Originally from The American Review of International Arbitration (ARIA)

PREVIEW

I.    INTRODUCTION

The ICC’s latest publication is a compendium of essays celebrating the leadership and contributions of Alexis Mourre to international arbitration throughout his tenure as President of the ICC Court from 2015 to 2021. The book—entitled “Leadership, Legitimacy, Legacy: A Tribute to Alexis Mourre”—is divided into five sections, each of which revolves around a central topic: diversity and inclusion, ethics, transparency, efficiency, and “a worldwide community.” These five topics serve as general guideposts to the content of the submissions. The pieces themselves, however, are anything but generic, providing intricate and often innovative analyses of the questions they confront. The book features over 40 contributions from prominent practitioners and former colleagues of Mourre, combining to produce a rich discourse on a wide variety of issues in international arbitration. The pieces are as diverse as their contributors, covering a large spectrum—from in-depth, academic treatments of pressing questions to short, personal reflections. Some detail Mourre’s impressive achievements, while others consider a given topic anew and suggest alternative ways of thinking. Some are practical, and others more abstract. In this way, the book contains something of value for every reader, and is sure to be consulted for years to come, for purposes both functional and recreational.

Generally speaking, the book is true to its purpose: it serves as a deserving tribute to Alexis Mourre and his many contributions to the field of international arbitration, both through his groundbreaking initiatives on the ICC Court and beyond. But it is far from being a mere compilation of laudatory essays. Instead, the pieces in the book come together to effectively engage what we consider to be a particularly important question in our field: What role do arbitral institutions play in international arbitration? And perhaps more importantly, what role can they play?

In the following sections of this review, we will first set out the contours of this important question and consider the unique position that arbitral institutions occupy in international arbitration. We will then address each section of the book in turn, highlighting how it intersects with this central theme.