the Foreign Policy Initiative; and selected for prestigious delegations by the American Council of Young Political Leaders, American Swiss Foundation, and Qatari American Institute.
Jason has appeared in both domestic and international media to discuss law, politics, and sports. He serves on the adjunct faculty at Lincoln Memorial School of Law teaching international law; having created the course in 2019. He guest lectures on foreign affairs, global sports issues, and law at various domestic and international institutions. He also taught at the University of Louisiana, Tusculum University and Maryville College teaching American government, U.S. foreign policy, international relations, and security and conflict.
Jason earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. Similarly, he earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Louisiana, focusing on global business and marketing. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University and a certificate in advanced international affairs from the George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Policy at Texas A&M University.
Sokol Elmazaj
Sokol Elmazaj holds a law degree from the Faculty of Law in the University of Tirana – Albania. He is a law practitioner in Albania since 1998.
Mr. Elmazaj is actually partner in Boga & Associates, a premiere Albanian law firm established since 1994 having its offices in Tirana (Albania) and Pristina (Kosovo).
Mr. Elmazaj is also Country Manager of Boga & Associates branch in Pristina. He is a well experienced legal business counsel as well as a reputable litigator representing foreign investors in disputes resolution, both before courts and arbitration.
He is been recognized and awarded for several years as top ranking lawyer in Albania by Chambers & Partners (international legal market rating company) and commented as “an excellent litigator with strong expertise in dispute resolution …” and “the group’s most prominent figure... admired for his diligence and expertise in handling complex transactions”.
For some years, he has pursued the legal academic walk teaching business, civil and labor law in New York University of Tirana. He had to suspend his academic activity three years ago in order to take over the legal practice of the firm in Kosova.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Victor Chimienti
Dr. Victor Chimienti is an Italian-US international lawyer. He holds a Masters Degree in International Business Law from LUISS University of Rome and a Ph.D. in International and EU Law from the University of Bari, with a specialization in international competition law.
During his legal studies, he was a Visiting Research Scholar at the University of Michigan (Centre for International & Comparative Law). Furthermore, Dr. Chimienti has worked as Lecturer in International Law and has published widely in the field of international and comparative law.
Dr. Chimienti is admitted to practice law in Italy and has 14 years of professional experience as a legal expert/practitioner, including six years of consulting experience on donor-funded projects of international organizations like the European Commission, EAR, ECLO, ICO and World Bank. Having practiced law in Italy for five years, Dr. Chimienti became an associate at a large international law firm (Tonucci & Partners) and spent a couple of years in its Tirana branch office.
In 2004, he established himself as a freelance legal consultant in the Balkans and since then, has gained nine years of overall legal experience in the region. Dr. Chimienti has been providing legal services in Kosovo since 2005. His professional background includes a sound knowledge of the complexities of the domestic legal system, with a special emphasis on commercial and business law, including hands-on experience on corporate law, competition law, commercial contracts, administrative law, labor law, privatization, enterprise incorporation and restructuring, insolvency and liquidation, international law and the protection of foreign investment.
Prior to joining the AmCham as International Arbitrator, Dr. Chimienti was appointed by the International Civilian Representative and served as Chairman of the Liquidation Review Committee (LRC) at the Privatisation Agency of Kosovo under the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement prepared by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Until July 2011, the LRC functioned as an impartial and independent review body responsible for hearing, reviewing and deciding on complaints made by creditors and owners aggrieved by any decision or omission of a Liquidation Committee in relation to the liquidation of Socially Owned Enterprises. While serving in this capacity, Dr. Chimienti gained specific country experience in the area of adjudication and settlement of disputes related to liquidation procedures, commercial transactions, wages and other employment-related claims, as well as ownership claims, and he achieved a distinguished reputation for acting as a guarantor super partes in the country.
Dr. Chimienti has specific experience in the arbitration of disputes in civil and commercial matters in the emerging markets of Balkans. In Albania, he has represented foreign clients as counsel for defense in arbitration proceedings as well as in relation to the enforcement or setting aside of arbitral awards. In Kosovo, he has advised the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) in respect of arbitration issues related to privatisation transactions and has completed a legal survey on arbitrating disputes and enforcing arbitration awards on behalf of the World Bank.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Gail Warrander
Gail is a solicitor, qualified in England and Wales. Besides having a legal background she is also an entrepreneur and works on a variety of projects including fund-raising for start-ups and SMEs.
She completed her European law degree at Bristol University, UK and Gottingen University, Germany in 1993 and her post-graduate law course at Nottingham Trent University, England. She also has a post-graduate business Masters’s degree from London Business School, graduating as a Sloan Fellow in 2009. This means she has strong financial background.
Gail’s background comprises of corporate and commercial law and finance. She trained with and worked for the City law firm Macfarlanes for over four years in advertising, intellectual property, commercial contracts, floats and corporate transactions (including venture capital) before moving to Reuters (now Thomson Reuters) as in house lawyer. She worked for Reuters for 4.5 years and ran a major procurement cost-cutting exercise and worked on a number of technology projects, intellectual property projects, joint ventures and outsourcing, for Reuters worldwide but particularly in Asia.
