Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Institute of World Business Law, Serge Lazareff, has stepped down after 15 years in the position.
In a fitting final appearance as Chairman last Monday, Mr Lazareff addressed the ICC Institute’s Annual Meetingalongside Co-Chairs Laurent Levy, partner at law firm Levy Kaufmann-Kohler, and Vice-Chairman of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and Yves Derains, partner at law firm Derains & Gharavi, and former Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration. During the gathering some of the world's leading legal experts discussed one of Mr Lazareff’s favourite topics: "Is arbitration only as good as the arbitrator?”.
The Arbitral Community paid tribute to Mr Lazareff at a celebration to mark his departure. They presented him with a Liber Amicorum, compiling contributions from Institute Council members and ICC colleagues, many of whom have worked closely with him during the past 15 years.
With his insider’s understanding of the business world and passion for arbitration, Mr Lazareff made practical training a priority under his chairmanship. PIDA training seminars in particular gained worldwide recognition for their group studies of mock cases under the ICC Rules of Arbitration.
In 2007, the biennial ICC Institute of World Business Law Prize was launched to reward outstanding research on legal issues affecting international business.
Mr Lazareff also introduced Dossiers of the Institute in 2003, producing the proceedings of the ICC Institute Annual Meetings, traditionally held at the end of the year. The publication analyzes approaches to a new arbitration question each year. The latest edition, Multiparty Arbitration, went on sale in October.
Among his many broader roles in ICC, Mr Lazareff is Chairman of the French Arbitration Commission of ICC France. "Serge is and will remain a perfect Chairman of our Commission, attracting the key people involved in arbitration. His experience and track record in all the legal aspects of international business life are extremely impressive,” said Gerard Worms, Chair of ICC France. Mr Lazareff is also a member of the Editorial Board of the ICC Court Bulletin.
Mr Lazareff’s career includes working as personal interpreter for General Eisenhower, negotiating France’s withdrawal from NATO’s integrated military command in 1966, and later as Director Asia-Pacific for the industrial group Pechiney. He has earned several awards, including the prestigious French Commander of the ”Légion d’Honneur”.
The ICC Institute of World Business Law was set up in 1979 by Mr Lazareff’s predecessor, Pierre Lalive, with the encouragement of Michel Gaudet, who was then Chairman of the ICC Court of Arbitration. The Institute works to strengthen links between the academic world and practicing lawyers. Mr Lazareff leaves the ICC Institute of World Business Law in the capable hands of the Institute’s current Vice-Chairman, Yves Derains.
For more information please contact:
Katharine Bernet
Project Coordinator, ICC Events / ICC Institute of World Business Law
Tel: + 33 (0)1 49 53 28 91
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