As part of the São Paulo Arbitration Week, Young ICCA was pleased to offer a Skills Training Workshop on Soft Skills for Arbitration Practitioners in São Paulo on 23 October 2025. This in-person event offered a unique opportunity to learn from seasoned legal professionals how to develop crucial soft skills for arbitration practice. The panel discussed essential oral skills such as effective communication, communicating in a foreign language, non-verbal communication, and performing under pressure. Participants also got to test their abilities at practical sessions. These sessions focused on exercising elevator pitch, explaining complex ideas simply, and handling high-pressure questions. Participants received live feedback from speakers and organizers.

Speakers:

• Opening Remarks: Gustavo Kulesza
• Moderator: Isabela Maté
• Speakers: Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Raquel Macedo Moreira, Luisa Quintão, Hafez Virjee

Programme schedule:

09:00 – 09:30 | Registration & Networking Coffee

09:30 – 11:00 | Panel – Building Effective Soft Skills in Arbitration

• Opening remarks 
• Basic advocacy & communication techniques 
• Communicating in a foreign language 
• The power of non-verbal language 
• Soft skills under pressure 
• Q&A  

 11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break & Networking

11:30 – 12:30 | Dynamic Workshop – Soft Skills in Action

• Station 1 – Elevator Pitch (self-presentation)
• Station 2 – Explaining a Complex Idea Simply
• Station 3 – Handling Pressure Questions

12:30 | Closing