In 2003 she moved to Kosovo to work for the European Commission. As well as working on procurement projects – roads, bridges, railways, power plant refurbishment, Telco and airport infrastructure, she supervised the of the public companies (Telco, airport, electricity, district heating and water). She then ran her own business in Kosovo, advising foreign investors, local companies and NGOs on setting up, alliances, employment, property, mining, customs and tax issues. She has worked with donors such as the World Bank, EBRD, KFW, USAID, Dfid and Swiss Development Corporation on business support and water projects including supervising the World Bank Doing Business Project twice. She has advised worked on privatisation buy and sell side, managed several business sales and has advised on major projects such as infrastructure PPPs as well as working with international banks on lending and trade finance matters. She also supervised several court appeals by her clients, including to the Kosovo commercial court and the Supreme Court.
In addition to English, Gail speaks fluent German, French, Albanian and very basic Serbian.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Albert Islami
Mr. Albert Islami is an attorney at law and member of the Chamber of Advocates of Kosovo, specialized in banking, finance, commercial and corporate law and litigation.
Mr. Islami has considerable experience in the field of legal audits and legal due diligence, such as the compliance of specific transactions, company structure and operation and contracts with the applicable laws in Kosovo,; status of commercial licenses, assets, real estate, investment financing, security documents, etc.
In the last six years Mr. Islami has carried out legal audits and legal due diligence for several international companies and financial institutions, the most important being the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Mr. Islami has represented clients in commercial litigation: the resolution of disputes arising in the corporate and commercial sectors, such as asset and venture capital projects, banking transactions, corporate governance, financial services regulation, mergers and acquisitions, and share capital reorganizations.
Mr. Islami graduated from the University of Warsaw (Department of Roman Philology), Poland and from the Law School at the University of Prishtina, Kosovo.
Mr. Islami speaks eight languages: English, German, French, Polish, Italian, Serbo-Croatian, Macedonian and Albanian.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Avdi Ahmeti
Avdi Ahmeti graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Pristina in 1974. He started working as a lawyer for the Post and Telecommunication of Kosovo (PTK) acting as the company’s legal representative at Municipal Courts, Commercial Court and District Courts of the entire territory of Yugoslavia. He generally worked on commercial claims. In 1981 he was appointed as Director of the Legal Department of Post and Telecommunication of Kosovo. Since 1990 he has worked as an Attorney, registered at the Kosovo Chamber of Advocates. Presently he primarily focuses on commercial cases and litigates in front of Commercial Courts.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Bashkim Uka
Mr. Uka is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with twenty years of experience in the private and public sector, including over ten years in auditing at the Banking Authority of Kosovo. From 1982 to 1999, Mr. Uka worked for the Accounting and Auditing Services at the National Bank of Kosovo, auditing financial statements of Public and Private enterprises, Banks, and Insurance Companies, and auditing all taxes paid by firms and enterprises.
In addition, from 1996-1997 he was engaged to audit Socially Owned Enterprises (production, trade, construction, and utility companies) before transformation into Joint Stock Companies in the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia.
In 2000, Mr. Uka was engaged by the Banking and Payment Authority of Kosovo to audit financial statements of banks. At the same time he worked as an Accountant for IPKO Net, the first internet service provider in Kosovo. Later he was promoted to Finance and Administrative Director at IPKO.
Currently Mr. Uka is the Treasury Unit Manager for IPKO and an Audit Partner at BU & Partners where his assignments include audits of public and private sector companies in trade, agribusiness, and other industry sectors as well as not-for-profit organizations.
Mr. Uka has extensive practical expertise in the improvement of accounting and financial management systems in Kosovo, including conversion of former Yugoslav accounting systems to International Accounting Standards (IAS) and accounting principles applicable in Kosovo. The goals of his consulting assignments have been to improve business practices, financial management and reporting, and transparency. He has wide-ranging experience working with small and medium enterprises to develop pragmatic and effective management and financial reporting systems. Mr. Uka is a graduate of Economics at the University of Pristina (1982) and a Licensed Auditor at the Society of Certified Accountants and Auditors of Kosovo (2002).
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Betim Shala
Mr. Shala began his career in the legal profession at the Municipal Court in Tuzla, Bosnia and Hercegovia. He then continued working as court interpreter (Albanian-Serbian) at the District Attorney’s Office in Pristina until he began his private practice at his own law firm in 1992 where he focuses on civil and commercial matters.
From 1996 until 2001, Mr. Shala has been engaged in different activities, being the Secretary General of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Pristina and working as a Legal Advisor to the Tran’s cultural psycho social organization. In 2001 Mr. Shala started working as Legal Officer Team Leader of the Central Processing Unit at the Housing and Property Directorate (within UNMIK Kosovo). In 2002 he was engaged by KIA Motors Kosovo as the Warranty Manager and Legal Advisor and as Legal Advisor at the Norwegian Refugee Council.
