Public Procurement & Contracts: Navigating Today, Designing Tomorrow
22 – 23 June 2026 Copenhagen Denmark
This conference explores the regulation of public procurement and public contracts, with a particular focus on the evolving relationship between public procurement law and contract law in the context of governmental contracting. It examines how the rules governing public contracts are applied across different jurisdictions and how contemporary legal, economic, and policy developments are reshaping them.
The discussions will address both foundational regulatory questions and cross-cutting themes, including digitalisation, sustainability, protectionism, defence procurement, and dispute resolution in public procurement.
By bringing together comparative, conceptual, and practice-oriented perspectives, the conference aims to deepen understanding of how public contracts are designed, executed, modified, and enforced in today’s complex regulatory environment.
Where Public Procurement Meets Private-Law
The conference brings together leading legal scholars and procurement practitioners to chart the evolving interaction between public procurement law and contract law. It is intended for academics, legal practitioners, policymakers, and professionals working with public contracts who seek a deeper, analytically grounded understanding of current developments and future directions in public contracting.
We warmly invite all those with an interest in public procurement, public contracts, and contract law to join us for this timely and forward-looking exchange.
Across two intensive days, we’ll probe how procurement systems are transforming in response to digitalisation, sustainability obligations and shifting public-private boundaries.
From keynote insights to global panel debates, this is your opportunity to engage with leading thinkers and practitioners at the frontier of public procurement reform.
Join Us in Copenhagen, Denmark
30+
2
Do you have a question?
Get in touch.
Day 1
June 22, 2026
Foundations & Frameworks
Day 1 grounds the conference in the legal architecture of public contracting, beginning with a comparative examination of how public, private, and hybrid contracts are characterised—and why those distinctions carry real consequences for rights, remedies, and dispute resolution.
The afternoon deepens the analysis by exploring the interface between public procurement and contract law, before turning to how digitalisation, emerging technologies, and growing protectionist pressures are reshaping the performance of public contracts in practice.
Preview of Speakers
Marta Andhov
Maciej Szpunar
Geo Quinot
Martin Burgi
Tünde Tátrai
Kirsi-Maria Halonen
Steven Van Garsse
Arnaud Raynouard
Vibe Garf Ulfbeck
Steven Schooner
Anna Beckers
Rika Koch
Diana Bowman
Alexandra Andhov
Cary Coglianese
Piotr Bogdanowicz
Marko Turudić
Sarah Schoenmaekers
Andrea Sundstrand
Stéphane de La Rosa
Day 2
June 23, 2026
From Reform to Reality
Day 2 turns to the future of public contracting, opening with a forward-looking conversation on the next generation of EU procurement rules and the growing shift toward performance-oriented regulation.
The day then examines how sustainability objectives are enforced in contract performance, how high-stakes sectors such as defence and security use contractual design to manage risk and deliver outcomes, and how remedial systems and arbitration shape accountability and dispute resolution in public contracts.
Preview of Speakers
Willem Janssen
Roberto Caranta
Sope Williams
Ezgi Uysal
Helen Yu
Michal Kania
Martin Trybus
Désirée Klingler
Gustavo Piga
Colette Langos
Grith Skovgaard Ølykke
Dan Schoeni
Cesar Pareira
Laurence Folliot Lalliot
Michael Bowsher KC
Derek McKee
Sofie Dreyer Mikkelsen
Nicholas Jobidon
Peter Trepte
Roxana Vornicu
Miguel Assis Raimundo
Performance stage of public contracts
Discover Insights in Public Procurement and Contract Law
As part of the conference, we will be launching PurpLE’s project anthology. An essential read for lawyers and other procurement and governmental contract practitioners, this open-access anthology tackles questions and raises points for discussions on the intersections between public procurement and contract law and where exactly the boundaries are.
Project Context
The conference marks the successful conclusion of the PurpLE project – Purchase Power: Sustainable Public Procurement Through Private Law Enforcement, funded by the Carlsberg Foundation.
It will present the project’s final outcomes and impact, while situating its findings within the broader debate on the role of public procurement law and contract law in addressing contemporary challenges.
The conference takes place in Valencia, in Vesterbro District of Copenhagen, a venue kindly provided by Dreyers Fond
FAQS
Questions? We have answers.
Who is the conference for?
This conference is designed for legal researchers, legal practitioners, policymakers, and professionals working with public contracts and public procurement, who want a deeper, analytically grounded understanding of how public procurement and contract law interact in practice. It is particularly relevant for public procurement lawyers, in‑house counsel, contracting authorities, review body members, and researchers focused on public contract drafting and management, digitalisation, sustainability, protectionism, defence/security procurement, and dispute resolution in public contracts.
What will I gain by attending?
Over two intensive days, you will hear from more than 40 leading procurement and contract experts and practitioners from around the world. Sessions will address both foundational regulatory issues and cross-cutting themes such as digitalisation, sustainability, protectionism, defence procurement, and dispute resolution.
You will leave with comparative insights into how different jurisdictions regulate public contracts; practical knowledge drawn from shared cases and examples from research and practice; updates on forthcoming regulatory developments across multiple countries and at the European level; and illustrations of how procurement and contract law interact in performance and enforcement. The programme will also provide valuable opportunities to build new professional connections for future collaboration.
What is included in the conference fee?
The conference fee of 190 EUR includes access to all sessions on both days, coffee breaks and lunches at the venue in Copenhagen. A copy of the PurpLE project anthology: M. Andhov, M. Kania, S. Cécile Cavaleri, Navigating the Nexus: Uncharted Intersections of Contract Law and Public Procurement (Hart Publishing 2026) is also included as part of the conference fee for participants.
When and where does the conference take place?
The conference will be held on 22–23 June 2026 at Valencia, Vesterbrogade 34, 1620 Copenhagen V, in the Vesterbro district of Copenhagen, a venue kindly provided by Dreyers Fond. Further practical information about the venue and how to get there will be shared with registered participants ahead of the event.
How do I register, and is there a limit on places?
You can register via the University of Copenhagen registration system using the “Register now” link on this page. Capacity is limited, so early registration is recommended.
Can I receive a certificate of attendance?
Yes. Certificates of attendance are available for participants who require documentation for their institution or for continuing professional development (CPD) purposes. If you would like to receive a certificate, please indicate this during registration in the registration portal so that the organisers can prepare it in advance.
For Danish lawyers, full participation in the course qualifies for 14 lecture (CPD) points. Eligible participants will receive a course certificate reflecting this.
Please note that certificates will be issued only on the final day of the conference and cannot be sent afterwards.
Who are the organisers behind the conference?
The conference marks the conclusion of the PurpLE project – “Purchase Power: Sustainable Public Procurement Through Private Law Enforcement”, funded by the Carlsberg Foundation – and is organised by the project team at the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen. The venue is provided by Dreyers Fond, underlining the conference’s strong institutional backing and focus on high‑quality legal research and practice.
Who can I contact if I have questions about the programme or practicalities?
If you have questions about the conference, please get in touch via the contact information provided on this page.