Auckland wins Paris mediation contest

It took rigorous training, an all-nighter, several croissants, tonnes of camaraderie, and a luxury-bag dispute to seal a University of Auckland win at an international mediation competition in Paris.

Four students took out first place in the 2026 International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Commercial Mediation Competition, showcasing their gravitas on stage and off.

Strong teamwork and expert coaching meant the team, Jumana Maash (law, arts), Chloe Mills (law, global studies), Samuel Foote (law, commerce) and Benjamin Jones (law, arts), were ready to mediate a variety of conflict resolution scenarios. Mediation is a way to resolve disputes, and competitors worked to isolate issues, consider alternatives, and reach an agreement between parties.

In the semi-final, the University of Auckland faced the University of New South Wales over a workplace safety dispute arising from generator failures at a ‘winter wonderland’ themed event.

After celebrating their win for just a moment, the team quickly turned their focus to the following day’s final against Germany’s Bucerius Law School.

“It was a very intense night,” says Jumana. “We got straight into it, reading the facts, deciding strategy ideas and writing opening statements. It was all of us around the table, sort of just chipping away at it from all different angles.

“Eventually, I think some of us got a couple of hours of sleep. Others got none. But yeah, it was quite an intense night, and then the next morning, we headed to the venue to compete.”

The team arrived at the historic Émile Boutmy lecture hall at Sciences Po University in Paris for the final. There, they faced a mock dispute involving a high-end luxury bag company following a breakdown in the relationship between the ‘creative designer’ and the ‘financial operations manager’.

Fifth-year law students Jumana and Chloe took the stage, while team members Samuel and Benjamin supported from the audience, alongside coaches Annabelle Kay and Jimin Seo.

“We got to represent the artist,” says Jumana. “So it was all about the brand’s artistic legacy and the identity we were trying to protect. The other side might have had a bit more of a commercial view of the problem and were maybe a little bit more focused on profits, whereas we were more focused on brand image. It was about those two conflicting views and how we could make them work together.”

A ‘seamless machine’ of a team

The team’s performance was so strong all five judges unanimously awarded them first place.

For Sam, the experience was valuable from a learning standpoint, but it particularly stood out thanks to the close-knit bond the team developed.

“We had a supportive team culture where we all could rely on each other; I really value the relationships I built in the team.”

Ben says the team culture was most evident during the intense 12-hour preparation between the semi-final and final.

“That’s where we really stood out. We were lucky to have six people who could work together and bounce ideas off each other. The people who would be mediating the problem on stage could prioritise a little sleep, while the rest of us could continue with preparation. It meant that we could essentially work almost as a seamless machine. And that was really inspiring to be a part of.”

The University has a strong reputation at the ICC Mediation Competition, winning four consecutive years from 2019 to 2022. The 2026 final echoed 2020, when Auckland also won against Germany’s Bucerius Law School.

Coaches Annabelle and Jimin, who have both competed in mediation competitions and graduated from Auckland Law School, say winning this year was a significant achievement, reflecting both the calibre of the students and the strength of the University’s advocacy and alternative dispute resolution programme.

“It’s a privilege to compete on such a large scale,” says Annabelle. “Mediation is a fantastic skill to build into a law degree because it doesn’t just apply if you become a lawyer. Active and empathetic listening, creating shared value, and working towards compromise and resolution are all useful professionally and personally, and you start noticing that mediation language in everyday life. These transferable skills are invaluable.”

Jimin says mediation skills are particularly important in the AI era.

“AI can now do a lot of what a junior lawyer can do, so I think it’ll increasingly be about the human touch, being able to read a room, negotiate, empathise, and connect on a human level. I was really proud that our team exemplified the University’s commitment to developing the next generation of lawyers who can work with AI tools while really bringing out and leveraging the human side of negotiation.”

While the Paris trip was mainly mediation-focused, the teammates did have a little time for sightseeing. And, of course, a croissant or two.

The 2026 competition featured 58 teams, making it one of the largest in the competition’s history. Hosted in Paris from 2–7 February, teams from 34 countries competed to resolve international business disputes through mediation.