2014-2015
22nd Annual Willem C. Vis International
Commercial Arbitration Moot
AMMAN, JORDAN VIS INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION TRAINING
OCTOBER 14-16,2014
Goal of the Vis Moot
• To foster the study of international
commercial law and arbitration for
resolution of international business disputes
through its application to a concrete
problem
• to train law leaders of tomorrow in
methods of alternative dispute resolution.
What is the Vis Moot?
• An imagined dispute
• Based on a contract between two or more
parties
• Arising from a commercial transaction
• Which is governed by the UN Convention
for the International Sale of Goods (CISG),
and proceeds according to a selected set of
arbitration rules.
What is the Vis Moot?
Two Critical Competition Phases:
• Phase I: Written Memoranda (Claimant and
Respondent)
•
First, Second, and Third Place Awards, along with
honorable mentions
• Phase II: Oral Arguments (in Vienna, Austria,
or Hong Kong)
•
•
First, Second, and Third Place Awards for Team
Arguments, along with honorable mentions
First, Second, and Third Place Awards for Individual
Oralists
What is the Vis Moot?
Governing Legal Texts:
• United Nations Convention on Contracts for the
International Sale of Goods (CISG)
• Rules of Arbitration of the International Court of
Arbitration of the ICC (ICC Rules)
• UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial
Arbitration (Model Law) with the 2006 amendments
• Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of
Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention)
Preparing for the Written Memoranda
 Each team will:
•
Produce two 30-35 page memoranda;
•
Collaborate with team members, faculty, and student
coaches to discuss the Problem;
•
Research the issues presented in the Problem;
•
Address the issues in the memoranda;
•
Edit the memoranda prior to submission.
Preparing for the Oral Arguments
 Each team will:
 Prepare a thirty-minute argument on behalf of their client,
divided between the procedural and substantive questions;
 Practice the argument COMPLETELY as a team 2-3 times a
week (the more, the better);
 Consult with their coaches and Vis Moot alumni on how to
improve their presentations;
 Participate in a 3-day arbitration training in February,
followed by a 2-day pre-moot competition
Vis Moot Calendar
Friday, 3 October 2014
Distribution of the Problem
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Deadline for requests for clarification
Sunday, 30 November 2014
Closing date for submission of registration form
Thursday, 11 December 2014
Memorandum for Claimant due
Friday, 12 December 2014
Payment of registration fee due
Thursday, 22 January 2015
Memorandum for Respondent due
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Moot Alumni Association Welcoming Party
Friday, 27 March 2015
Official Welcome and reception
Saturday-Tuesday, 28-31 March 2015
General Rounds of argument
Tuesday evening-Wednesday-Thursday , 31
March- 2 April, 2015
Elimination Rounds of argument
Thursday, 2 April 2015
Awards Banquet
What have I gotten
myself into??
What YOU get out of it:
 In depth knowledge of international commercial law
and arbitration law.
What YOU get out of it:
 Critical skill building in:
 International legal research and analysis
 Legal writing
 Written and oral advocacy
What YOU get out of it:
 Teamwork experience
What YOU get out of it:
 Practical legal training
What YOU get out of it:
 An opportunity to connect with people from all over
the world and form lasting relationships that carry
over into your career
What YOU get out of it:
 And UNFORGETTABLE learning experience.
University/Faculty Support
• Selection of Vis Moot team faculty advisors and coaches (Professors,
teaching assistants, Vis Moot alumni/practitioners)
• Selection of Vis Moot student team
• Minimum of 4 students; both lower level or advanced degrees
permitted (no licensed attorneys); English language fluency
• Registration of team with the Vis Moot before November 30, 2014
• Allocation of a work area, access to computers and the internet, access
to legal research resources
• Guidance and assistance throughout the Memoranda writing process –
legal research and case analysis, preparation of outline, review of drafts,
preparation of bibliography, finalization of Memoranda prior to
submission
• Preparing students for oral arguments; scheduling practice arguments
and confirming practice arbitrators
• Payment of Vis Moot registration fee (700 euros, due December 2014)
• Cost sharing for travel costs to Vienna for students and coaches