On November 22, 2019, along with attorney Nenad Kovacevic from CMS Belgrade, attorney at law from our law office, Sara Pendjer moderated the panel on careers in international commercial arbitration – perspectives and challenges of under 40 arbitration practitioners. The event was organized by Under 40 section of the Arbitration Association, together with the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum.
Some of the conclusions reached during the third ICC YAF in Belgrade were: find a job that you like and you will never have to work; mingle, interact, do not stay behind the computer, ask questions, remain flexible, take responsibility, speak up, etc.
Sebstiano Nessi from Shellenberg Wittmer (Geneva), the ICC YAF representative for Serbia made introductory remarks by talking about tracing career paths in arbitration. Keynote address was delivered by Daniela Karollus – Bruner from CMS Vienna who spoke about the significance of both office and out of office life. She emphasized that in order to build a career in arbitration it was equally important to work hard and to attend social events. At the panel discussion, Benjamin Gottlieb from Shellenberg Wittmer (Zurich), Minu Gvardjancic from Karanovic & Partners (Ljubljana), Dalibor Valnicic from Wolf Theiss (Zagreb), Senka Mihaj from MIM (Belgrade) and Sonja Otenhajmer from CMS (Vienna) shared their career stories, obstacles and challenges they went through in creating their arbitration careers.
The audience acted as additional participant of the event, taking active part with numerous questions and comments.