Events 
Resources 
News News
Read our latest news, stories and articles
Swiss Arbitration Interview Series: Korinna von Trotha
What were your aspirations as a fresh law graduate? How did your career unfold further?
When I graduated, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit published an article with the headline “Exportschlager – deutsche Hochschulabsolventen” (“Export hit: German graduates”). So I just wanted to find a job, anywhere. I got my first job as deputy counsel at the secretariat of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris. The next steps unfold from there, keeping an open eye for opportunities.
What was your dream job as a child?
I did not have a dream job as a child. But I was convinced I did not want to take up my parents’ jobs. My mother was a teacher, and my father was an attorney. I narrowly avoided a self-fulfilling prophecy.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy nature and music (but rather not the two at the same time!).
You have studied and worked in multiple countries. In your eyes, what makes these experiences from different parts of the world enriching?
Living and working abroad taught me what all humans have in common.
What is your favourite part about living and working in Switzerland?
Riding a bus at night and the bus driver announcing randomly “gueten abig mitenand!” (“good evening, everyone!”).
Throughout your career, you have worked for different arbitral institutions. What about your work excites you the most, and what do you consider the biggest challenge?
I enjoy serving a community and enabling people to implement their ideas. This is at the same time the biggest challenge, because it needs trust which needs time to grow.
In your opinion, what are the benefits of choosing arbitration in Switzerland?
Besides the well-known advantages of Switzerland as an excellent hub for international disputes resolution, it is the people within the Swiss arbitration community: excellently trained, very respectful, collaborative, and fun!
Promoting diversity has become a key focus for the international arbitration community and beyond. In your view, what role do arbitral institutions play? Where do we stand?
Arbitral institutions play a key role in transforming the international arbitration community into a diverse community. The Swiss arbitration community has come already quite far, but for sure there is still some room for more diversity. When it comes to gender diversity, the many committees, task forces and conference panels of Swiss Arbitration are overall balanced, and it is quite a natural process to get there. I, personally, would like to see a slightly higher percentage of non-Swiss based arbitrators in the cases administered by the S§1wiss Arbitration Centre.
How can Switzerland continue to maintain and strengthen its position in the face of rising competition from other international arbitration hubs?
I think the most important factor is excellency. We need to maintain and constantly renew highest quality in service to the international arbitration community – in thought leadership and case administration.
Are there initiatives taken by ASA/the Swiss Arbitration Centre to promote Swiss Arbitration that you would like to share?
There are many activities and initiatives going on within ASA and the Swiss Arbitration Centre. I would like to let people know that everyone is welcome to share their ideas and participating actively in our community. Every mind and all hands are very valuable additions!
What is the best advice you ever got that you would like to share with young lawyers?
At a time, when I was still figuring out who I was as a private person and a professional, someone told me that it was very important to make good friends in the professional environment. The advice helped me to close this oftentimes artificial gap between a private and professional life. Having good friends in your professional field opens doors and hearts.
Final question: Is there a question you wish someone would ask you in an interview, and how would you answer it?
“Do you prefer asking questions or answering them?”
I definitely prefer asking questions.