CMS Belgrade hosts Under 40 section of Arbitration Association and ICC Young Arbitrators Forum

On 22 November 2019, CMS Belgrade hosted a debate organised by the Under 40 section of the Arbitration Association and the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum on the career development in international commercial arbitration with the focus on perspectives and challenges of under 40 arbitration practitioners.

The key-note address was delivered by Daniela Karollus-Bruner (CMS Vienna) who talked about the significance of both office and out-of-office life, highlighting that in order to build a career in arbitration, it was equally important to work hard on cases and not stay behind the computer, but attend social events.
 
The panellists – Benjamin Gottlieb (Schellenberg Wittmer, Zurich), Minu Gvardjančić (Karanović & Partners, Ljubljana), Dalibor Valinčić (Wolf Theiss, Zagreb), Senka Mihaj (MIM, Belgrade) and Sonja Otenhajmer (CMS Vienna), shared their career stories, obstacles and challenges they went through in building their arbitration careers. The audience had a chance to hear many recommendations as to what steps to take or not take when tracing their career paths (“Dos and Don’ts”). The panellists particularly stressed that arbitration practitioners should not be afraid of taking responsibility, asking questions, speaking up, being confident instead of arrogant, talking and networking.
 
Sebastiano Nessi (Schellenberg Wittmer, Geneva), the ICC YAF representative for Serbia, greeted the participants and also took part in the lively panel discussion. The panel was moderated by Nenad Kovačević (CMS Belgrade) and Sara Pendjer (NST Law, Belgrade), the co-chairs of the Under 40 section of the Arbitration Association.

The turnout was great, the audience actively participated in the discussion and gave pertinent comments. Some of the moments of this enjoyable evening are captured in our photo gallery.