From 2004 until 2006, Mr. Shala served as the Legal Manager of the Civil Rights Program in Kosovo and provided consultancy services to ICON-INCTITUT Public Sector, Cologne, Germany on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Legal Aid System in Kosovo, and with LDK Consultants on legislation and drafting of employee contracts for the Energy Regulatory Office.
As a licensed Attorney-at-Law from 1992, he has focused on offering legal services in the fields of Civil Law, Contract Law and Commercial law. In his work, he primarily deals with drafting of commercial contracts, legal representation of legal and private persons in litigation in front of the Municipal Courts, Commercial Court and the Special Chamber of the Supreme Court of Kosovo. Currently Mr. Shala is engaged in offering his legal services to the Embassy of Germany in Kosovo, Turkish Airlines and several domestic companies. Mr. Shala is fluent in Albanian and Serbian, and has a working knowledge of English.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Remzije Istrefi
Remzije Istrefi holds a PhD in Political Science with a specialization in International Human Rights Law and International Organizations.
Ms. Istrefi finished her studies on International Human Rights Law (L.L.M) at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, after receiving her B.A. at the Faculty of Law at the University of Prishtina. She works as Professor at the Faculty of Law and Department of Political Science at the University of Prishtina.
Ms. Istrefi is also a member of the Kosovo Bar Exam Commission. For ten years Ms Istrefi worked as a Human Rights Advisor with the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. Since 1999 she has served as a consultant in different international and national institutions including UNDP, ECMI, KJI and KIPA. In 2008 Ms Istrefi was awarded a Fulbright Exchange Scholarship and spent one semester at the John Hope Franklin Centre for Multidisciplinary Studies at Duke University, NC, USA. Ms Istrefi has conducted research in the field of international territorial administration at the Institute for International Relations of the University of Graz and is actively involved as a researcher in various other research projects.
She has published several scientific articles in the field of human rights and contributed to numerous books published in Europe. In addition to Albanian, Ms Istrefi speaks fluent English and Serbian.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Vigan Rogova
Mr. Vigan Rogova is General Counsel of FINCA International in Kosovo, a leading microfinance institution in Kosovo. His main areas of work are commercial law, banking and finance including financial crimes, labor and tax related issues. He is currently working on transformation of FINCA into a commercial bank.
Prior to joining FINCA in 2007, Mr. Rogova worked in law firms in France and Kosovo, where he assisted foreign investors in privatization of socially owned enterprises in Kosovo. In 2010, he passed the Kosovo Bar Exam and is currently representing FINCA in the courts.
Mr. Vigan Rogova is a graduate of the University of Social Sciences in Toulouse, France, Law Faculty in International and European Law. He has been admitted for postgraduate studies at the College of Europe in Natolin, Poland. He is also an Alumnus of the International Development Law Organization under whose cover wrote a paper on Legal Aspects of Microfinance Transformation Process in Kosovo.
He speaks fluent English, French and Serbo-Croat in addition to Albanian as his mother tongue.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Xhevdet Shala
Mr. Shala has been engaged in recent years by the World Bank, European Agency for Reconstruction and Development on advising the local and central government in Kosovo on property law, environment, spatial planning, agriculture and land regulatory development and was contracted by GFA – Germany, BVVG – Germany, Agrifor – Belgium, IC Group – Austria, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development – Kosovo, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fishery – Denmark, ARD Tetra Tech, etc
Mr. Shala was a lead expert in the working group on property issues and Head of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, both at Kosovo Government. Mr. Shala also drafted several draft-laws for the Kosovo Government, such as laws on Environmental Protection, Kosovo Waters, Protection of Nature, Spatial Planning, Construction etc.
Mr. Shala has several publications in national and international journals in the areas of corporate law, intellectual property law, construction law and agricultural law.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Shaban Muharremi
Mr. Shaban Muharremi is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics at the Pristina University and a Licensed Auditor and Statutory Auditor – member of Kosovo Board on Standards for Financial Licensed and Statutory Auditors.
As a distinguished member of the Society of Certified Accountants and Auditors of Kosovo (SCAAK) he has served as a member of the Independent Review Board and Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.
He began his career working in companies providing different goods and services such as mining, printing, chemical, metals processing, domestic and foreign trade – focusing on economical, financial and bookkeeping areas.
He has been the Finance and Administration of ‘INGENIERING’ Company in Pristina, Finance and Account Manager of IPKO and currently runs his business ‘CONTO’ where he also serves as Statutory Auditor. He is fluent in Albanian and Serbian and has working knowledge of English.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Mentor Hajdaraj
Mentor Hajdaraj graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Prishtina in 2006. Since then he has worked in the banking sector. From 2006-2008 as Credit Operator in ProCredit Bank, Peja Branch; 2008-2010 as Credit Operations Supervisor in TEB SH.A. Commercial Bank (member of the BNP Paribas Group); November 2010-March 2011 as Legal Officer in TEB SH.A. In April 2011 was promoted to Legal Adviser in TEB Bank providing legal advices, interpreting laws, drafting and interpreting commercial contracts / bank product agreements, drafting and filing law suits, claims, proposals, motions, criminal reports, proposals for execution of mortgages and sequestration of collateral for bad debts, representing bank in court proceedings, verifying and approving Mortgage documents, Pledge & Cadastre Rulings etc.
