New LL.M. Programme International Dispute Resolution

May 28, 2014


Danube University Krems’ new LL.M. Programme “International Dispute Resolution” starts in March 2015. The four-semester master’s degree programme is postgradual, part time, and aims at lawyers from any jurisdictions.

Danube University Krems’ new LL.M. Programme “International Dispute Resolution” starts in March 2015. The four-semester master’s degree programme is postgradual, part time, and aims at lawyers from any jurisdictions. It provides extensive and diverse knowledge in the field of international dispute resolution. The focus of the study programme, which covers the principles of international and European commercial law, lies with international arbitration, international and European procedural law, as well as business mediation, negotiation and conflict management.

“Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms have gained increasing importance over direct recourse to state courts. “Dispute Resolution” has certainly become one of the core practice areas for business lawyers”, says Dr. Christian W. Konrad, founding partner of the internationally renowned law firm Konrad & Partners and lecturer and academic advisor of the new LL.M. stream.

The Department for Business Law and European Integration at Danube University Krems is thus adapting to the realities of a globalized business world, in which more and more small and medium-sized enterprises are entering an international market. These new circumstances significantly enhance expectations imposed on lawyers, who have to choose for their clients the most cost-efficient, time- saving dispute resolution strategy leading to the intended result.

International business life is definitely experiencing a trend towards arbitration, commercial mediation and other means of alternative dispute resolution, which naturally creates a strong demand of lawyers experienced in these fields and able to find the most efficient and speediest way of resolving a dispute involving different jurisdictions.

“In co-operation with Dr. Konrad, one of the most renowned practitioners in international arbitration, we succeeded once again in uniting academical and practical expertise in an ideal way – a connection form which our students will benefit tremendously.”, says Professor DDr. Thomas Ratka, LL.M. from the Department of Business Law and European Integration at Danube University Krems. The department, drawing from 20 years of experience, once again proves to be among the pioneers in the field of continued legal education. The range of LL.M. programmes offered at Danube University Krems, so far covering the areas of Insurance Law, Contract Law, and Banking and Capital Markets Law, has become even more diverse.

The new part time LL.M. Programme “Dispute Resolution” is characterized by the fact that renowned experts - both, academics as well as practitioners - will be lecturing in Krems. Thus, the programme is a specialized and practice- oriented post graduate study in the area of Dispute Resolution. Further, students will be provided with interdisciplinary expertise which is essential for an international career. Along with the basic principles of international and European business law, international arbitration, commercial litigation, negotiation and conflict management will be part of the curriculum taught at Danube University. Graduates will be experts in the field of international dispute resolution.

Starting in March 2015, the LL.M. Programme aims at lawyers interested in alternative dispute resolution, in particular attorneys, trainee lawyers, business lawyers and any law school graduates. Graduates will be Masters of Law (LL.M.). The different modules are taught part time at Krems, the costs will be 11.900 Euros.