Georgian lawyer Darejan Beridze has been named the 2022-2023 Young ICCA Scholarship winner.
“I was thrilled to learn of my selection for this honor,” said Beridze. “It is a great responsibility for me to be the first student from the country of Georgia to receive the Young-ICCA full-tuition scholarship at the University of Miami, which attracts so many highly qualified individuals from all over the world. As the scholarship is merit-based, I felt that all the efforts, commitment, and dedication that I have put into my past educational and professional achievements were recognized on an international scale.”
Before attending Miami Law and pursuing an LL.M. in the White & Case International Arbitration Program, Beridze worked as an attorney in Germany and the Republic of Georgia. As an associate at Dentons Georgia LLC, she worked on an investment arbitration case in the energy sector and advised on complex cross-border financial and corporate transactions.
“I advised clients on a number of large M&A deals and capital markets matters,” said Beridze. “Apart from transactional work, I gained expertise in the field of investment arbitration through my involvement in arbitration disputes related to the mining, shipbuilding, and energy sectors.”
Beridze received her bachelor of laws from the University of Georgia and her master’s in international law from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. She decided to pursue her LL.M. in international arbitration at Miami Law to increase her knowledge of the U.S. perspective on arbitration.
“My motivation to pursue an LL.M. in the U.S. was driven by the outstanding academic program of the University of Miami and practical opportunities offered during and after completion of the LL.M.,” she said.
Beridze says Miami Law has exceeded her expectations two months into the program.
“Miami Law exclusively offers a variety of specialized arbitration courses taught by globally renowned professionals,” said Beridze. “The law school supported me in the process of selecting the courses specifically tailored to my interests and professional goals. I gained valuable feedback and recommendations with respect to my career plans. Significant research tools and training are being offered in the law library. Apart from the above, the University of Miami has a beautiful campus, which makes the study environment very comfortable and pleasant.”
Miami Law partnered with the Young International Council for International Arbitration to launch this scholarship as Young ICCA is a worldwide arbitration knowledge network for young practitioners and students, which aims to promote the use of arbitration by exposing new practitioners from all corners of the globe to the international practice of arbitration.
Previous winners of the Young ICCA Scholarship, who hailed from Bangladesh, Canada, India, Italy, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela, have found trainee positions and permanent placements with White & Case in Washington, D.C.; Three Crowns in Washington, D.C.; Hanotiau & van den Berg in Brussels, Belgium; Reed Smith (formerly Astigarraga Davis) in Miami, Florida; the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington, D.C.; and Bacardi Martini in Miami, Florida.
After completing her LL.M. at Miami Law, Beridze plans on practicing in the United States but ultimately aims to contribute to the development of Georgia as an arbitration hub.
“The main direction of my professional growth is to get involved in the global dispute resolution processes as an international arbitration attorney. Furthermore, I will continue to actively engage in the functioning of organizations promoting arbitration and supporting young lawyers.”
Read more about the White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program
