29/08/2019
27TH ANNUAL WILLEM C. VIS INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION MOOT
Leiden University is looking for its eleventh team to participate in the 27th edition of the Willem C. Vis Arbitration Moot Court (The Moot). The Moot is hosted every year in Vienna, Austria and annually over 380 teams from over 60 countries participate in the Moot. Leading up to those pleading rounds in Vienna are the processes of writing memoranda for both Claimant and Respondent and participating in practice moots (i.e. pre-moots). Both exercises involve questions of contract flowing from a sale and purchase transaction of goods. Students grapple with the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (i.e. CISG) and other uniform international commercial law in addition to specified Arbitration Rules.
The Moot is considered as one of the most prestigious moot court competitions in the world. Selection as a team member is in itself a recognition of excellence. The goal of the Vis Arbitral Moot is to foster the study of international commercial law and arbitration for resolution of international business disputes through its application to a concrete problem of a client and to train law leaders of tomorrow in methods of alternative dispute resolution.
The Team is coached and supported by the best arbitration lawyers from Houthoff, led by Professor Marielle Koppenol-Laforce. This year the team will consist of third-year bachelor students, master students and advanced master students. The team welcomes both Dutch and international students. For example, the team for the 2019 Moot consisted of students from six different countries. The team went to Amsterdam, The Hague, Copenhagen, Brussels and Barcelona before pleading in Vienna. The Team has previously won the Copenhagen pre-moot and received honourable mentions for its written memorandum. The Moot is a great opportunity to gain valuable experience and skills in arbitration and in pleading. In addition, you will meet people from around the world and gain memories you will never forget! Extensive knowledge of arbitration or the CISG is not required. We are looking for motivated students who want to gain experience and have fun in the process.
Important dates to note:
4 October 2019: Distribution of the problem
5 December 2019: Memorandum for Claimant due
23 January 2020: Memorandum for Respondent due
January – March 2020: Pre-moots in the Netherlands and abroad
3 – 9 April 2020: The Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria.
Application to participate:
To apply, students should send an email to [email protected] including a resume/CV and an application letter BY 15 SEPTEMBER 2019. Students will be invited to submit a short one-page essay and come in for an interview before the end of September.
Not sure yet? Email [email protected] your questions and/or reservations and speak to one of the former team members.
For more information on the Moot, check out:
https://vismoot.pace.edu or https://leidenvismoot.com
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