Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot is the most prestigious international competition for students in the field of arbitration. It involves fictitious arbitration proceedings in English within the scope of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The Vis Moot was held for the first time in Vienna in 1994, where it has been held annually ever since. Over 2000 students from more than 370 universities from over 70 countries, as well as renowned arbitrators, lawyers and professors from all over the world, now take part.
The participating universities send selected, intensively prepared students. They then have to solve a cross-border legal case and represent their own side against other universities. During the course of the competition, each team must also represent both sides and prepare written pleadings. Finally, there are oral pleadings. At the oral hearings, a tribunal of three arbitrators decides the winner of the round.
Applying legal theory as realistically as possible; representing one of the parties in a fictitious case and presenting the arguments in front of renowned legal scholars from all over the world: This is the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, or Vis Moot for short.
In the 31st edition of this competition in the field of international commercial and arbitration law, the team from the University of Graz was able to gain a lot of valuable experience in the 2023/24 academic year. At the pre-moots in Milan, Brno, Madrid, Lisbon and Stockholm, the students were able to make international contacts and also achieved top placings for the university. What's more: at the Vis Moot final in Vienna, the team from the University of Graz received an honorable mention for its plaintiff's brief. This is worthy of note, as only 26 of the more than 373 (!) participating teams received this award.
The tribunal paid particular attention to the quality and coherence of the arguments as well as the precise adherence to the formal requirements.
The team at the University of Graz would like to thank all participating teams, arbitrators and the organizers of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court, which takes place every year in Vienna and Hong Kong and is highly regarded in the study of law and in international arbitration practice.