During his studies, Mr. Hajdaraj managed his private gastronomy business in Pristina and Peja. Prior to that he was a Translator/Interpreter at Danish Power Lines, Peja and Scandinavian Power Group, Peja from 1999-2001.
In 2011 Mr. Hajdaraj became a certified / licensed Mediator by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kosova. His mother tongue is Albanian and he is fluent in English & Serbo-Croatian.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Kujtim Kerveshi
Kujtim Kerveshi is one of the leading experts in Alternative Dispute Resolution system in Kosovo. Mr. Kerveshi specializes in civil and international private law and is currently pursuing his PhD studies, also in law. He is a member of Kosovo Prosecutors Council and Legal Expert at the USAID| Contract Law Enforcement Program in Kosovo.
Prior Mr. Kerveshi served as the Kosovo Chamber of Attorneys board member as well as the Principal Legal Adviser to the Kosovo Minister of Justice and worked on several international programs founded by USAID, European Commission and the World Bank. Prior to that, Mr. Kerveshi served as Legal Officer in Approximation of Kosovo Legislation with international and European law and practices, then as Deputy Chief in the Prime Minister’s Office of Legal Support Services.
While in these positions Mr. Kerveshi participated in the development of legislation related to judicial reform, civil and commercial law as well as establishing the Kosovo Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kosovo Judicial Council. He is author and co-author of a number of articles related to EU integration, international public and international private law, alternative dispute resolution, and rule of law reform and justice challenges in Kosovo.
Mr. Kerveshi is a teaching assistant in the Civil Law Department at the University of Prishtina and Professor of Law on Torts and Obligations at the University of Peja and founder of the Kosovo Law Institute. Mr. Kerveshi conducted training's on ADR at International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, France.
He graduated at the University of Prishtina School of Law and holds an LLM degree from Riga Graduate School of Law. Mr. Kerveshi is licensed mediators and certified arbitrator.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
- Valbon Mulaj
Mr. Valbon Mulaj is a Law Faculty graduate with a PhD on Commercial Disputes Resolution by Arbitration-National and International Aspect. Mr. Mulaj also passed a bar exam in Kosovo.
Mr. Mulaj works as an Assistant Professor in Civil Law Department of the University of Prishtina - Faculty of Law in the courses of: Trade Law, International Trade Law and Competition Law. He is also teaching in the LL.M. Program in Commercial and Contract Law, established by the USAID SEAD Program.
Mr. Mulaj worked as the Senior Legal Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister, where he participated in the drafting of numerous laws. He also worked as a trainer and researcher for legal issues at the Kosovo Law Centre (KLC) and as a trainer at the Kosovo Institute of Public Administration (KIPA), for MDA on business issues, ReSPA and Kosovo Chamber of Advocates.
He has delivered trainings on International Commercial Arbitration; Business Transactions in the Market Economy and Arbitration; Investment of Foreign Capital in Kosovo; Trade Associations. He is the author of a number of articles in the field of arbitration and mediation.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Marylin Zelin
Ms. Marilyn Zelin, the Senior Legal Advisor for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the USAID/SEAD program, has extensive corporate and commercial law experience as well as more than 15 years experience working on international rule of law projects.
In her capacity as Senior Legal Advisor for ADR, Ms. Zelin has worked closely with the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo and the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce to establish their ADR Centers, including drafting the Kosovo Arbitration Rules, developing procedures for case administration, and training arbitrators. She has also assisted the Ministry of Justice and its Mediation Commission to draft the secondary legislation required to implement the Law on Mediation and train mediators and provided advice on the design and establishment of Mediation Centers in Kosovo.
Prior to joining the USAID/SEAD program, Ms. Zelin served as a Country Director for the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative (ABA/ROLI) in Kosovo, Macedonia, Georgia and Lebanon and as a Legal Specialist in Croatia and Slovakia. Ms. Zelin has been advising on alternative dispute resolution in the region since 1996 when she managed one of the first ADR projects in the region.
Previous to her work on international development projects, Ms. Zelin practiced corporate law with the international law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. She also served as Professional Development and Quality Manager for Baker & McKenzie’s Warsaw office. Prior to receiving her law degree, Ms. Zelin was an Assistant Manager and Credit Analyst at Chase Bank in New York.
Ms. Zelin holds a J.D from the New York University School of Law where she served as an Editor for the Review of Law and Social Change. She received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Mount Holyoke College and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Ms. Zelin is a member of the New York Bar.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Ilir Gaxha
Since June Mr. Gaxha 2013 is working as Head of Legal Department in Commercial Bank (member of BNP Paribas Group) where he also worked from the beginning of 2010 is working as Legal Adviser, providing legal advice, interpreting laws, drafting and interpreting and negotiating commercial contracts / bank product agreements, representing bank in courts including preparing law suits, claims, proposals, motions, criminal charges etc.
