International Arbitration Institute

The International Arbitration Institute is an embodiment of the University of Miami’s long tradition of engagement with the law of arbitration. The Institute strives not only for progress through the education of the new generation of arbitration lawyers, but also for progress through research in international arbitration.

The Institute also caters to a particular reality of international arbitration, namely the indispensable need for financial analysis, and intends to continue offering grounding in accounting and quantum to arbitration practitioners in a realistic way.

Why International Arbitration in Miami?

• An unparalleled opportunity for students to study under the sustained and personal guidance of preeminent arbitration scholars and practitioners;
• An enriching professional context, as Miami is an important international arbitration center, particularly for Latin America.

In addition, there is a tradition of arbitration at Miami Law. University of Miami School of Law’s legendary dean from 1974-82, Soia Mentschikoff was a pioneer in the study of the arbitral process in the 1950s and 1960s. Mentschikoff gathered 180 arbitrators from four occupational groups (lawyers, manufacturers, bankers and brokers) and asked them to decide a hypothetical case designed so that both parties were partially right and partially wrong. The purpose of the experiment was to determine whether professional backgrounds result in cognitive biases and a greater or lesser willingness to agree with others.

International Arbitration Institute Scholarship

The University of Miami School of Law’s International Arbitration Institute awards one or more partial-tuition scholarships to outstanding candidates to attend the International Arbitration LL.M. Program.

No separate application is required for the International Arbitration Institute Scholarship.

Students who apply and are admitted to the International Arbitration LL.M. Program are automatically considered for these prestigious scholarships based on admission credentials, academic achievements and promise.

Application Deadline

Applications for admissions and scholarships will be considered on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of December 15. However, we encourage interested students to apply even after our priority deadline of February 15. We will accept applications for admission up until the beginning of the program in early August, and scholarships may still be available at a later time.

Other International Arbitration Scholarships

Each year, several additional scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants to the White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. based on academic and professional skills and achievements.
Learn more about these prestigious scholarships.

White & Case International Arbitration LL.M.

The LL.M. in International Arbitration provides a unique individualized educational curriculum and opportunity for a small group of top-quality students from a range of countries wishing to acquire an in-depth grounding in the field of international arbitration as a platform for a successful career.
Learn more about the LL.M. program - the only one of its kind in the United States.

Institute Initiatives: Lectures

The Institute brings renowned international arbitrators and experts to the University of Miami School of Law to lecture throughout the academic year.

2021 White & Case International Arbitration Lecture

Miami Law’s 2021 White & Case International Arbitration Lecture featured international arbitration specialist  David W. Rivkin (Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton) on “Post-Pandemic Arbitration: Will It Be Contact-Free?” The world of international arbitration moved rapidly to continue to serve its users during the pandemic. During the lecture, David W. Rivkin discussed the lessons we have learned and how they can be adapted to improve arbitration in the post-pandemic world. The lecture also discussed how the pandemic may impact damage claims. Read more about the lecture here or read the Lecture Script. You may also re-watch the lecture here. 

See more upcoming and past lectures/courses

Institute Initiatives: Research

The Institute strives not only for progress through the education of the new generation of arbitration lawyers, but also for progress through research in international arbitration including: 

• Based on the earlier experimental study conducted by Dean Mentschikoff, the issue of cognitive bias in international arbitration is being further researched by the Institute. 
• The Institute also caters to a particular reality of international arbitration, namely the indispensable need for financial analysis, and intends to offer a practical background into the accounting and quantum methods used in international arbitration. 
• The Institute will conduct research on the 1958 New York Convention's Drafting History in Spanish and French. The Institute will focus on user's criticism on investment arbitration and conduct empirical research in order to move forward.
• Students also have the opportunity to work as graduate research assistants with the Institute and individual Miami Law faculty members on cutting-edge research projects related to international arbitration.

Institute Initiatives: Publications

The Institute also publishes research in the area of International Arbitration. Click here to see a listing of current and future publications.