RUSSIAN WOMEN
IN ARBITRATION
IN ARBITRATION
an initiative aimed to promote equality and women leadership in international arbitration
As a part of RWA’s mission to support and encourage aspiring female legal practitioners, in 2022 RWA launched the first cycle of RWA Mentoring Programme.
We are now happy to announce the second cycle of the RWA Mentoring Programme for the period of April – November 2024.
We believe that providing young lawyers with opportunities to interact and exchange views with seasoned dispute resolution practitioners is essential for defining a path of their professional and personal development. This is particularly important in today’s world, when young lawyers face more challenges along the way than ever before.
We are now happy to announce the second cycle of the RWA Mentoring Programme for the period of April – November 2024.
We believe that providing young lawyers with opportunities to interact and exchange views with seasoned dispute resolution practitioners is essential for defining a path of their professional and personal development. This is particularly important in today’s world, when young lawyers face more challenges along the way than ever before.
RWA Mentoring programme
Applicants to participate as a Mentee from Russia, Belarus, Hong Kong, Sweden, France, Italy, Germany and India
94
Mentees selected to participate in RWA Mentoring Programme
18
Mentors based in Russia, UK, Hong Kong and Sweden
Months of valuable collaboration and growth
16
20
Two Cycles of RWA Mentoring Programme in Numbers
RWA Mentoring Programme provides aspiring female lawyers with an opportunity to be mentored by experienced specialists in international dispute resolution.
Each shortlisted Mentee is assigned to a Mentor – a senior dispute resolution lawyer practicing in Russia or abroad. The Mentor–Mentee pair works together for 8 months towards achieving the Mentee’s immediate career/academic goals.
During RWA Mentoring Programme:
Each shortlisted Mentee is assigned to a Mentor – a senior dispute resolution lawyer practicing in Russia or abroad. The Mentor–Mentee pair works together for 8 months towards achieving the Mentee’s immediate career/academic goals.
During RWA Mentoring Programme:
- Mentors provide their Mentees with career/academic advice and guidance, as well as share their dispute resolution knowledge and practical know-how during personal sessions;
- Mentors and Mentees may co-author articles or other publications on dispute resolution topics, organize or participate together in conferences, workshops or other events;
- Mentees participate in the joint sessions, meetings, workshops or other events organized by RWA or Mentors.
We invite to participate 4th year bachelor and master female students as well as female lawyers with max. 5–7 years of legal experience.
To apply, please submit an application form including a CV describing your professional experience and education and a motivation letter (in Russian or English) responding to the following questions:
- Why are you interested in the field of international arbitration and dispute resolution?
- What 3 goals do you set for the next 1-2 years (for example, in the academic or practical sphere), and how can the RWA Mentoring Programme contribute to their achievement?
Mentees are expected to be proactive and highly motivated as well as to have a strong commitment to participating in all activities and events set up by Mentors and RWA.
As a result of RWA Mentoring Programme you can:
- make new connections with interesting people and strengthen your networking skills;
- get ideas for research in the field of arbitration and dispute resolution;
- strengthen your CV or motivation letter;
- build a strategy for career development or enrollment to a desired LL.M. programme.
Mentoring Programme 2024
Our Mentors are senior dispute resolution lawyers practicing in Russia. During the Mentoring Programme, Mentors will provide their Mentees with career and academic advice and guidance, as well as share their dispute resolution knowledge and practical know-how during personal sessions.
Denis Almakaev
Partner
LEVEL Legal Services
LEVEL Legal Services
Valeria Butyrina
Deputy Director
Russian Arbitration Center & International and Comparative Law Research Center
Russian Arbitration Center & International and Comparative Law Research Center
Yulia Dragunova
Head of the Division of the Russian Federation Representation in the International Trade Law Organizations
Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Anna Grishchenkova
Independent Arbitrator
Olga Kokoz
Founder, Attorney-at-law
Olga Kokoz Legal
Olga Kokoz Legal
Maria Lyubimova
Arbitrator, Attorney-at-law
Vadim Vunukainen
Counsel
Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners (RGD)
Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners (RGD)
Mentors
Among more than 40 applications, RWA together with the Mentors of the programme selected 7 talented, bright and ambitious young women wishing to develop in the field of international arbitration. Throughout a year, the selected participants will strive to achieve their academic and career goals under the tactful guidance of the Mentors.
Irina Lisinskaya
Maria Lukoyanova
Polina Perova
Daria Zavershinskaia
Mariia Zub
Mentees
Albina Mamedalieva
Anna Gavkalyuk
Mentoring Programme 2022–2023
Our Mentors are senior dispute resolution lawyers practicing in Russia or abroad. During the Mentoring Programme, Mentors will provide their Mentees with career and academic advice and guidance, as well as share their dispute resolution knowledge and practical know-how during personal sessions.
