Tech & Arbitration: Digital Disruption in South Eastern Europe

On 28 November 2025, Anastasiya Ugale participated in a forward-looking panel at Third South Eastern Europe Arbitration Conference (SEEA) in Athens titled “Tech & Arbitration: Digital Disruption in SEE.” The discussion brought together a diverse group of practitioners to examine how technology is reshaping arbitration across Southeast Europe and beyond.

Moderated by Ileana Smeureanu, the panel featured Anastasiya Ugale alongside Marija Bojovic, Iuliana Iacob, Tania Iossifova, Alina Leoveanu, and Nicolae Reutoi. The conversation focused on the growing role of legal technology in arbitration practice, with particular attention to how solo practitioners and small firms can access and deploy these tools effectively.

Anastasiya contributed insights on the practical use of legal tech to streamline case management, enhance legal research, and improve efficiency without compromising quality. A central theme of the discussion was access to justice—specifically, whether emerging technologies can help level the playing field for smaller practices and their clients, or whether they risk reinforcing existing disparities.

The panel also explored challenges accompanying digital transformation, including data security, cost barriers, and the need for thoughtful integration of technology into arbitral workflows. The exchange underscored both the opportunities and the complexities of adopting legal tech in a way that supports fairness, efficiency, and transparency in arbitration.