Registration opens for 8th ICC International Mediation Competition

University students from law and business schools worldwide are invited to participate in the Competition to put their negotiation and mediation advocacy skills to the test by applying the ICC Amicable Dispute Resolution (ADR) Rules in mock cases conducted by some of the world’s leading professional mediators.

Mediation is a non-binding, relatively low-cost and quick technique that helps parties find common ground for resolving disputes amicably. The ICC International Centre for ADR, which organizes and hosts the Competition, is one of the world’s leading institutions in the field of international commercial mediation.

“When participants engage in the Competition they have a sudden taste of a concept quite alien to most legal education: that the best results come from being frank and open and by trying to win the trust of the other party,” said mediator and arbitrator Bill Wood QC in an informative new video which gives potential participants insight into the Competition.

The Competition is ICC’s biggest educational event attracting around 500 participants from all around the world every year. Participants include competing university student teams along with their coaches as well as professional mediators who participate in the Competition on a voluntary basis. To highlight the importance of dispute resolution as a management issue, the Competition was opened to business students for the first time in 2011.

“As the lawyers and managers of tomorrow, participants are the best ambassadors of mediation as a business dispute settlement technique,” said Hannah Tuempel, Manager of the ICC Centre for ADR. “For the 2013 Competition we are looking to secure the participation of more teams from Africa, Latin America and South East Asia.”

As well as a proving to be a valuable learning experience, the Competition also offers participants a chance to visit ICC headquarters and the premises of some of Paris’ most prestigious law firms and provides an opportunity to participate in related training and social events.

“What an amazing learning opportunity for young, aspiring students,” said former participant Elaine Basson of North-West University, South Africa. “I would definitely encourage others to participate in this prestigious ICC event, where you not only have the chance to showcase your own unique set of dispute resolution skills through challenging, cross-cultural, practical problems, but you also learn from the best international mediators and meet awesome friends for life! ”

“We really value that students are brave enough to put their skills to the test in this world class, unique event,” said Pablo Bernad of the Spanish law firm KPMG, headline sponsor of the 2012 Competition.

The 8th ICC International Mediation Competition will take place from 8 – 13 February 2013 as part of ICC’s Mediation Week, commencing with the 4th ICC Mediation Conference on 7 February 2013. University teams wanting to take up the challenge and professional mediators have until 21 October 2012 to apply online.