Latest newsDates for CDRC Vienna 2027: 9 - 14 July 2027 | Applications open 1 December 2026
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Vienna · 9 July 2027 - 14 July 2027
An argument worth having.
The world's sharpest young mediators and negotiators meet in the city that has hosted dialogue for centuries. Come to compete. Stay for what you learn.
350 participantsfrom 70 countries, each July
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12
Edition in 2027
70
Countries
350
Participants a year
2015
Founded by IBA & VIAC
Why this moot
Not who argues loudest. Who moves the room.
Most competitions reward the win. This one rewards the settlement — the harder, rarer skill of turning a dispute into a deal. Teams mediate, then negotiate, judged by practitioners who do this for a living.
Founded in 2015 by the IBA and VIAC, CDRC Vienna has grown into the leading global platform for consensual dispute resolution. A week of it changes how you practise.
Meet the people behind it“
You don't leave with a trophy. You leave able to sit across from anyone and find the room to agree.— A CDRC Vienna alum, on the week that changed their practice
Take part
Become part of the CDRC family.
The moot runs on the people who show up — the Teams who compete, and the Assessors who guide them. Here's how to join for 2027.
Bring a Team to Vienna in 2027.
Applications open 1 December 2026. See what's involved, the two tracks and the criteria — and register your interest now.
Assess at the 2027 competition.
Assessors are the heart of the moot. See what the role involves and how the panel comes together.
In their words
What people say.
... for students wishing to learn and professionals wishing to impart knowledge and experience.
It is an excellent cross-generational and intercultural event run like a Swiss watch!
Founder, Global Mediation Group, Clifford Chance
... space for discussions, workshops, talks, panels, networking, capacity building, and—most importantly—shared learning and laughter.
Students, expert assessors, and volunteers from across the world participated, all united by a genuine commitment to fostering better, more meaningful conversations and to resolving disputes in a more efficient, productive, and interest-centered manner. At a time when these skills feel more important than ever, events like this feel especially relevant.
All of this was topped off by the setting: the glorious city of Vienna, often fantastic venues, and beautiful summer sunshine. What more could one ask for? I loved every moment and am already looking forward to the 2026 edition.
Academic Co-Director, Master's Programme in Mediation and Conflict Management, European University Viadrina
The CDRC Vienna 2025 was my first real encounter with the world of mediation, and from the very start, I felt genuinely welcomed. As a Smooth Operator, I was surrounded by people who were not only knowledgeable but also open, curious, and incredibly supportive. I enjoyed being a part of a team with people I could truly trust and who ensured that the competition did indeed run smoothly.
It quickly became more than just an event for me: it turned into a place where international connections were formed and perspectives from practice were shared across borders. Being part of such a diverse and engaged community was an experience in itself.
Most importantly, it gave me the chance to witness first-hand how an international mediation competition is structured, organized, and brought to life. Those insights proved invaluable as I organized the Bucerius Mediation Competition in November 2025. I feel incredibly grateful for this experience and for everything I was able to learn from so many inspiring people in such a short time.
Research Assistant and PhD Candidate at Bucerius Law School
I first came to volunteer in CDRC 2024 as an international student living in Vienna, randomly stumbling upon a post in a mediation group chat. I came in with different expectations, but quickly spotted the difference: this was a place where people genuinely cared about dialogue, listening, and growth, not just as professional tools, but as values corresponding to the nature of mediation.
The second year was different. I came back without hesitation. I already knew the pace, the pressure, and the many moments that stay with you. The energy, the network, and the tons to learn from people who take the work seriously without taking themselves too seriously.
CDRC gave me friends I hold dear, and professionals I genuinely look up to, people I can ask questions and learn from. It sharpened how I think about mediation and where I want to place myself within it, career-wise and otherwise. I hope to stay involved with the CDRC family for as long as I’m allowed to return. And I hope the mediation circle keeps growing wider each year, pulling more people into the practice, and the message of peace and dialogue that comes with it.
I was part of the Pathway Programme: an experience I’ll never forget. The Pathway Programme is designed for those who are in between phases — not quite participants anymore, and not yet expert assessors. That described me perfectly. I had already competed, coached several teams, and was working my way toward becoming a mediator, at the same time I still lacked the experience to step into the assessor role. Through the programme, I had the chance to bridge that gap.
