Arbitration

Mourre to step down as ICC Court President in 2021

  • 30 March 2020
Paris Agreement

Alexis Mourre, President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, has announced that he will not seek a renewal of his mandate upon expiry of his second term on 30 June 2021. The ICC Executive Board has launched the process to find his successor.

The announcement – originally scheduled to be made at the spring meeting of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR in March – was made to ICC Court staff by video conference on 27 March 2020. The Commission meeting has been rescheduled to 8 July 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mr Mourre said that after six years as Court President, he felt the timing would be right next year for a change in leadership to continue driving the ICC Court’s future vision.

“For an organisation which has made renewal and diversity a cornerstone of its policies, it would not be good for the president to stand for a third consecutive term,” he said. “By July next year, it will be time for me to fully return to my private practice.”

Mr Mourre also announced that a transparent and independent process has been put in place to select his successor.

Upon the recommendation of the ICC Governing Body for Dispute Resolution Services and the ICC Governance Committee, the ICC Chairmanship has established a Selection Committee composed of highly esteemed arbitration practitioners from a diverse range of jurisdictions. Michael McIlwrath, Chair of the ICC Governing Body for Dispute Resolution Services will chair the Selection Committee. Mr Mourre said:

“The existence of an independent and transparent process is an important condition of the ICC Court’s own independence and integrity.”

Alexander G. Fessas, Secretary General of the ICC Court, said:

“The high standing and consolidated experience of Selection Committee members will ensure that the next president of the ICC Court will be recognised by his or her peers as a leader in our community and able to help us steer the world’s top arbitral institution to new levels. In keeping with our commitment towards institutional transparency, the full membership and the Terms of Reference of the Selection Committee are accessible on ICC’s website as of today.”

The selection process timeline foresees applications being made over the following three months, with pre-selected candidates to be interviewed by the end of October, with a view to a recommendation to the ICC Executive Board being made until 1 July 2020.

For further details, discover ICC’s exclusive interview with Mr Mourre, as he looks back on his presidency, explaining why the timing is right and how he envisages the future for his successor.