For the first time ever, FIU Law’s Board of Advocates (BOA) mediation team traveled to Paris, France to compete in the 10th International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Mediation Competition. The Competition tested the problem-solving skills of 67 teams from 34 different countries.
Making it to the quarterfinal rounds and impressing competitors and judges alike, the FIU Law team of third-year law students Amber Kornreich, Daniel Horton, Barbara Miranda and Sarah Valdes defeated the University of Carthage (Tunisia), the University of Florence (Italy), the University of Hertfordshire (United Kingdom), and finally the University of Houston to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Kornreich and Miranda served as attorneys and mediated two preliminary rounds each, while Horton served as the client for all four rounds. Miranda served as lead writer and was assisted by Valdez for all six mediation plans that were submitted during the Competition.
After spending four hours, the evening prior to the Sweet Sixteen round, and another two hours the morning of the round preparing a new mediation plan, FIU Law defeated the University of Marburg (Germany). Despite the lack of sleep, the judges described Kornreich’s and Horton’s performance as “masterful,” “balanced,” with “great choices,” and “well considered.” One noted that he “could not have done it better!”
Thirteen schools from the U.S. competed in the Competition, including Cornell, Georgetown, Fordham, American, Cardozo, UC Hastings, St. Johns, Rutgers, NYLS, South Texas, Pepperdine and Hamline. This was FIU Law’s first entry into a mediation competition, and its first entry into a competition of this stature. FIU was offered a berth at the ICC Competition based upon an extensive application describing FIU Law’s ADR courses and explaining what the team would bring to the Competition.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) provides a forum for businesses and other organizations to examine and better comprehend the nature and significance of the major shifts taking place in the world economy. We also offer an influential and respected channel for supplying business leadership to help governments manage those shifts in a collaborative manner for the benefit of the world economy as a whole.