What stood out most was how open and encouraging the expert assessors were. They shared their insights, gave honest feedback, and the Organising Committee even trusted me to assess a few rounds myself. That trust meant a lot.
This experience not only deepened my understanding of mediation, it also expanded my international network and strengthened my confidence that I’m on the right path. CDRC confirmed for me that this is exactly where I’m meant to be, and that I am definitely coming back next year.
Jurist, Objection and Appeal Environmental Law at the Municipality of Amsterdam
... both student mediators and student negotiators, while also connecting and upskilling current and future experts. As part of the mission to foster the next generation of mediators and negotiators, the Organising Committee introduced the Pathway Program in the 2025 edition. Designed for young professionals who already have experience in the field without necessarily being experts, the program aims to sharpen their knowledge and skills.
Indeed, as part of the Pathway Program I had the opportunity to interact closely with experts and students, attend conferences and debates and also evaluate competing teams. I also received tailored advice from various field experts in attendance which helped me get one step closer to my goal of becoming a mediator in the future.
This adventure has given me an incredible opportunity to deepen my knowledge and skills that have proven universal in my everyday encounters at work, as well as adopt different perspectives through enriching exchanges. I am comforted that I am indeed, in the right place at the right time. Therefore, if you are looking for me between the 2 to the 6 July 2026, you know where to look.
Legal Counsel (Mauritius)
Latest
News & stories
New Dates Announced!
Mark your calendars! We’re delighted to announce that the dates for CDRC Vienna 2027 have been confirmed! The CDRC Week will take place from Friday, 9 July 2027 (The CDRC Mediation Conference) till Wednesday, 14 July 2026 (The Finals Reception).
The Freshfields Panel 2025
Started in 2024, each year the CDRCxFreshfields Panel explores cutting-edge issues at the intersection of arbitration and mediation under the 'Power of Two' theme. This year's stellar panel featured some of THE most sought after experts in the field, viz., Stefan Kröll, Amelie Huber-Starlinger, Andrew Miller KC, Geoff Sharp and…
The Final Awards Ceremony at the Festsaal
Held in the resplendent Festsaal at the Rathaus, the Final Awards Reception marked the culmination of #CDRCat10. The evening brought together our partners, expert assessors, coaches as well as participating students, all gathered to honour the skill, dedication, and spirit that defined this milestone edition. As the hall filled with…
1 September 2026 · CDRC Announcements
Mark your calendars!
We’re delighted to announce that the dates for CDRC Vienna 2027 have been confirmed! The CDRC Week will take place from Friday, 9 July 2027 (The CDRC Mediation Conference) till Wednesday, 14 July 2026 (The Finals Reception).
The applications for teams, expert assessors and volunteers will open on 1 December 2026.
Work is already underway to craft a competition of the highest calibre, complemented by a dynamic programme of learning and exchange. CDRC 2027 will once again feature sessions with leading experts and thought-provoking discussions on the latest in consensual dispute resolution. Participants can also look forward to a vibrant social and networking programme, offering opportunities to connect, collaborate, and celebrate with the global dispute resolution community.
We look forwarding to welcoming once again students, practitioners, academics and experts from around the globe, united in the spirit of learning and resolution!
20 July 2025 · Key Highlights, 2025
Started in 2024, each year the CDRCxFreshfields Panel explores cutting-edge issues at the intersection of arbitration and mediation under the 'Power of Two' theme. This year's stellar panel featured some of THE most sought after experts in the field, viz., Stefan Kröll, Amelie Huber-Starlinger, Andrew Miller KC, Geoff Sharp and Catherine Davidson, and was moderated by Sofia Svinkovskaya and Inan Gupta. The topic for the discussion was 'The Power of Two: Leveraging Arbitration and Mediation Across the Disputes Lifecycle', with different stages of a dispute being broadly demarcated as pre-arbitration/litigation, case management conferences, mid-arbitration/litigation settlement windows and post-award settlement. The panel mooted the specific challenges and opportunities presented at each stage, with a special focus on mid-arbitration settlement windows, the roles of the arbitrator and mediator in identifying and utilising such windows and how the dispute resolution process can be optimised for maximising chances of settlement. Our thanks once again to the team at Freshfields, especially Eric Leikin, Sofia and Eva Lilek, for hosting this electric discussion!
