UNC Charlotte wins Best Mediation Advocacy award in Paris

May 15, 2026
Categories: Alumni, College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, Faculty, Global Reach, Honors & Awards, News, Political Science and Public Administration, Students
UNC Charlotte mediation team poses on stage with their award and certificate

Four UNC Charlotte students competed in the 21st International Commercial Mediation Competition hosted by the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, France. As the only undergraduate team among 58 law schools from around the world, they received the Best Mediation Advocacy award.

Students Ethan Harris, Karen Czapkowski, Wyatt Smith and Mikayla Watts were accompanied by John Szmer, professor of political science and public administration, and Kyle T. Watson, adjunct professor and founder and managing attorney at The Watson Law Office, PLLC in Charlotte.

“Our students truly outdid themselves and it was an honor to watch them dominate — although I’m not in the least bit surprised,” said Watson. “If you ever get them as your opposing counsel down the line, then good luck.

The mediation team (students and faculty) poses for a group shot in front of an ICC banner.
From left to right: John Szmer, Wyatt Smith, Mikayla Watts, Karen Czapkowski, Ethan Harris, Kyle T. Watson
The four students pose in front of the ICC banner, smiling and doing the UNC Charlotte pickaxe with their hands.

About the ICC mediation competition

The ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition is one of the world’s largest educational events focused on international commercial mediation. It brings together more than 300 students and coaches, over 130 professional mediators and academics and numerous volunteers, sponsors and observers.

A large crowd at the ICC Mediation Week event. People stand on the main floor and on two balcony levels as well.
The opening cocktail party, with attendees talking around a bar with food and drinks.
The team poses for a photo with other participants in front of a presentation screen that reads, "ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition".
The team poses for a photo with other participants in a room with a table and presentation screen in the background.

Teams work to resolve international business disputes through mediation under ICC Mediation Rules. The competition draws globally recognized mediators who guide each session, and leading dispute resolution specialists evaluate performance by assessing which teams advocate most effectively and navigate the issues with the strongest strategy.

Each round features two teams of two students — one serving as counsel and the other as the client or corporate representative — who work with the mediator to address legal and factual issues and attempt to reach a resolution before the case proceeds to trial.

“Our students were phenomenal,” said Watson. “This was an amazing feat given this was their very first time participating in a mediation competition. Their success shows that we can compete with and go up against anyone, even the top law schools in the world.”

The ICC certificate of achievement for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the glass award for Distinction in Mediation Advocacy.
A close up of the "Distinction in Mediation Advocacy" glass award.

UNC Charlotte’s mediation program

Mediation and other alternative dispute resolution practices are used around the world in courts of law and in business settings such as hospitals, real estate and higher education. A trained mediator is a neutral third party who assists disputants voluntarily to reach a mutually acceptable settlement of the issues in dispute. Mediation saves disputants money, time and emotional anguish and stress.

The UNC Charlotte Mediation Program offers students courses, mediation tournaments and service to the University and larger community. Students connect classroom theory with real-world disputes and leave the program prepared to mediate real problems in realistic situations.

Watson poses with the students on a high viewpoint at night, with a view of Paris in the background.
Looking up at the Eiffel Tower at night. It is lit up with yellow lights.

Photos courtesy of Kyle T. Watson and the International Chamber of Commerce.