CINP™ — Certified International Negotiations Professional
The GAFM® global certification for legally trained professionals involved in complex contract negotiations, international arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution — featuring CISG, UNIDROIT, the New York Convention, and the Singapore Convention.
“Negotiate. Draft. Arbitrate. The Global Standard for Legal Negotiators.”
The credential for those who negotiate, contract, and resolve international disputes
Comprehensive dispute scope
From negotiation mandate to multi-tiered clause, from term sheet to arbitral claim, from mediation to award enforcement: the eight chapters cover the entire decision chain of the international negotiator.
Regulatory recognition
Listed on the FINRA Professional Designations Database (USA) and accepted by law firms, arbitral institutions, and corporate legal departments in over 150 countries. Credentials verifiable online at GAFM.com.
Dual ISO standard
GAFM was the first financial certification body in the world to simultaneously obtain ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 29990 (education and training) certifications.
Professionals who negotiate, contract, and litigate in the international arena
The eight chapters
- International negotiation ecosystem: parties, advisors, financiers, and institutions
- Dispute resolution continuum: negotiation, mediation, dispute boards, arbitration, and litigation
- Normative sources: CISG, UNIDROIT Principles, Incoterms, and lex mercatoria
- UNCITRAL Model Law, New York Convention, and Singapore Convention
- Interest-based negotiation versus positional bargaining
- BATNA, WATNA, reservation price, and ZOPA calculation
- Value creation and value capture: asymmetric trade-offs, packaging, and contingent agreements
- Cognitive biases: anchoring, escalation of commitment, and winner's curse
- Layered architecture: recitals/scope, economic core, risks, compliance, and boilerplate
- Force majeure, hardship, and renegotiation: boundaries and effects
- Indemnities, limitations of liability, aggregate caps, sub-caps, and baskets
- Risk allocation matrix: transfer, allocate, mitigate, or retain
- Anatomy of the arbitration clause: seat, rules, number of arbitrators, language, and governing law
- Institutions and ad hoc arbitration; pathological clauses and their effects
- Interim relief, emergency arbitrator, and court assistance in aid of arbitration
- Set-aside, recognition, and enforcement under the New York Convention
- International commercial mediation and the Singapore Convention (2019)
- Mediation techniques: caucus, reality testing, and reframing
- Multi-tiered clauses: negotiation triggers, timeframes, and admissibility of arbitration
- Dispute boards in infrastructure projects and FIDIC contracts
- Cultural dimensions applied to negotiation: context, hierarchy, time, and trust
- High- and low-context communication; interpreters and dual-language contracts
- Negotiating through delegation, with sovereign States, and with state-owned enterprises (SOEs)
- Impasse management, strategic withdrawal, and reconvening the table
- Compliance gate: counterparty due diligence, KYC, ultimate beneficial ownership, and PEPs
- Anti-corruption: FCPA, UK Bribery Act, and Law 12,846/2013 at the negotiation table
- Economic sanctions and export controls: continuous screening and protective clauses
- Personal data and confidentiality: GDPR, LGPD, NDAs, and clean teams / data rooms
- Ethical duties: truthfulness, authority mandate, confidentiality, and independence
- Conflicts of interest, disclosures, and IBA guidelines applied to arbitrators and counsel
- Preparation dossier and knowledge management for the negotiation team
- Post-agreement governance: implementation, obligations matrix, and formal amendments
Five phases. Merit-based progression.
- Rounds
- 1–10
- Pts/round
- 1
- Phase total
- 10 pts
- Min. to advance
- 5 pts
- Rounds
- 11–20
- Pts/round
- 2
- Phase total
- 20 pts
- Min. to advance
- 10 pts
- Rounds
- 21–30
- Pts/round
- 9
- Phase total
- 90 pts
- Min. to advance
- 45 pts
- Rounds
- 31–40
- Pts/round
- 16
- Phase total
- 160 pts
- Min. to advance
- 80 pts
- Rounds
- 41–50
- Pts/round
- 25
- Phase total
- 250 pts
- Min. to advance
- 125 pts
Four months of preparation
CINP™ Certification Handbook
Comprehensive technical compendium covering the 8 official CINP™ curricular chapters — fundamentals, negotiation methodology, complex contracts, arbitration, mediation and dispute boards, intercultural negotiation, compliance, and professional ethics. Permanent reference for your professional practice.
CINP™ Decision Simulator
Unlimited 4-month access to the GAFM simulator: practice the 50 scenarios across 5 complexity phases as many times as you want, with personalized executive feedback.
30-minute 1:1 meeting
One-on-one online session with a GAFM® Specialist, with simultaneous translation into more than 50 languages — scheduled whenever you consider most strategic for your preparation.