15 July 2025 · Key Highlights, 2025
Held in the resplendent Festsaal at the Rathaus, the Final Awards Reception marked the culmination of #CDRCat10. The evening brought together our partners, expert assessors, coaches as well as participating students, all gathered to honour the skill, dedication, and spirit that defined this milestone edition. As the hall filled with celebration and camaraderie, we closed the chapter on a decade of excellence and opened the door to all that lies ahead for CDRC.
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The people behind the moot.
From the Director's chair to the advisory board — click any group to see who's in it.
Thomas John MCIArb
Director
Thomas is the CEO of Resolution2Resolve, a bespoke dispute resolution consultancy, and practises as an international mediator and mediation advocate, arbitrator and counsel, negotiator, trainer, and consultant, based in the Netherlands, specialising in international commercial, business, and international-relations disputes. Dual-qualified in German civil law and Australian common law, he has practised for over 25 years in English and German across many countries. His core competencies span cross-border transactional, corporate, succession, and art law, alongside private international law and enforcement. He also specialises in strategically combining or "twinning" mediation and arbitration — med-arb, arb-med-arb, and multi-tier dispute resolution. A former diplomat, principal lawyer and attaché at the Hague Conference on Private International Law, and executive lawyer leading mediation and arbitration for the Australian Government, Thomas now serves as Director of the IBA-VIAC CDRC Vienna Mediation & Negotiation Competition and sits on mediator and arbitrator panels including DIS, VIAC, ASA, CEPANI, and…Thomas is the CEO of Resolution2Resolve, a bespoke dispute resolution consultancy, and practises as an international mediator and mediation advocate, arbitrator and counsel, negotiator, trainer, and consultant, based in the Netherlands, specialising in international commercial, business, and international-relations disputes. Dual-qualified in German civil law and Australian common law, he has practised for over 25 years in English and German across many countries. His core competencies span cross-border transactional, corporate, succession, and art law, alongside private international law and enforcement. He also specialises in strategically combining or "twinning" mediation and arbitration — med-arb, arb-med-arb, and multi-tier dispute resolution. A former diplomat, principal lawyer and attaché at the Hague Conference on Private International Law, and executive lawyer leading mediation and arbitration for the Australian Government, Thomas now serves as Director of the IBA-VIAC CDRC Vienna Mediation & Negotiation Competition and sits on mediator and arbitrator panels including DIS, VIAC, ASA, CEPANI, and AIAC. He brings extensive training and education experience, including as a university lecturer in mediation and mediation advocacy.
Inan Gupta
Secretariat
Inan has been part of the CDRC Vienna since 2022. He takes on the role of looking after the day-to-day administration of the competition. He is a New Delhi-based lawyer interested in mediation and dispute resolution as an intersection of psychology, economics, and law. He presently works as a legal adviser in International Trade and WTO Law, advising and representing clients in proceedings across multiple jurisdictions. Over the years, he has been associated with CDRC Vienna in various capacities, including as a volunteer, expert assessor, and now as a member of the Secretariat.
Ghulam Muhammad Adnan
Secretariat
Ghulam expertly manages the CDRC Vienna’s IT system and Backend since 2022 and also looks after the day-to-day operation of the competition.
Marketa Burelli
Coordinator
Marketa has finished her Law studies at Charles University in Prague and currently, she is extending her studies by attending the Erasmus Program in Milano, Italy. After having competed in several mediation competitions, she has built a significant interest in mediation. Marketa has been a volunteer at the CDRC Vienna, and now joins the Secretariat where she will coordinate this year’s volunteers.
