Nearly 300 Students from 40 Law Schools will Participate in Fifth International Commercial Arbitration Competition

AUWCL will Host the Event Held for the First Time in the United States

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Susana Castiglione or Francisco Puchi at arbitration@wcl.american.edu or 202-274-4321

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2012 - American University Washington College of Law is proud host to the Fifth International Commercial Arbitration Competition, Sept. 27- Oct. 1, 2012.

The competition is organized by the law school’s Center on International Commercial Arbitration alongside 2009 founding partner the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and the University of El Rosario (Colombia). This is the first time the competition will be held in the United States.

The Opening Ceremony and Welcome reception will take place Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. (room 603 and dining). The final will take place Oct. 1at 11:00 p.m. (Room 603). VIEW THE FULL AGENDA.

The competition promotes the study of international commercial law and arbitration as a method of conflict resolution in international business, and is conducted exclusively in Spanish. Nearly 300 students from 40 different law schools will participate. Among these competitors are representatives of countries where Spanish is not the official language, including,Columbia University and the University of Miami of the United States, Sciences Po of France, and the University of Curitiba of Brazil. More information can be found on the competition website.

"This competition, entirely held in the Spanish language, has proved to be an extraordinary catalyst to attract young students to the field of arbitration,” said Horacio Grigera Naón, director of the Center on International Commercial Arbitration. “The fact that it takes place for the first time in the U.S. emphasizes its—and international arbitration's—multicultural character despite of the language being spoken."

The competition also provides a unique opportunity to network with more than 150 practitioners who will be visiting American University Washington College of Law to act as arbitrators and coaches from the Latin American region, as well as from the United States.

This year's sponsors include the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce (CCBC); the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR); LLP; and Arnold & Porter; Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP; DJ Arbitraje; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP; and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Media interested in covering this event should contact Megan Smith, public relations coordinator, 202-274-4276.

The Center on International Commercial Arbitration is dedicated to providing high-level training on salient issues and current developments in the field of arbitration. The Center is directed by Horacio A. Grigera Naón, an independent international arbitrator and former secretary general of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

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In 1896, American University Washington College of Law became the first law school in the country founded by women. More than 100 years since its founding, this law school community is grounded in the values of equality, diversity, and intellectual rigor. The law school's nationally and internationally recognized programs (in clinical legal education, trial advocacy, international law, and intellectual property to name a few) and dedicated faculty provide its 1700 JD, LL.M., and SJD students with the critical skills and values to have an immediate impact as students and as graduates, in Washington, DC and around the world. For more information, visit wcl.american.edu.