Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot

The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot is an annual competition that attracts thousands of students from hundreds of schools from across the globe.  Many view it as the world's most prestigious international moot for law students.
 
Vis holds independent final competitions in two locations:  Hong Kong, usually in late March; and Vienna, usually in early April.  The Hong Kong competition draws teams from 75-100 schools, and the Vienna competition draws teams from more than 200 schools.
 
Team members are selected on the basis of a competitive process early in the fall semester.  The Vis problem is published in early October, with Claimant’s brief due in early December and Respondent’s brief due in January.  Each ASU team prepares team briefs for both Claimant and Respondent.  Coaches are permitted provide feedback on drafts, and participants can expect to take briefs through many drafts prior to submission, beginning with initial research and writing during fall break.
 
Starting in late January, team members will hold practice arguments – usually twice each week for each team – until they depart for oral arguments in Vienna or Hong Kong.  Some of these practice arguments will be practice moots with other teams, sometimes teams across the country or across the globe, facilitated by teleconferencing equipment.  The teams normally will also participate in the “Pre-moot” held at the University of San Diego in February.  Indeed, if funding falls through for travel to the international competition, the San Diego “pre-moot,” which attracts teams both regionally and internationally, can serve as the teams’ final competition.
 
The Vis problem always presents some issues of international arbitration, such as questions about recusal of an arbitrator for conflict of interest, and some issues of international contract law under the UN Convention on Contracts for International Sale of Goods (CISG).  For more information about the Vis competition, including links to resources, see http://www.cisg.law.pace.edu/vis.html.
 
The College of Law offers several courses relevant to Vis issues, including International Contracts normally taught by Professor Calleros; International Arbitration, normally taught by DLA Piper partner Mark Nadeau; and a writing seminar on international arbitration brief-writing taught by Professor Calleros. 
 

College of Law Vis Moot Court Team

Through the generous support of the DLA Piper law firm and ASU organizations, the College of Law sent two teams of four students each to the Vis competition in both locations during the 2011-2012 academic year. Center faculty member, Charles Calleros, accompanied the Hong Kong team as its coach, and DLA Piper attorney Kate Frenzinger accompanied the Vienna team as its coach. 
 
Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team – 2012
  • David Banko
  • Kevin Blood
  • Alyson Vivattanapa
  • Gayathiri Shanmuganatha

Applying to be part of the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team

Try outs for the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team are in the fall semester of each year. For more information, please contact Professor Charles Challeros at charles.calleros@asu.edu