23 Nov ICC YAF: Careers in International Arbitration: under-40 Perspectives and Challenges

On November 22, 2019 the Under 40 section of Arbitration Association together with ICC Young Arbitrators Forum and CMS Belgrade organized a debate on careers in international commercial arbitration – perspectives and challenges for under 40 arbitration practitioners.

Key note address was delivered by Ms. Daniela Karollus – Bruner from CMS Vienna who talked about the significance of both office and out of office life. She emphasized that in order to build a career in arbitration it was equally important to work hard on cases and not to stay behind the computer at all times, but to attend social events.

On the panel discussion Mr. Benjamin Gottlieb from Shellenberg Wittmer (Zurich), Ms. Minu Gvardjancic from Karanovic & Partners (Ljubljana), Mr. Dalibor Valnicic from Wolf Theiss (Zagreb), Ms. Senka Mihaj from MIM (Belgrade) and Ms. Sonja Otenhajmer from CMS (Vienna) shared their career stories, obstacles and challenges they went through in building their arbitration careers. The audience had a chance to hear lots of recommendations, “dos and donts” when tracing the career paths. Some of the advices that were particularly stressed out were not to be afraid of taking responsibility, to ask questions, to speak up, to be confident instead of arrogant, to talk and mingle.

It is our great pleasure that the debate was attended by Mr. Sebstiano Nessi from Shellenberg Wittmer (Geneva), the ICC YAF representative for Serbia. Moderators of the panel were Mr. Nenad Kovacevic and Ms. Sara Pendjer, co – chairs of Under 40 section of Arbitration Association.

We would like to thank to the audience particularly for their active participation and pertinent comments.