ICC’s Dispute Resolution Services has selected a record number of universities to face off in the 4th ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition in Paris on 7-12 February 2009.

Teams from 40 universities in 19 countries will hone their skills in a challenging series of mediation rounds. The teams hail from academic institutions in the US, UK, Belarus, China, Ukraine, Thailand, Poland, India, Brazil, Turkey, Germany, France Singapore, Sweden, Ireland, Switzerland and Canada.  Last year, 30 teams competed from legal institutions in 16 countries.

Inaugurated in 2006 to educate the arbitrators of tomorrow, this year’s competition receives generous support from the law firm of Clifford Chance and the helpful collaboration of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Students will compete in a mock international mediation, a unique chance to test their problem-solving skills and meet experts from diverse legal and professional backgrounds. The teams act as counsel and parties in front of professional mediators, using ICC Amicable Dispute Resolution rules to resolve a given business problem.

An award ceremony will be held on the final day presided by ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban and Jason Fry, Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration.