World Bank Suspension & Debarment Colloquium

On Thursday, May 15, the World Bank will host a Colloquium on Suspension and Debarment, a tool used to “blacklist” non-responsible, corrupt or otherwise unqualified contractors.

This Suspension and Debarment Colloquium will expand the dialogue started at a similar conference in October 2012.

Experts will compare government, multi-lateral development bank, and academic perspectives on these systems. Panelists will discuss the purposes of suspension and debarment systems, the role of decision-makers, differing approaches to the standard for exclusion and requirements of due process, and the relationship of suspension and debarment systems to other corrective measures and remedies.

This event is free of charge and is suitable for both participants with basic understanding and those with extensive knowledge of suspension and debarment systems. (The full agenda is provided below).

The location is the World Bank Preston Auditorium, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20433. Individuals may dial-in in lieu of attending in person by calling: 888-324-0284 (Toll Free); 517-308-9090 (International) | PASSWORD: “Colloquium.”

The event is free, but all participants must be registered to enter the premises. Please RSVP by Monday, May 12 to: [email protected]. Valid photo ID is required.

Additional information about the event and its co-organizers is available here.

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Jessica Tillipman is a Senior Editor of the FCPA Blog.

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Here’s the full agenda of the World Bank’s October 9th Colloquium on Suspension and Debarment:

8:00 – 9:00 am  – Doors open for registration and a light breakfast

9:00-9:10 am – Welcoming Remarks  

• Pascale Hélène Dubois, Chief Suspension and Debarment Officer, World Bank

9:10-9:20 am – Introduction

• Hassane Cisse, Deputy General Counsel, Knowledge and Research, World Bank; Member, Sanctions Board, World Bank 

9:20-10:35 am – Roundtable 1: What is the purpose of suspension and debarment systems? 

• Moderator: Steven L. Schooner, Nash & Cibinic Professor of Government Procurement Law and Co-Director of the Government Procurement Law Program, The George Washington University Law School
• Frank Fariello, Lead Counsel, Operations Policy, Legal Vice Presidency, World Bank
• Peter Trepte, Professor, Public Procurement Research Group, University of Nottingham (UK); Littleton Chambers (UK); Grayston & Company (Belgium)
• Stuart Kerr, Director, Legal and Regulatory, Millennium Challenge Corporation

10:35-10:50 am – Coffee Break

10:50-12:05 pm – Roundtable 2: Who should be the decision-maker? 

• Moderator: Pascale Hélène Dubois, Chief Suspension and Debarment Officer, World Bank
• Christopher R. Yukins, Professor of Government Contracts Law and Co-Director of the Government Procurement Law Program, The George Washington University Law School
• John Linarelli, Professor, Swansea University School of Law
• Luigi La Marca, Policy Advisor/Inspectorate General, European Investment Bank
• Nico Spiegel, Legal Officer, Public Procurement Legislation II, European Commission [Invited]

12:05-1:15 pm – Lunch (in the Atrium)

1:15-2:30 pm – Roundtable 3: Approaches to the standard for exclusion and the level of due process 

• Moderator: Timothy L. Dickinson, Partner, Litigation Department, Paul Hastings LLP
• Jessica Tillipman, Assistant Dean for Field Placement and Professorial Lecturer in Law, The George Washington University Law School
• Elizabeth Lin Forder, Secretary to the Sanctions Board, World Bank
• Stephen Zimmermann, Director, Integrity Vice Presidency, World Bank
• Laura Fernandez, Acting Suspension and Debarment Official, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

2:30-2:45 pm – Coffee Break

2:45-4:00 pm – Roundtable 4: Relationship to other corrective measures and remedies (how exclusion relates to criminal prosecution, civil actions, fines and payment of damages, etc.) 

• Moderator: Fred Levy, Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
• Steven A. Shaw, Senior Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP; Former Deputy General Counsel for Contractor Responsibility, U.S. Department of the Air Force
• Juan Ronderos, Sanctions Case Officer, Inter-American Development Bank
• Hans-Joachim Priess, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (Germany)
• Sope Williams-Elegbe, Associate Director & Head of Research, Nigerian Economic Summit Group; Research Fellow at University of Stellenbosch

4:00-6:00 pm – Reception