Leadership, Legitimacy, Legacy: A Tribute to Alexis Mourre

In 1923, when the ICC International Court of Arbitration was created, its founders understood the vital role of international arbitration to facilitate cross-border trade. They called themselves the “merchants of peace”—a pioneering group of entrepreneurs who understood the importance of access to justice and the rule of law, and who envisioned the essential role that arbitration would play in achieving this purpose. Since its inception, the ICC Court has been the thought leader in dispute resolution services, where now international arbitration is recognized as the preferred method for resolving cross-border disputes around the world. The ICC Rules of Arbitration have undergone many revisions to stay at the forefront of development and respond to the growing complexity and demands of the global business community.

Alexis Mourre embodied and upheld this commitment to international arbitration. During his tenure as President of the ICC Court, Alexis' leadership sustained the ICC Court's reputation as the world's preferred arbitral institution and ensured that the ICC's Rules of Arbitration remained ahead of the field. The record-breaking caseloads and the increasing number of ICC arbitration users around the world are perhaps the most visible results of his success. Yet, the impact of his work is much more fundamental, and the chapters in this book highlight Alexis' many efforts and accomplishments. Alexis focused on five key pillars— efficiency, transparency, ethics, diversity, and “glocalism”—to safeguard the legitimacy of international arbitration.

In a time where arbitration found itself in a legitimacy storm, with increasing threats and warnings, Alexis got arbitration back to safer waters. He understood that an arbitral institution needs to find the right balance between continuity and change. He established a renewed sense of trust in the system. International arbitration is now more diverse and heterogeneous than ever. And under