Natascha Tunkel
OC (IBA)
Natascha Tunkel is a highly accomplished lawyer and mediator with over fifteen years of experience in complex dispute resolution. She advises clients across all stages of proceedings, from initiation to enforcement, with a focus on commercial disputes in sectors such as technology, life sciences, energy, engineering, and intellectual property. Her academic background in procedural and insolvency law, paired with her practical expertise, makes her especially effective in multi-forum disputes. Recognized for her strategic insight and commercial acumen, Natascha acts as counsel, arbitrator, and mediator, delivering clear and pragmatic solutions even in the most challenging cases. She leads KNOETZL’s investigations team, bringing strong analytical skills and experience in asset tracing and data forensics to high-stakes matters. As a mediator, her calm, impartial approach and ability to distill complex issues into actionable strategies consistently achieve strong outcomes. She serves on the VIAC Mediation Advisory Board and as Vice Chair of the IBA Mediation…Natascha Tunkel is a highly accomplished lawyer and mediator with over fifteen years of experience in complex dispute resolution. She advises clients across all stages of proceedings, from initiation to enforcement, with a focus on commercial disputes in sectors such as technology, life sciences, energy, engineering, and intellectual property. Her academic background in procedural and insolvency law, paired with her practical expertise, makes her especially effective in multi-forum disputes. Recognized for her strategic insight and commercial acumen, Natascha acts as counsel, arbitrator, and mediator, delivering clear and pragmatic solutions even in the most challenging cases. She leads KNOETZL’s investigations team, bringing strong analytical skills and experience in asset tracing and data forensics to high-stakes matters. As a mediator, her calm, impartial approach and ability to distill complex issues into actionable strategies consistently achieve strong outcomes. She serves on the VIAC Mediation Advisory Board and as Vice Chair of the IBA Mediation Committee.
Nikolaus Pitkowitz
OC (VIAC)
Nikolaus Pitkowitz is the founding partner and head of dispute resolution at Pitkowitz & Partners, Vienna, and Vice-President of VIAC. He holds law degrees from the University of Vienna (JD and PhD) and the University of Sankt Gallen, Switzerland (MBL) and is also qualified and certified as a Mediator. Dr. Pitkowitz has been practising law since 1985. His practice, which has always been very international with a strong focus on CEE, initially mainly comprised transactional work in the fields of Real Estate and M&A and soon expanded to international dispute resolution. Nikolaus Pitkowitz is considered one of the preeminent Austrian dispute resolution practitioners.
James Claxton
OC (IBA)
James Claxton is a mediator and ombudsperson specialist with the Office of the Ombudsman for United Nations Funds and Programmes. He began his career as an attorney with international law firms in Paris before serving as legal counsel at the World Bank in Washington. More recently, he worked as a mediator, arbitrator, and academic based in Japan. Altogether, James has more than 15 years of experience in international dispute resolution.
Elisabeth Vanas-Metzler
OC (VIAC)
Elisabeth Vanas-Metzler joined the VIAC Secretariat in October 2017. As of January 2018, she served as Deputy Secretary General of VIAC; since September 2025, she has been Managing Counsel at VIAC. Elisabeth Vanas-Metzler studied law at Vienna University (Mag. iur. 2003, Dr. iur. 2008), Geneva University (2002), and Harvard Law School (LL.M. 2007). She served as a research assistant at the Department for Business and Commercial Law at the Law Faculty of Vienna University. Later, she worked with renowned international law firms in Vienna (Austria) and Bogotá (Colombia), first as an associate and then as an attorney-at-law; her practice focused on international dispute resolution. Elisabeth Vanas-Metzler has been very active in this field, including publications, lectures, and memberships. She speaks German and English.
Joan Stearns Johnsen
OC (IBA)
Joan Stearns Johnsen has over thirty years of experience mediating and arbitrating commercial matters with special expertise with financial and corporate disputes. Prof. Johnsen teaches Mediation Advocacy, Negotiation, and Arbitration at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and is the Director of the law school’s Institute for Dispute Resolution. Prof. Johnsen is Co-chair of the Mediation Committee of the IBA, a past Chair of the ABA’s Section of Dispute Resolution, and a Council Member of the Council of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution („CPR“).
