Celebrating achievement: Monash Law Team wins Silver at International Mediation Competition in Paris

Ms Tessa Sullivan
(postgraduate student),
Ms Naomi Burstyner (coach),
Ms Wendy Gaddie (coach),
Ms Jemima Roe
(undergraduate student),
Ms Julia Larner
(postgraduate student)
and Ms Joanne Paul
(postgraduate student)

For the first time, a Monash Law Faculty team entered and participated in the prestigious International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Mediation Competition held in Paris in February this year.

The Monash team came second, winning silver, from a field of 66 teams and 500 participants. The team received three trophies and won two special awards – one for best Mediation Plan and the other for best Advocacy. Accolades from both Judges and spectators were also received.

In this Competition, students were faced with a complex commercial problem and required to reach a mutually beneficial settlement by applying their skills in negotiation and collaboration while advancing their interests. This process was undertaken with the assistance of a mediator. In addition, before each mediation, the students were required to prepare a mediation plan in collaboration with the opposing team.

This Competition involved over 120 mediators and brought together professionals and students from 33 countries. As mentioned in our first edition, the Competition’s selection process for entry was itself very competitive, making even selection to participate an achievement.

The Monash team performed outstandingly well and demonstrated strong mediation advocacy. However, the Ludwig-Maximillians University team from Munich was ultimately successful in the final round which was watched by more than 350 spectators. In an unexpected twist, one of the winning team members was a current Monash Law Faculty exchange student.

The Monash team consisted of mainly Juris Doctor (JD) students including Ms Tessa Sullivan, Ms Jemima Roe, Ms Joanna Paul, Ms Julia Larner, Ms Naomi Burstyner (coach and senior researcher at the ACJI) and Ms Wendy Gaddie (coach).

Competing in the International Chamber of Commerce's Mediation Competition 2014 was an incredible honour…. We mingled with the Parisian Bar Association, attended cocktail parties with some of the most elite and accomplished students from all over the world, networked with internationally acclaimed judges and mediators, and were able to engage with the best law firms in the world….The willingness of the judges and other professionals to coach and mentor us personally was very encouraging and demonstrated a culture of commitment to the future of mediation and negotiation as a mainstream means of conflict resolution...Moreover, it was incredible to be able to represent Monash University, an institution that has given [us] so much, and to reinforce the brilliant training of the Australian Centre for Justice Innovation. Quote from team members Ms Tessa Sullivan and Ms Julia Larner.

Professor Tania Sourdin, the Director of the Australian Centre for Justice Innovation (ACJI) was pleased to sponsor the coaching: “We have a real interest in mediation, negotiation and dispute resolution in our research and teaching and it is wonderful that our team was able to show on the world stage how useful this learning is in the context of complex problem solving. Our students worked hard and we are so proud of their achievement.”

This is a wonderful achievement for the team, Professor Sourdin and the academic staff involved in helping prepare the students. Congratulations and thanks to all involved.

To find out more, please click here and visit the ICC Mediation Competition website.