"It is the first time since the launch of Young ICCA that a young talent will be able to enter the world of international arbitration with the help of those from the established community," said Marike Paulsson, Young ICCA Co-Chair. "It is the proper execution of Young ICCA's message to open the doors and change the international arbitration setting into a global one. Young arbitration specialists forming part of the Young ICCA boards have been working hard with the University of Miami to make this happen and reach out to new talents. We are grateful for UM in setting the example and realizing this major step towards a truly international arbitration community."
As a first-year law student, Chowdhury received the Institute for International Law and Justice Scholar award, a merit-based scholarship for select incoming students who demonstrated achievement in international law. During his time at NYU Law School, he also served as Senior Articles Editor for the Journal of International Law and Politics, was President of the International Law Society, and won various awards for Moot Court competitions. During his law school studies, Chowdhury was a Summer Associate with Crowell & Moring LLP and spent a summer in Ghana as a Legislative Aide/Policy Planner where he assisted a member of parliament in representing an area of rural Ghana in developing government initiatives. He also worked as a Research Assistant/Program Coordinator for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. and is currently working as a Staff Attorney for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.
"Wamiq's early achievements speak for themselves and are indicative of the high level that was required to win this competition," said Professor Jan Paulsson, faculty chair of the International Arbitration Specialization.
In order to apply for the scholarship, students were required to submit a written essay on a compelling topic in international arbitration. Chowdhury chose to write about International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in an essay titled "Recent Developments in ICSID Arbitration: Not Yet Time to Jump Ship." In it he discusses the legitimacy of the ICSID and the challenges currently presented within the organization and the arbitration field.
Chowdhury will begin the International Law LL.M. with specialization in International Arbitration in August 2012.
"This was a wonderful opportunity to partner with Young ICCA and I am particularly excited that our program continues to attract incredibly well-prepared and talented people like Wamiq," stated Jessica Carvalho Morris, Director of Miami Law's International Graduate Law Programs. "Our program is designed to provide students with a unique educational opportunity to acquire specialized expertise in the field of international arbitration. Our students benefit from extraordinary professors, unlimited resources and the support given by our office and university."
"It became clear to me fairly quickly that Miami was the best option for me," said Chowdhury. "The program is probably the best in the country, if not the world. You can't really do any better for an arbitration faculty than one headed by Jan Paulsson. His reputation alone opens doors for students that wouldn't otherwise be accessible, which is really invaluable for getting into the field. The way he and the rest of the program's leadership have begun to turn Miami into a center for arbitration really speaks to their quality. Also, it's significant for me at this stage of my education to be able to work closely with practitioners. Since finishing my J.D., it has become clear to me just how much of one's legal education comes from practical experience. I think Miami's international arbitration program will provide me with opportunities to gain as much practical experience as is possible within an academic setting. I look forward to hopefully representing the school in international moot competitions as well as writing and publishing articles with professional and practical applications."
The City of Miami will host ICCA 2014 Conference. As arbitration becomes more and more popular in the resolution of disputes, the international community of Miami is becoming its leading hub of activity due to its location, history and culture.
The International Arbitration program is a 24 credit graduate program which begins in August of every year. It is a small and selective program composed of practitioners from all over the world. Click here for more information on the LL.M. in International Arbitration at the University of Miami School of Law.
Winner of 1st Miami Law/Young ICCA Scholarship Announced in Singapore
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