Mary Walker
IAB | Co-Chair
Mary Walker OAM has been at the forefront of ADR in Australia for the last 33 years. During this period, as a member of an independent Bar, Mary has arbitrated, mediated, facilitated, and negotiated across jurisdictions and substantive legal areas, multi-party complex disputes including class actions, designed dispute resolution systems, and provided expert appraisal and ombudsman services in respect to thousands of disputes referred by solicitors, industry and government bodies and corporations both domestic and international. Mary is a multi-award-winning mediator and has mediated well over 7,000 matters. She is a member of many mediation panels, including superior court panels in Australia and leading panels globally. Mary was Co-Chair of the International Bar Association Mediation Committee in 2020 – 2021 and Co-Chair of the IBA Mediation Committee Advisory Board (2022). Mary is Chair of the Law Council of Australia International Law Section, Co-Chair of the International Arbitration Committee, and Chair…Mary Walker OAM has been at the forefront of ADR in Australia for the last 33 years. During this period, as a member of an independent Bar, Mary has arbitrated, mediated, facilitated, and negotiated across jurisdictions and substantive legal areas, multi-party complex disputes including class actions, designed dispute resolution systems, and provided expert appraisal and ombudsman services in respect to thousands of disputes referred by solicitors, industry and government bodies and corporations both domestic and international. Mary is a multi-award-winning mediator and has mediated well over 7,000 matters. She is a member of many mediation panels, including superior court panels in Australia and leading panels globally. Mary was Co-Chair of the International Bar Association Mediation Committee in 2020 – 2021 and Co-Chair of the IBA Mediation Committee Advisory Board (2022). Mary is Chair of the Law Council of Australia International Law Section, Co-Chair of the International Arbitration Committee, and Chair of the Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution ADR Committee. She has been a member of many Taskforces on mediation and ADR. She is a renowned legal practitioner who contributes to domestic and international policy formation, education, and training.
Johannes P Willheim
IAB | Co-Chair
Johannes P. Willheim is an internationally trained disputes lawyer, mediator and professional negotiator. He is a partner of the Global Disputes Practice of Jones Day which provides him with the opportunity to advise clients around the globe in how to best prevent, manage and resolve disputes and, if need be, to represent and defend their interests in formalized (arbitration, court or mediation) proceedings. In addition to his work in private practice, Johannes is frequently appointed as an arbitrator and independent expert in DIS, ICC, VIAC, and other institutional as well as ad hoc arbitration proceedings. He also assists parties in the consensual resolution of business disputes either as mediator or professional negotiator. Johannes is dedicated to developing and applying a holistic and systematic approach to disputes management. His approach is based on the presumption that disputes are a normal part of any business, like financing, innovation or HR. As a…Johannes P. Willheim is an internationally trained disputes lawyer, mediator and professional negotiator. He is a partner of the Global Disputes Practice of Jones Day which provides him with the opportunity to advise clients around the globe in how to best prevent, manage and resolve disputes and, if need be, to represent and defend their interests in formalized (arbitration, court or mediation) proceedings. In addition to his work in private practice, Johannes is frequently appointed as an arbitrator and independent expert in DIS, ICC, VIAC, and other institutional as well as ad hoc arbitration proceedings. He also assists parties in the consensual resolution of business disputes either as mediator or professional negotiator. Johannes is dedicated to developing and applying a holistic and systematic approach to disputes management. His approach is based on the presumption that disputes are a normal part of any business, like financing, innovation or HR. As a consequence, effective and efficient prevention, management and resolution of disputes requires not only actual dispute resolution tools and processes (e.g. court or arbitration proceedings and various ADR methods) but a more general body of disputes management know-how and tools, i.e. a “School of Disputes Management”, focused on the development of standardized and individual solutions for managing disputes. Assisting clients in the development of such solutions has become an important part of Johannes’ work. Johannes has published extensively on various subjects relating to disputes resolution. He lectures on international arbitration in leading academic programs around the globe and is a frequent speaker at legal and industry conferences.
Geoff Sharp
IAB
Geoff is a seasoned international mediator with mediation Chambers in Singapore, London, and New Zealand. He focuses on cross-border mediations online and in-person and brings a deep-rooted understanding of conflict to disputes to give them the energy they often lack amid extended litigation or arbitration. He holds senior posts in the mediation community including the United Nations International Advisory Board with oversight of the UN’s Global Mediation Panel and Ambassador for the Singapore International Mediation Centre. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, a grouping of the world’s most recognised commercial mediators.
