The International Arbitration Practice at WilmerHale is delighted to announce the launch of Small States and International Dispute Resolution | edX, a free online training resource developed by the Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS). Enroll in the free course here.

In this new online course, consisting of 12 modules, leading experts—many of whom are from small states—introduce participants to international dispute resolution and how it relates to climate change. London-based International Arbitration Partner Steven Finizio presents the commercial and investment arbitration modules.

The course enables participants to make informed choices regarding international dispute resolution by:

• Fostering awareness of the different dispute resolution mechanisms and climate change/environmental issues (law reform)
• Providing basic International Dispute Resolution awareness for a large number of stakeholders, including judges, government officials, legal practitioners, business owners, academics and NGOs
• Further familiarizing participants with environmental law-related issues on the importance of the various dispute resolution mechanisms in light of possible environmental/climate change claims

No prior legal knowledge is required for this course—only an interest in the issues of small states and climate change. Participants who successfully complete multiple-choice tests at the end of each module may obtain a certificate of completion from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

WilmerHale and ISMS have collaborated for the past five years on issues related to international law and small states, including co-hosting a series of conferences: Regional Integration and Dispute Resolution (2016); International Financial Services and Small States (2017); Environmental Dispute Resolution and Small States (2018); Small States, International Law and the Realization of Rights (2019); and Human Rights and Small States: Challenges, Resilience, and Advocacy (2020). The sixth conference in the series will be titled Small States and the Protection of Culture and Cultural Property.

Access the free course here.

ISMS is grateful for the support of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung – Regional Programme Australia and the Pacific.