11th ICC Africa Conference on International Arbitration

26-28 May 2027

Casablanca English and French CNB/MCLE credits/points available
Start: 09:00 - End: 18:00

Register your interest for the 11th ICC Africa Conference at this link to be notified when registrations open.

Mark your calendars for the 11th edition of the ICC Africa Conference on International Arbitration, taking place in Casablanca on 27-28 May 2027.

An ICC Institute of World Business Law Advanced Training on “Oral Advocacy: The Good, the Bad and the Inbetween” will precede the conference on 26 May.

Stay up-to-date with the latest news on the #ICCAfrica Conference by following ICC Arbitration on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Who should attend?  

  • Practising lawyers  
  • Corporate counsel  
  • Judges  
  • Arbitrators  
  • Mediators  
  • Business professionals and academics from around the world 

26 May: ICC Institute of World Business Law Advanced Training
27 May: Conference Day 1
28 May : Conference Day 2

ICC Institute of World Business Law Advanced Training
Oral Advocacy: The Good, the Bad and the Inbetween 

08.30-09.00

Registration and welcome coffee

09.00-09.10

Welcoming address, introduction and presentation of the ICC Institute of World Business Law

09.10-10.10

Oral versus written advocacy: counsel and tribunal perspectives

  • Defining the elements of “oral advocacy”: pleadings, witnesses, experts, demonstratives, other features
  • Early assessment of the pros and cons of the elements of “oral advocacy”: the opportunities and the limitations depending on the initial presentation of the dispute
  • Perspectives as claimant versus as respondent
  • The interrelationship between the assessment and the selection of the tribunal members: party autonomy vs. tribunal direction
  • The interrelationship between the assessment and the applicable law(s) including respecting burden of proof and burden of persuasion 
  • The assessment and the desired role for the tribunal: “inquisitorial” vs. “adversarial” vs. something in between

10.10-10.40

Q&A

10.40-10.55

Coffee break

10.55-11.40

Oral advocacy, party autonomy and the determination of the facts of the dispute: the opening statement at the hearing

  • The hearing and oral opening statements: good practices, bad practices, best practices
  • Orally pleading the case “through” prior written memorials: counsel perspectives, tribunal perspectives
  • Opening statements and post-hearing briefs: the desired relationship
  • Exhibits and visuals and their role in oral advocacy and decision-making

11.40-12.45

Case scenarios and Q&A

12.45-13.45

Lunch

13.45-14.15

Focus on cross-examination

  • Effective preparation for cross examination
  • Effective styles of cross-examination
  • “Remember the dead horse”:  knowing when to let go
  • “Putting your case to the witness” versus character assassination
  • Lay witnesses and expert witnesses

14.15-15.10

Case scenarios and Q&A

15.10-15.25

Coffee break

15.25-15.55

Oral advocacy at the main hearing

  • Orally pleading the case “through” witness examination: counsel perspectives, tribunal perspectives
  • Closing statements and post-hearing briefs: transcripts, recency and the new emphasis on speed in rendering the award

15.55-16.50

Case scenarios and Q&A

16.50-17.00

Concluding remarks

The conference programme will be announced in due course.

The conference programme will be announced in due course.

The speakers will be announced in due course.

Dates and Venue

Date of the training:  26 May 2027

Date of the conference: 27-28 May 2027

Venue: will be announced shortly 

Registration fees

will be announced shortly

Cancellation policy

50% of the registration fee will be refunded if notice of cancellation is received in writing by 30 April 2027 included. Cancellations after this date are non-refundable, except in exceptional circumstances, such as visa refusals and illness. In these cases, a minimum cancellation fee of 20% of the registration fee will be charged.

Subject to agreement from ICC prior to the event, the registration may be transferred to another person from the same company or organisation at no extra charge. Updated registration information will be required. Please note that ICC reserves the right to cancel this event or to make minor alterations to the content and timing of the programme or to the identity of the speakers. In the unlikely event of cancellation, delegates will be offered a full refund. ICC will not, however, be held responsible for any related expense incurred by the participant.

Travel and accommodation

Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and hotel reservations.

We are able to dispatch visa invitation letters to support your visa application only after receipt of your registration and full payment of your registration fees.

Working languages

Conference: English and French

Training: English

Credits, hours and points

This event is eligible for credits/hours/points before the Paris and New York Bars. Please note that this is subject to validation of ICC Global Events’ applications (or individual application, as necessary) to the aforementioned Bars.

Further, ICC Global Events is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider.

Please contact ICCGlobalEvents@iccwbo.org if you have any questions or would like further information.

Disclaimer The photos and audiovisual recordings taken at this meeting/event may be used and published by ICC, its subsidiaries or affiliates, for informational or promotional purposes in printed materials or online, including on ICC websites and in social media. Participation in the meeting/event implies agreement to such use of photos or audiovisual recordings in which the participant may appear unless ICC receives written notification to the contrary.

For further information please contact : 

Organising team

ICCGlobalEvents@iccwbo.org

Sponsorship team

sponsorship@iccwbo.org

Co-organisers