Michael McIlwrath
IAB
Michael is the founder and CEO of MDisputes Srl, a company providing in-house counsel services for resolving and managing disputes. Previously, he spent over 22 years as a lead in-house litigation counsel, most recently as Vice President of Litigation of Baker Hughes Company, and before that at GE Oil & Gas. Michael is Chair of the ICC’s Governing Body for Dispute Resolution Services and an adjunct professor at Bocconi School of Law in Milan. He was the Chair of the Global Pound Conference in 2016-17 and was a Board Member and past president of the International Mediation Institute (IMI) from 2008 to 2020. In 2017, Arbitral Women recognized Michael as a Champion of Change. He lives in Florence, Italy. Michael is the co-author of two textbooks Negotiating International Commercial Contracts: Practical Exercises (2020 Eleven Publishing) and International Mediation and Arbitration: A Practical Guide (Kluwer 2010), and numerous articles about international…Michael is the founder and CEO of MDisputes Srl, a company providing in-house counsel services for resolving and managing disputes. Previously, he spent over 22 years as a lead in-house litigation counsel, most recently as Vice President of Litigation of Baker Hughes Company, and before that at GE Oil & Gas. Michael is Chair of the ICC’s Governing Body for Dispute Resolution Services and an adjunct professor at Bocconi School of Law in Milan. He was the Chair of the Global Pound Conference in 2016-17 and was a Board Member and past president of the International Mediation Institute (IMI) from 2008 to 2020. In 2017, Arbitral Women recognized Michael as a Champion of Change. He lives in Florence, Italy. Michael is the co-author of two textbooks Negotiating International Commercial Contracts: Practical Exercises (2020 Eleven Publishing) and International Mediation and Arbitration: A Practical Guide (Kluwer 2010), and numerous articles about international mediation and arbitration. He is a regular contributor to the Kluwer Arbitration Blog.
Dima Alexandrova
IAB
Dima is a Bulgarian-qualified lawyer and mediator with a specialism in Commercial Law and Dispute Resolution developing her own practice under the brand name AdimaLaw. She gained her fundamental legal training at Sofia University and further specialized at King’s College London and the University of Lorraine, France. Dima is a mediation and negotiation trainer at the Professional Association of Mediators in Bulgaria and conducts a mediation workshop at Sofia University. She has been a participant in the ICC Mediation Competition herself, after which she became a coach for both ICC and IBA-VIAC Competitions, and finally she was an expert-assessor. Under her guidance, Sofia University won IBA-VIAC CDRC back in 2016 and second prize at ICC in 2021, and King’s College London won third prize at IBA-VIAC CDRC. Furthermore, Dima has been involved with the Vis Moot as an arbitrator since 2016. She won the national prize for Mediator of the…Dima is a Bulgarian-qualified lawyer and mediator with a specialism in Commercial Law and Dispute Resolution developing her own practice under the brand name AdimaLaw. She gained her fundamental legal training at Sofia University and further specialized at King’s College London and the University of Lorraine, France. Dima is a mediation and negotiation trainer at the Professional Association of Mediators in Bulgaria and conducts a mediation workshop at Sofia University. She has been a participant in the ICC Mediation Competition herself, after which she became a coach for both ICC and IBA-VIAC Competitions, and finally she was an expert-assessor. Under her guidance, Sofia University won IBA-VIAC CDRC back in 2016 and second prize at ICC in 2021, and King’s College London won third prize at IBA-VIAC CDRC. Furthermore, Dima has been involved with the Vis Moot as an arbitrator since 2016. She won the national prize for Mediator of the Year in Bulgaria in 2021
Wendy Versteeg
IAB
Wendy practices globally as a certified and registered (commercial) mediator and trainer in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution at her company WV-Mediation. She develops, lectures, and teaches many courses on Negotiation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation at the Faculty of Law and the Honours Academy of the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. Based in The Hague and Vienna, she provides her training, mediation, and stakeholder management services to government agencies, companies, NGOs, and universities in Europe, the US, the Caribbean, and Asia. She is also one of the founders and the Secretary of The Mutual Gains Netwerk in the Netherlands where consensual dispute professionals meet.
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