June 2026
ADRIstanbul Founder Ferda Canözer Paksoy served as a Judge and Assessor at the 1st TAI International Mediation Tournament, organised by The Accord Initiative from 23 May to 7 June 2026. Held entirely in online format, the tournament provided law students with an international platform to demonstrate their mediation skills.
What Is the TAI Tournament?
The Accord Initiative is an independent initiative dedicated to creating educational platforms in alternative dispute resolution for young legal professionals. The 1st TAI International Mediation Tournament marks its first large-scale competition.
The tournament gives participants the opportunity to develop the listening skills, cultural awareness, strategic thinking and emotional intelligence that mediation demands. Law students compete in the roles of mediator, client and counsel, working through real dispute scenarios.
Why Do Mediation Competitions Matter?
International mediation competitions have become an indispensable part of legal education. Alongside established platforms such as the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition and the Vienna CDRC International Mediation Competition, new initiatives like TAI are expanding the global reach of mediation education.
Every new platform extends the culture of mediation to a wider audience. Every competition gives young professionals the chance to experience the discipline, creativity and human sensitivity the field requires. In a world where disputes are growing more complex and increasingly cross-border, these skills are no longer optional. They are essential.
ADRIstanbul’s Commitment to the Next Generation
ADRIstanbul considers support for newly created initiatives such as TAI every bit as valuable as participation in long-established international competitions. When experience and fresh perspective meet around the same table, the mediation community grows both broader and stronger.
The future of dispute resolution will be shaped not only by experienced practitioners, but also by the new generation of mediators who are introduced to dialogue, negotiation, empathy and structured problem-solving at an early stage of their professional lives.
Ferda Canözer Paksoy will also serve as a judge at the Vienna CDRC International Mediation Competition in July 2026.
For more information about The Accord Initiative: linkedin.com/company/theaccordinitiative
