Sadie Kinnersley announced by the IBA as the 2025 winner of the David W Rivkin Fellowship
Sadie Kinnersley is the 2025 recipient of the David W Rivkin Fellowship, which was created in honour of former IBA President David W Rivkin who served in the role from 2015 to 2016. The Fellowship is awarded to Ms Kinnersley while she participates in the International Bar Association (IBA) internship programme in London, UK and a tripartite competition.
Ms Kinnersley submitted a video on her career aspirations and answered a technical question about a topic in law. This year’s question was: ‘In your view, what is the single most important quality or attribute a lawyer must possess to be successful in their legal career, and how do you embody or plan to develop this quality?’ The Fellowship includes a monetary award and mentorship.
Ms Kinnersley commented: ‘I am beyond grateful to have been selected for this year's David W Rivkin Fellowship. I am in awe of all Mr Rivkin has been able to accomplish in his illustrious career and I look forward to learning everything I can from him. I am especially grateful to be mentored by an American lawyer with a similar background and similar passion for the rule of law. Not only is Mr Rivkin a formidable legal expert but he is also a great man who cares about the future of the legal profession.’
David W Rivkin said: ‘I am honored that Debevoise & Plimpton and the IBA established this Fellowship in my name to support outstanding young lawyers working at the IBA on important projects.
‘Sadie submitted an excellent commentary on the most important qualities a lawyer must possess. She emphasised empathy, finding common ground and understanding each person’s humanity. She has demonstrated those attributes already through her own pro bono volunteering at a legal clinic. I have had the pleasure of meeting Sadie, and it is clear that she will be a successful lawyer dedicated to serving the public interest throughout her career.’
Prior to the internship with the IBA’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), Ms Kinnersley graduated Cum Laude from Maastricht University with an LLM specialising in human rights law. She undertook a placement as a trainee at the European Court of Human Rights and interned for the AIRE Centre, a London-based legal charity gaining valuable experience in European litigation as well as immigration law.
Mr Rivkin, an independent arbitrator affiliated with Arbitration Chambers in New York, London and Hong Kong has long been recognised as a global leader in international arbitration. He is a retired partner from the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton where he practised private and public international law for more than 40 years. At the firm he served as Co-Chair of its International Dispute Resolution Group for more than 20 years and was a founder of its Business Integrity/ESG Group. Among his other public positions, he is a Trustee of the IBA-created eyeWitness to Atrocities.
The Fellowship is open to all IBA interns based in the Association’s London office. Law students around the world can apply for the following internships:
- Legal Policy & Research Unit, which undertakes research and develops and implements innovative strategies, projects and initiatives that are relevant to business and the rule of law inter alia;
- IBA’s Human Rights Institute, which promotes and protects human rights and the independence of the legal profession worldwide; and
- Executive Director’s Office, where the role of the intern includes undertaking research, speech writing and contributing to academic papers.
To apply and to receive more information about the IBA internships and the David W Rivkin Fellowship, contact internprogramme@int-bar.org
ENDS
Contact: IBApressoffice@int-bar.org
Notes to the reader
- Click here to read more about the David W Rivkin Fellowship Award
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The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.
The IBA has considerable expertise in providing assistance to the global legal community, and through its global membership, it influences the development of international law reform and helps to shape the future of the legal profession throughout the world.
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