The course was opened by Ambassador John Gero of the Permanent Mission of Canada and Ms Bridget Chilala, Director of the ITTC.  In addition to the involvement of Secretariat staff, the course benefited from the involvement of highly experienced lawyers and academics in the dispute settlement field from different institutions and private law firms including the Advisory Centre for WTO Law (ACWL), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Borden Ladner Gervais, King and Spalding, White and Chase LLP and Sidley Austin LLP.  In addition, two Appellate Body Members who were in Geneva for the Swearing in Ceremony for the new AB Members were included in the programme.

The course which was held in order to increase participants understanding of the rules and procedures governing the settlement of disputes in the WTO, offered participants  an opportunity, through interactive presentations and roundtables, to address procedural notions and key developments in WTO dispute settlement jurisprudence.  In addition, participants were able to attend the Swearing in Ceremony for the new AB Members. 

Pursuant to Article 27.3 of the DSU, the course was open to developed, developing and least-developed countries as well as countries in accession.