Mr. Gaxha Has a sound relevant experience in execution of judgments, mortgages, movable collateral, drafting and negotiating contracts as well as commercial and civil law. In the years 2000 to2009 he held various positions in the UN Mission in Kosovo culminating with the position of Head of Administration in OKPCC where he worked in effective planning, direction, coordination, and supervision for the budget and finance, personnel, procurement, logistics and infrastructure departments subordinated to Administration of the OKPCC, as well as supervised and preserved independence the OKPCC's Internal Audit Officer. Between 1996-1998, Mr. Gaxha was Administrative Officer in private Company Afri-Commerce in Prishtina; In 2006 he was certified by Prishtina District Court “Court Translator-Interpreter” Albanian / English and has worked as Legal Interpreter/Translator in EULEX Prosecution during 2009-2010. In 2011 he became a mediator in the Republic of Kosova after being certified and licensed by the Secretariat for Mediation, Ministry of Justice, as well as in 2011 got certified by the USAID SEAD Program for Completion of Training for Arbitration and was admitted as Arbitrator in the ADR Center roster of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosova. He participated in Kosova Case Challenge 2004, Law Moot Court (International Public Law) and in Willem C.Vis 2005, International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Amongst many other additional formal trainings, he also attended International Sales, International Business Transactions, International & Foreign Legal Research, English for Lawyers - University of Pittsburgh courses in Prishtina; Public Procurement Procedures & Skills, EU Procurement Rules; Summer School on Legislation for Kosovo - Academy for Legislation, Netherlands; Peacekeeping & International Conflict Resolution, Logistical Support to UN Peacekeeping Operations, International Humanitarian Law & Law of Armed Conflict, etc.
He graduated from University of Prishtina School of Law and has attended an LLM program in University of Prishtina School of Law in “Contracts and Commercial Law”.
His native language is Albanian, but Mr. Gaxha is also fluent in English & Serbo-Croatian, and has basic knowledge of German & Dutch.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Charles T. Kotuby Jr.
Charles Kotuby is a Partner in the Global Disputes and International Arbitration Practice at Jones Day in Washington D.C. He regularly acts as counsel in international arbitrations involving both common law and civil law systems. Charles is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at American University’s Washington College of Law in Washington D.C., where he teaches courses in international arbitration, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for International Legal Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He received his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law; his LL.M. in European Union and International Law from the University of Durham (UK); served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Joseph F. Weis Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and as a Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and Private International Law in Hamburg, Germany.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Anton Nokaj
Mr. Nokaj is a lawyer based in Prishtina, Kosovo, and his practice is focused in civil law.
Mr. Nokaj has been part of the court system before. For eight years he served in the capacity of the presiding judge of Prishtina District Court.
Prior to that, Mr. Nokaj has been a member of the Kosovo Judicial Council and the head of this Council for one year. He was also a lecturer, upon the request of the Kosovo Judicial Council for bar exam trainings, and a member of several working groups for drafting of legislation, upon the invitation of government.
Mr. Nokaj received his degree in law at the University of Prishtina.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Ardian Kryeziu
Mr. Kryeziu is a legal expert with over 8 years of experience, focusing on legal drafting and management and business environment reforms.
His work was conducted through work the Government directly and through donor projects, including USAID, EU, IFC/World Banks and SDC.
Mr. Kryeziu has substantial experience and knowledge of the Kosovo legal system, especially in commercial matters, legal drafting, local governance and business/economic reforms.
Mr. Kryeziu has a BA degree in law from the University of Prishtina and an LLM in International and European Law from the Riga Graduate School of Law.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Dren Salihu
Mr. Salihu is a lawyer based in Prishtina, Kosovo.
His past experiences include being the in house counsel for one the major distribution and retail companies in Kosovo. Mr. Salihu has also worked for the banking sector, serving as a legal officer at one of the banks in Kosovo, Banka Ekonomike.
Mr. Salihu received a Hope Fellowship certificate in 2008.
He received his master degree in civil law at the University of Prishtina.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Fisnik Salihu
Fisnik Salihu is a lawyer based in Prishtina, Kosovo. His law firm is specialized in commercial law, corporate law, project finance, banking and finance, construction, litigation and arbitration.
In the past Mr. Salihu has been in the capacity of the legal advisor at two of the biggest banks in Kosovo, with his work focused on issues that pertain to legal departments, including drafting of legal opinions, and advising on laws and regulations.
Mr. Salihu received his Master’s degree in International Economic and Business Law at the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, after successfully completing his Bachelor studies at the University of Prishtina.
Mr. Salihu is also involved in sports arbitration - he is an arbitrator with the European Handball Federation - Court of Arbitration (ECA), in Vienna, Austria. The objective of this endeavor is to provide efficient and independent mean of disputes resolution in the world of handball and in the sport in general.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Fitore Morina
Ms. Morina is a lawyer based in Prishtina. She is a teaching assistant at Department of Commercial Law at the University of Prishtina , and she is a lecturer of Commercial Law at University of Peja ‘’Haxhi Zeka’’.
In the past, Ms. Morina has been the Director of the Legal Research Center at University of Prizren, and she is an author of several articles in the area of commercial law and financial law.
