In 2005 Interleges resolved to dedicate an award to the memory of its co-founder Stephen A. Rayner of London, who died prematurely last year. Interleges hopes that the award would become an established annual event relative to international commercial law and international dispute resolution.

We are now at the close of the first year of the award, having received entries of a very high standard from law students and legal trainees from across the world. After careful consideration, our four judges (Salim El Meouchi, President of Interleges, Stefano de Bosio, Vice-President of Interleges, Massimo Vittori, Counsel at the UN/WTO international trade centre and Dr. Arthur Appleton, Counsel White and Case International Trade LLP) have awarded first place to Tristan Jones. Tristan is a student on the Bar Vocational Course, the formal year of practical training for members of the Bar of England and Wales, at BPP, London. Tristan will receive his prize money of US$4000.00 at the Interleges Annual General Meeting in Zurich at the end of this month, at which he will meet the Interleges membership. The two non-Interleges judges from this year’s award will also be present to congratulate Tristan.

Special Commendations have been awarded to Moses Torkuma Pila of Nigeria and Veronika Baronova of the Czech Republic, to recognise the exceptional standard of their entries. All three winners have been invited to apply to spend a short period of time in one of the Interleges member’s offices over the coming year.

To read the three winning essays please click here.

The subject of next year’s award will be circulated after the Interleges Annual General Meeting at the end of May 2006