Marina Akchurina
Lawyer & Founder
AkchurinaLegal
AkchurinaLegal
Valeriya Grebenkova
Associate
Gherson LLP
Gherson LLP
Leonid Kropotov
Partner
Denuo (former DLA Piper)
Denuo (former DLA Piper)
Anastasia Medvedskaya
Associate
McNair International
McNair International
Yulia Mullina
Director
Russian Arbitration Center
Russian Arbitration Center
Svetlana Popova
Head of the Department of International Law Matters
JSC Uralchem
JSC Uralchem
Victoria Khandrimaylo
Counsel
HKIAC
HKIAC
Izabella Kharlamova
Rosneft Oil Company
Mentors
Among more than 50 applications, RWA together with the Mentors of the programme selected 11 talented, bright and ambitious young women wishing to develop in the field of international arbitration. Throughout a year, the selected participants will strive to achieve their academic and career goals under the tactful guidance of the Mentors.
Daria Efimova
Veronica Gorenitsa
Valeria Matorina
Ekaterina Petrenko
Anastasia Riabova
Mentees
Emma Shtegman
Ksenia Stepanova
Natalia Kovalkova
Luiza Shams
Kata Varga
Marina Bondarenko
During RWA Mentoring Programme, Mentees participate in the joint sessions, meetings, workshops and other events organized by RWA or Mentors.
Events
Meeting with Evgeniya Chervets
During the meeting, Evgeniya told the Mentees about the stages of her career, about her experience of combining several roles, including the role of a practicing lawyer and an academic. Evgeniya also explained that even at the beginning of their career, young practitioners should not be afraid to put forward and implement their even the most ambitious ideas.
April 20, 2023
Meeting with Natalia Gulyaeva
During the meeting, Natalia shared her career experience including how, as an IP specialist, she become highly recognized in the arbitration community. Natalia also gave Mentees practical advice on how to position yourself at work, build relationships with colleagues and develop yourself as a professional.
March 20, 2023
Meetings with Anna Grishchenkova
Anna held a series of online meetings where she shared with the mentees various insights and tips based on her 20 years of experience in dispute resolution and addressed their questions. During the first meeting, Anna spoke about the stages of her career, as well as shared her recent observations as an arbitrator. The second meeting focused on Anna’s recommendations on how to prepare for public speaking and to make speeches more memorable.
February 16–17, 2023
Open discussion "LL.M. Abroad: Myths and Reality"
RWA talked to graduates of the top universities, Valeriya Grebenkova (King's College London) and Vladimir Kostsov (Harvard Law School), about the opportunities, challenges and real-life experiences of getting an LL.M. degree outside Russia.
During the discussion, the panelists covered a variety of issues, including the correlation between an LL.M. degree and career development and the prospects of further employment abroad. Valeriya and Vladimir also gave advice to the audience on facilitating the admission process, submitting application documents and writing a personal statement, as well as shared details of the learning process shedding light on the grading system, academic workload and the level of students’ preparation.
The discussion was moderated by Anna Avdulova (National University of Singapore).
During the discussion, the panelists covered a variety of issues, including the correlation between an LL.M. degree and career development and the prospects of further employment abroad. Valeriya and Vladimir also gave advice to the audience on facilitating the admission process, submitting application documents and writing a personal statement, as well as shared details of the learning process shedding light on the grading system, academic workload and the level of students’ preparation.
The discussion was moderated by Anna Avdulova (National University of Singapore).
September 30, 2023
Meeting with Yulia Dragunova
During the meeting, Yulia spoke about her career path in arbitration and addressed alternatives to legal consulting — public service and careers in international organizations. Yulia described in detail the growth prospects in these areas, their advantages and the impact on the development of such skills as the ability to perceive processes in a multifaceted way, competent management and persuasive speech. Yulia also shared her experience as a delegate of the Russian Federation at the sessions of UNCITRAL Working Groups in Vienna and New York.
June 10, 2023
Mastermind Workshop on Negotiations with Marina Akchurina
RWA together with Marina Akchurina held a mastermind workshop on negotiations as part of the RWA Mentoring Programme. Under Marina's supervision, participants shared with each other their experience in solving various problems arising in the negotiation process.
We are glad that the workshop allowed participants to exchange their expertise, find new solutions and answers to their questions.
We are glad that the workshop allowed participants to exchange their expertise, find new solutions and answers to their questions.
November 24, 2023
During RWA Mentoring Programme, Mentees participate in the joint sessions, meetings, workshops and other events organized by RWA or Mentors.
Events
Meeting with Olga Kokoz and Sergey Ilyin
During the meeting, Olga and Sergey shared their experience of building a career from a young aspiring lawyer to founding their own dispute resolution practice, as well as answered questions of the mentees regarding timing for starting a career, building relationships with colleagues and clients, partnership and starting one’s own business.
Maria Lukoyanova, mentee of the second cycle of the RWA Mentoring Programme, moderated the event.
Maria Lukoyanova, mentee of the second cycle of the RWA Mentoring Programme, moderated the event.
July 25, 2024
Meeting with Tatiana Minaeva
During the meeting Tatiana shared with the participants of the first and second cycles of the RWA Mentoring Programme her experience of building a career in arbitration abroad and managing international complex projects, as well as gave advice on career development, highlighting the importance of mentorship.
Maria Lukoyanova, mentee of the second cycle of the RWA Mentoring Programme, moderated the event.
Maria Lukoyanova, mentee of the second cycle of the RWA Mentoring Programme, moderated the event.
August 13, 2024
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