Ms. Morina is currently a doctoral candidate in financial law at the University of Prishtina.
For more details on the academic and professional background of the arbitrator please contact arbitration@amchamksv.org
Hilmi Zhitia
Mr. Zhitia is a lawyer, with his private practice in Prishtina, Kosovo. He is also a lecturer of criminal law at one of the private universities in Kosovo.
His past experience is vast, in many tiers of the Kosovo justice system, including his position as a public prosecutor at the office of the General Prosecutor in Kosovo.
Mr. Zhitia has been involved as a lecturer on specific topics within the area of criminal law both in the Kosovo Judicial Institute and the Police School. Additionally, he has been: a member of local and international working groups pertaining to drafting of legislation in Kosovo; part of several committees for drafting of legislation established by the Government of Kosovo; and he has served twice as a member of the Kosovo Judicial Council.
Among other articles, Mr. Zhitia is a co-author of the Commentary of Kosovo Criminal Code, published in 2014.
Mr. Zhitia received his Master’s degree in criminal law at the University of Prishtina.
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Jusuf Bytyqi
Mr. Bytyqi is a lawyer based in Kosovo, whereas he has his private law practice since 2014.
He has more than eight years of experience as a Judge at the Municipal Court in Lipjan, Kosovo, in the capacity of investigative judge, preliminary procedure judge, and civil matters judge.
In 2010, Mr. Bytyqi was reappointed as a judge within the Basic Court of Prishtina – Lipjan branch.
Mr. Bytyqi did his legal studies at the University of Prishtina. He speaks fluent Serbo-Croatian.
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Korab R. Sejdiu
Korab R. Sejdiu is one of the founding partners of the law firm Sejdiu & Qerkini, LLC. He is licensed to practice law in the United States (New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania), as well as Kosovo. He also serves as an Arbitrator at the ADR Center of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo. Mr. Sejdiu is currently serving his term as a Representative in the Parliament of the Republic of Kosova.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree at The College of New Jersey in 2001, majoring in International Business and Economics. In 2004, he received his Juris Doctor degree from Widener University in Delaware, U.S.A. In the last year of his Juris Doctor studies, he was named a Wolcott Fellow, an honor extended to four exceptional students, which allowed him to clerk for the Delaware Court of Chancery, the notorious U.S. court for corporate matters. Also during his doctoral studies, he was the Managing Editor of the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, a leading international journal. He also holds an LLM in Banking and Financial Law from the University of Boston School of Law.
He thereafter passed the bar exam and received his attorney licenses in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Initially, he clerked for the New Jersey Supreme Court and then joined a prestigious Philadelphia law firm, representing Fortune 500 clients on corporate and commercial issues.
He returned to Kosova at the end of 2007 and was hired by Bearing Point (a USAID contractor) as a Legal Adviser on a project supporting the Kosova Assembly, and later the Office of the President of the Republic of Kosova, and as a commercial law trainer for the Kosovo judiciary and the Chamber of Advocates. Mr. Sejdiu served as the Legal Adviser and Counsel to the President of the Republic of Kosovo from 19 March 2008, up until the end of the President’s term in September 2010.
He also taught Business Law and International Economic Law for undergraduate and masters students at the Law Faculty of the University of Prishtina and the Economic Faculty of Riinvest College. In the past, Mr. Sejdiu also made regular teaching visits at the prestigious Imperial College London, where he taught MBA students on corporate social responsibility and business ethics. Mr. Sejdiu also taught in the past as an adjunct lecturer at the American University in Kosovo (AUK) courses "Law & Society" and "Modern Constitutional Law." He currently teaches in the area of business and financial services law at the prestigious Swiss School of Economics.
Mr. Sejdiu has been published in the areas of commercial, international, and constitutional law. He has served in the past as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society and was also Chairman of the Board of the Civil Rights Program / Kosovo, which serves the legal interests of the underprivileged and unrepresented citizens of Kosovo. Until his term as an MP began, he also served as a member of the Board of Directors of KEP Trust, a leading microfinance institution in Kosovo.
Apart from Albanian, he also speaks English and Serbian. He is married and has two children.
Kujtesa Nezaj - Shehu
Ms. Nezaj – Shehu is specialized in intellectual property law. Her practice covers all aspects of intellectual property protection, including preparing strategy for anti-counterfeiting programs in the region. She is a certified Patent and Trademark Agent before the Kosovo Industrial Property Office. She is currently the head of SDP Kosovë, a firm specialized in intellectual property, based in Prishtina.
Her prior experience includes working for several national and international bodies. Apart from her other endeavors, she has been involved in several training tasks, including being part of USAID Contract Law Enforcement Program in the capacity of a trainer on the topic of trademarks for both judges and practicing lawyers.
She holds and LL.M Degree in International and Comparative Law with a focus on Intellectual Property Law from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, whereas her she did he bachelor studies in law at the University of Prishtina. Ms. Nezaj – Shehu is an author of several academic articles.