From enrollment to the CINP™ credential
- 01Enrollment
Enrollment in the program and immediate access to the technical handbook and the simulator.
- 02Study · 4 months
Study the official handbook, engage in unlimited practice across the simulator's 50 scenarios, and consult with the Specialist via chat.
- 031:1 Mentorship
30-minute online meeting with a GAFM® Specialist, with simultaneous translation into more than 50 languages.
- 04Certification Exam
Official 1-hour exam featuring 10 practical scenarios in the simulator. Passing score ≥ 70%. Assessment of responses by the GAFM Specialist.
- 05CINP™ Credential
Issuance of designation title and verifiable digital badge on GAFM.com.
Three pathways to certification, adhering to GAFM Elite standards.
Pathway A — Experience
Minimum of 3 years of experience in contract drafting or litigation, international arbitration, mediation, in-house counsel, or cross-border compliance, plus a degree recognized by an accredited institution.
Pathway B — Education
Bachelor's degree — preferably in Law — and completion of the 40-hour GAFM-Approved CINP™ course, covering the program's eight official curricular chapters.
Pathway C — Professional Credentials (waiver)
Holders of LLM, JD, Bar Admission (OAB/equivalent), FCIArb, MCIArb, TEP, CPA, MBA, MS, PhD, or DBA qualify for streamlined admission with an exam waiver — the most common route for senior legal practitioners.
CINP™ vs. generalist credentials
Unlike an academic LLM, isolated mediation courses, or credentials focused solely on arbitration, CINP™ integrates into a single curriculum the negotiation method, complex international contract drafting, arbitral strategy, and compliance applicable at the bargaining table.
| Criterion | CINP™ (GAFM) | Alternatives (LLM · isolated ADR courses) |
|---|---|---|
| Target audience | Attorneys, arbitrators, mediators, and in-house counsel in cross-border transactions | General academic audience or focus on a single dispute method |
| Curriculum scope | 8 chapters: negotiation method, contracts, arbitration, mediation, culture, compliance, ethics, and practice | Isolated course or purely theoretical approach |
| Clause drafting | Core focus — force majeure, hardship, liability caps, guarantees, and multi-tiered clauses | Peripheral or omitted treatment |
| Arbitral strategy | Seat, rules, interim relief, costs, set-aside, and enforcement | Partial coverage, lacking integration with negotiation |
| Compliance and sanctions | FCPA, UK Bribery Act, Law 12,846/2013, sanctions, and export controls | Rarely integrated into the negotiation process |
15 CPE hours per year.
Active standing of the CINP™ designation requires completing 15 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) annually, as registered in the FINRA Professional Designations Database. Failure to comply results in suspension of designation use and potential credential cancellation.
1 hour. 10 decisions. Your credential.
The final stage is the official GAFM® exam, scheduled by the candidate within the 4-month window. It consists of 10 practical scenarios in the simulator, evaluated by the GAFM Specialist using the same criteria applied during practice. Passing score starts at 70%.
Common questions about CINP™
Does CINP™ require a formal exam?+
Not necessarily. Candidates qualifying through Pathway C (LLM, JD, Bar Admission, FCIArb, MCIArb, TEP, CPA, MBA, PhD, among others) are eligible for an exam waiver, with certification granted upon credential evaluation. Other candidates complete preparation with the simulator and the final exam within the platform environment.
Do I need a law degree?+
The program is designed for professionals with a legal background — attorneys, arbitrators, mediators, and in-house counsel. Contract, compliance, and project management professionals with proven experience in international negotiations are also admitted through Pathway A.
Is the CINP™ internationally recognized?+
Yes. It is listed on the FINRA Professional Designations Database (USA) and accepted by law firms, arbitral institutions, and corporate legal departments in over 150 countries.
Does the program cover arbitration and mediation in practice?+
Yes. The curriculum covers arbitration clause drafting, choice of seat and rules, interim measures, costs, set-aside and enforcement under the New York Convention, as well as commercial mediation and the Singapore Convention, multi-tiered clauses, and dispute boards in FIDIC contracts.
How does certification maintenance work?+
Candidates are required to complete 15 hours of CPE (Continuing Professional Education) per year, obtained through arbitration and ADR conferences, GAFM Academy webinars, publishing technical articles, or teaching negotiation, contracts, and arbitration.
How do I verify the authenticity of a CINP™ credential?+
CINP™ credentials can be publicly verified on GAFM.com by employers, clients, and regulators, eliminating any risk of falsification.
Your GAFM® Certification in International Negotiation starts now
Final exam scheduled at the end of four months, with a verifiable digital badge for those who pass.