The first ICC YAF event to take place in Belarus was held on the first day of winter 2009.
The topic of the seminar – Arbitration Lawyer Careers – attracted 35 younger practitioners. It was no easy task for the speakers to talk of the complaints about the international arbitration community being a reserve for more senior males in front of 33 young women and two young men!
The participants were 50/50 in-house lawyers of the larger companies operating in Belarus and practicing lawyers of local law firms (global ILFs have no presence in Belarus).
The panel, moderated by Ekaterina Kobrin of Baker & McKenzie Moscow (ICC YAF Regional Coordinating Committee, Europe) included Galina Zukova, Timur Sysouev and Alexey Anischenko.
Galina Zukova (Counsel at the Secretariat of the ICC International Court of Arbitration) shared her views on the various career options available to young lawyers, in addition to employment with a law firm – including academic work – working for the government, and involvement in institutions. She also updated the audience on the internships and other projects of the ICC aimed at involving younger practitioners.
Timur Sysouev (partner with the Businessconsult law firm) and Alexey Anischenko (partner with the Vlasova Mikhel and Partners law firm), both being number one dispute resolution lawyers with their firms, debated various aspects of working for a law firm in Belarus and abroad. The speakers also raised the question of educational needs of local lawyers.
A lively discussion step by step followed into a debate about general problems of international arbitration in Belarus.
The feedback received shows that international arbitration events are not frequent in the region. The participants would be interested in participating in seminars on any related issue, including on comparison of various rules, procedural specifics, enforcement of awards, and mock-case training. Hopefully, the ICC YAF will continue the initiatives in Belarus.