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Merita Stublla - Emini
Ms. Stublla – Emini is a lawyer based in Prishtina, Kosovo.
In the past she provided her expertise to several internationally funded projects, including an EU project in support to the Kosovo Judicial Council and Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, as well as a USAID Kosovo fact finding mission, for the rule of law sector in Kosovo. Among her other positions, she was also part of USAID Kosovo for four years, in the capacity of the Project Management Specialist and Rule of Law Advisor, managing key components of the USAID/Kosovo portfolio of Democracy and Governance activities in the ROL sector.
Ms. Stublla – Emini received her Bachelor’s degree in law at the University of Prishtina.
She is fluent in both English and Serbo-Croatian.
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Muhamet Shala
Mr. Shala is a lawyer based in Prishtina, and his practice focuses in the area of commercial law.
Previously he was a judge of the Special Chamber of the Supreme Court of Kosovo on Kosovo Trust Agency Related Matters. This chamber had jurisdiction to decide on all issues related to privatization and disputes related to socially-owned and publicly-owned property, including disputes arising from labor relations, compensation, different types of debt claims, and other related matters.
Also, for several years he has been a judge at the Commercial District Court in Prishtina.
Mr. Shala attended his legal studies at the University of Prishtina.
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Naim Krasniqi
Mr. Krasniqi has a private law practice based in Prishtina. He has a professional experience of over 10 years. His area of practice covers areas of civil law, contractual law, dispute resolution, banking, property rights, and privatization.
Previously he has been in the capacity of the in-house counsel for Limak Kosovo International Airport.
He received his Bachelor’s degree in law at the University of Prishtina.
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Njomëza Zejnullahu
Ms. Zejnullahu is a legal expert, with over eight years of experience in both public and private organizations operating in Kosovo. She focuses in the area of company law, contract law, banking law, procurement law, public-private partnerships, property law and insurance law. She is also a lecturer of law.
Her experience includes working for projects such as Growth and Fiscal Stability Initiative, a USAID Project; Support to Kosovo Institutions in the Field of Data protection, an EU Project; and Empower Credit Support, also a USAID Project.
Ms. Zejnullahu has received two bachelor degrees from the University of Prishtina, namely a degree in Law and a degree in Political Science. Further, she has a Master’s Degree in Financial Law and currently is a PhD Candidate in Law at the European Faculty of Law in Slovenia.
Her native language is Albanian, and she is fluent in English, Serbian and Turkish
She speaks fluently Albanian, English, Serbian and Turkish.
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Shemsi Kelmendi
Mr. Kelmendi is a qualified architect and quantity surveyor consultant with many years of experience in managing, design and supervision of infrastructure projects (Industrial objects, schools, health facilities, shopping centers, housing). He is part of the roster of arbitrators for disputes in construction and areas related within his experience.
His previous experience includes management of many infrastructure projects funded by World Bank and the Government of Kosovo, ADF Tirana (Infrastructure Project financed by Albanian Government in Municipality of Graçanica), CDF Prishtina (Projects financed by Kosova Government), and others.
Mr. Kelmendi finished his studies at the University of Prishtina.
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Shibani Shah
Ms. Shah is a Legal Specialist with the USAID Contract Law Enforcement (CLE) Program, focusing on developing and strengthening the commercial law framework in Kosovo, as well as increasing awareness and use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to resolve disputes outside of the court system. Ms. Shah also works closely with the CLE Outreach team in organizing its "Put it on Paper" roundtables aimed at educating Kosovar businesses from various sectors, on the importance and value of entering into written contracts.
Prior to joining CLE, Ms. Shah practiced as a commercial lawyer at the law firm of Arnold & Porter LLP in its Washington, D.C. office. Her practice included negotiating complex international contracts, conducting investigations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and general commercial litigation. Ms. Shah also worked as a law fellow in Kosovo at the Public International Law and Policy Group (PILPG), supporting local civil society to increase government accountability by promoting access to and demand for justice.
Ms. Shah holds a juris doctorate from the Washington University in St. Louis Law School, where she focused on international law and participated in the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court competition. Ms. Shah completed her undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College.
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Ardeshir Atai
Mr. Atai is a Partner at Atai & Associates, a law firm based in Teheran.
His practice mainly focuses on investment treaty law, international investment law, dispute resolution, finance and banking, trade and investment, international shipping, taxation, international commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration.
Mr. Atiai is a visiting lecturer at University of Hertfordshire School of Law, teaching LLB international commercial law, LLB commercial law and LLM maritime law. In addition, he teaches commercial law subjects at University of South Wales London Centre.
He is a member of editorial advisory board (EAB) of Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, and an Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy (HEA) and ICC Institute of World Business law and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Mr. Atai holds a PhD in international investment law and arbitration from University of London’s Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS).
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Cornel Marian
Mr. Marian is an Attorney-at-Law specialized in arbitration, with broad experience in domestic and international arbitration.
He has represented clients in arbitration under various rules, including the rules of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, the rules of International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, and the International Commercial Arbitration Court, and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.
