For more than 55 years, CEPANI has been committed to promoting the knowledge, development, and recognition of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), both in Belgium and internationally. In furtherance of this mission, CEPANI established the CEPANI Academic Prize, which was awarded for the first time in 2009.
This prestigious distinction aims to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarly contributions in the field of arbitration and ADR, while offering young professionals an opportunity to gain recognition among their peers and within the wider arbitration community.
The CEPANI Academic Prize is awarded every five years and is open to candidates under the age of 40. The winner receives a prize of EUR 5,000.
The 2025 edition proved to be a remarkable success, both in terms of the number of submissions received and the diversity of the participants. CEPANI received 33 applications from candidates representing 20 nationalities: Belgian, French, Iranian, Canadian, Italian, Turkish, Austrian, German, Polish, Chilean, Russian, Indian, Colombian, Dutch, Georgian, Hungarian, Brazilian, Moroccan, Azerbaijani, and Tunisian.
The competition was also distinguished by the exceptional quality of the works submitted. Of the 33 entries received, 27 were written in English, 5 in French, and 1 in German.
The international jury for the 2025 edition consisted of:
Prof. Eric De Brabandere (Chair), Mr. Cédric Alter, Prof. Ignace Claeys, Mr. Maarten Draye, Ms. Ulrike Gantenberg, Mr. Thomas Granier, Mr. Yves Herinckx, Prof. Maud Piers, Mr. Jan Schäfer, Ms. Erica Stein, Dr. Robbie Tas, and Ms. Axelle Zenati.
Following a thorough review of the submissions and extensive deliberations, the jury unanimously decided to award the CEPANI Academic Prize 2025 to Dr. Ekaterina Oger Grivnova for her work, L’irrecevabilité dans l’arbitrage.
The book examines inadmissibility both as an autonomous procedural mechanism, distinct from jurisdiction, and as a legal concept specific to international arbitration. While admissibility and inadmissibility are frequently invoked in arbitral practice and regularly appear in arbitral decisions, the concepts remain insufficiently theorized and are often applied in a fragmented and inconsistent manner. The jury considered that this work successfully addresses this gap.
The analysis is presented in a comprehensive, systematic, and intellectually rigorous manner. The legal reasoning is clear, coherent, and persuasive. Above all, the jury was impressed by the author's exceptional mastery of the subject matter and of arbitration law more broadly. The work makes a significant contribution to both scholarship and practice in international and domestic arbitration through its rigorous examination of the legal framework and practical application of admissibility in arbitration proceedings.
The jury further commended the clarity, nuance, and precision of the author's argumentation, as well as the extensive and sophisticated use of legal doctrine, treaties, case law, and scholarly literature throughout the book.
CEPANI warmly congratulates Dr. Ekaterina Oger Grivnova on this outstanding achievement and is delighted to award her the CEPANI Academic Prize 2025.
