MLS a founding team in ICC mediation competition
Melbourne Law School was one of 14 teams in the inaugural ICC Asia Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition, held in Melbourne from 7 July to 9 July.
Melbourne Law School team at the ICC Asia Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition. Image: supplied.
The competition attracted 14 teams from universities in Australia, New Zealand, India and Singapore, acting as parties and counsel in hypothetical disputes mediated by professional mediators. Melbourne Law School entered a team from Andrew Moffat's Mediation JD elective, consisting of Allana Smith, Erin Ryan, Jeremy Latcham and Matthew Thomas, with Alex O'Brien as deputy coach.
Each dispute consisted of two competitors from each team, and the problems covered a diverse range of topics, including pharmaceutical patents, movie-making and sport sponsorship. The competition's winner was the National University of Singapore, with University of Auckland second overall. MLS drew the two finalists in our first two mediations, so the unfortunate draw meant that we didn't reach the finals.
The competition was a great success overall, and is likely to become an annual event in Melbourne. It received strong institutional support, with Victorian Attorney General Martin Pakula launching the proceedings and Justice Croft of the Supreme Court of Victoria speaking after the finals. MLS will be back next year benefitting greatly from its experience as one of the founding teams.