He has received his LLM degree from Stockholm University, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa, was a visiting student at New York University School of Law, and also received his master's and bachelor degree in economics from Boston University. Mr. Marian was also a Fulbright Scholar to Romania.
Mr. Marian speaks English, Romanian, Russian, French and Swedish.
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Fabricio Fortese
Mr. Fortese has many years of legal training and expertise. He has experince in the resolution of cross-border disputes, focusing on international trade, commodities, trade finance and trade insurance (with political and commercial risk), agency and distribution, manufacturing, guarantee trusts, project finance and disputes involving insolvent entities.
He has represented private corporate clients as well as State owned parties. He has acted as counsel in a variety of international disputes, including negotiations, mediations, arbitrations and litigation. He frequently works as an of counsel, assisting not only law firms with particular disputes but also arbitral tribunals under LCIA, SCC, ICC and ad hoc proceedings.
As a consultant, Fabricio has worked in different projects on issues of international trade insurance and dispute resolution, for both private and state-linked agencies members of the Berne Union (Eximbank, Euler Hermes, Coface, Cesce, Sinosure, Sace, Atradius, ECGD, AIG and others).
He regularly contributes with different publications and forums specialised in international commercial arbitration and investor-State disputes.
He has studies in law and international arbitration from Buenos Aires University, Queen Mary University of London, the Charter Institute of Arbitrators and Stockholm University, where he now teaches international arbitration law.
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Roman Rewald
Mr. Rewald is a lawyer and a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in Warsaw, Poland. He also practiced law in the United States for eight years, being admitted to the Michigan Bar.
Mr. Rewald has been the Chairman of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland for 6 consecutive years. He is also an arbitrator within the roster of the Court of Arbitration of the Polish Chamber of Commerce as well as the Court of Arbitration at the Lewiatan Confederation.
In addition to his involvement in commercial arbitration, he is one of the country leaders and promoters of mediation in Poland, and his chairmanship of Lewiatan Mediation Center is part of his pro bono work.
Mr. Rewald has received two master degrees from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland, namely a master’s degree in law and a master’s degree in public administration. He received his Juris Doctor diploma from the University of Detroit Law School.
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Fouad El Saddi
Mr. El Saddi is a Lebanese lawyer and certified mediator, who endeavored since early 2007 to specialize in international trade law and dispute resolution from a multiple perspective.
Mr. El Saddi holds several LL.M degrees from reputable universities in Lebanon, and Europe. He has attended many courseworks and conferences on Arbitration across the Middle East and Europe and the United States, this way embracing arbitration from its both civil and common law perspectives. He has acted as an attorney in various domestic and arbitration cases organized pursuant to the ICC rules, ICSID, DIAC, the Lebanese Arbitration Center and even ad hoc proceedings.
Mr. El Saddi is fluent in English, French and Arabic.
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Klentiana Mahmutaj
Klentiana Mahmutaj is a barrister, practicing in London, and her work includes international, public, criminal and regulatory law.
In terms of international law, Ms. Mahmutaj advises both foreign private entities and governments. She is a lecturer and also regularly publishes on Public International Law, pertaining to of state immunity, extraterritorial application of the European Convention of Human Rights and corruption in international arbitration.
In addition to the above, Ms. Mahmutaj is a member of the London International Court of Arbitration and European Users’ Council. One of the recent studies of Klentiana is “Corruption in International Arbitration: Emerging or False Alarm?” which discusses the defence of corruption in both contract-based and BIT arbitration with an analysis of the most recent cases.
Klentiana received her LLB from De Montfort University in Leicester and her LLM in Public International Law from the University of London.
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Alessandro VIDONI
Mr. Vidoni has a degree of a master of science in Architecture and Urban Design from the Politecnico of Milano (Italy). He studied for several years in Germany, Cuba, Portugal and Poland. After some collaborations with offices of architecture in Milan during the path of his studies, Mr. Vidoni began his professional career at “Alhadeff” architects in Milan, working on projects in the fields of hotel chains, high-end residential and real estate developments in the Russian market. Since 2008 he has been working in the field of Architectural design, Structural design (concrete-timber-steel-glass), construction site management, and health and safety management. Mr. Vidoni served as a court expert in Italy and abroad. Since 2009, as a consultant and project manager for fit out companies, he developed several projects about fit-out contract works and customized furniture, from hotel chains to retail and yachts. Since 2009 he is involved in the earthquake reconstruction of Abruzzo-Italy and since 2016 again in the same field after the new seismic events. Since 2015 he is a trusted technician of several Italian Embassies and Consulates abroad.
Mr. Vidoni is a registered technical expert witness of the court of Teramo, Italy; registered technical expert witness of the administrative courts of Liguria, Lazio, Campania and Veneto, as well as a registered technical expert witness for arbitration at the Arbitration Chambers of Milan, Verona, Ancona and Venetia, Ljubljana Arbitration Center and the Arbitration Court at the European Institution for Mediation and Arbitration. Mr. Vidoni is a registered arbitrator at the Arbitration Court of the Chamber of Commerce in Montenegro. He is fluent in Italian and English, and has a good working knowledge of German and passive knowledge of Spanish.
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