Transcript Vis Moot Introduction

2014-2015
22nd Annual Willem C. Vis International
Commercial Arbitration Moot
BIH VIS INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL
ARBITRATION TRAINING
OCTOBER 11-14,2014
Goal of the Vis Moot
The goal of the Vis 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.
What is the Vis Moot?
A made-up dispute, between 2 (or more)
private parties in an arbitration setting, based
on issues that arise out of a commercial
transaction.
The dispute is based on a contract, flowing
from a transaction relating to the sale or
purchase of goods under the United Nations
Convention on Contracts for the International
Sale of Goods (CISG) and other uniform
international commercial law and in the
context of an arbitration of a dispute under
specified Arbitration Rules.
What is the Vis Moot?
The Vis Moot is intended to stimulate the study of international commercial
law, especially the legal texts prepared by the United Nations Commission
on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the use of international
commercial arbitration to resolve international commercial disputes. The
international nature of the Moot is intended to lead participants to
interpret the texts of international commercial law in the light of different
legal systems and to develop an expertise in advocating a position before an
arbitral panel composed of arbitrators from different legal systems.
• 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)
What is the Vis Moot?
There are two phases to the Vis Moot:
Phase I: Written Memoranda
(Claimant and Respondent)
Phase II: Oral Arguments
(in Vienna, Austria)
In 2013-2014, 290 law school teams from 64 countries participated.
Around 1,700 students were members of the teams. The participating
teams and their memoranda were judged by around 800 lawyers and
professors from around the world.
All information for the Vis Moot can be found online:
https://vismoot.pace.edu/
Vis Moot Problem
• The Problem was distributed on October 3, 2014, by
posting on the Moot’s Web site.
• The facts in the dispute that is the subject matter of the
Moot are given in the Problem. The facts are described
in the statement of claim and statement of defense
including the exhibits to those statements.
• Requests for clarification are due October 23, 2014.
• Clarifications issued by the Moot administration in the
form of a Procedural Order from the Arbitral Tribunal
will be distributed to all registered teams via email.
What can participants expect from
the Vis Moot?
• In depth knowledge of international
commercial law and arbitration law;
• Skill-building in legal research and
analysis and oral and written advocacy;
• Team work experience;
• Practical legal training;
• Making connections with friends from
all over the world; and
• A FUN learning experience!
What does the Vis Moot expect from participants?
• Research all applicable
law (law library, online
resources, and books
provided by CLDP);
• Write two memoranda;
• Prepare for oral
arguments;
• Travel to Vienna,
Austria!
University of Sarajevo Faculty of Law Vis
Moot Team in Vienna
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
Preparing for the written memoranda:
Teams will draft two 30-35 page
Memoranda prior to arrival in
Vienna, Austria. One memorandum
will be for Claimant and the other
for Respondent.
Each team will:
• 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.
The 2013 University of Pristina and
American University of Kosovo Vis Moot
teams
Preparing for the Oral Arguments:
American University of Kosovo Vis Moot Respondent
Team in Vienna in April 2014
Oral Argument preparation begins in the late January, after the Respondent’s
Memorandum is due. Teams utilize Vis Moot alumni, faculty, and the legal
community to serve as practice arbitrators and undertake numerous practice
arbitration proceedings while streamlining their argument.
•Pitt Law advisors will return in February 2015 for Oral Argument Training and
Practice Rounds.
•Students and coaches travel to Vienna in April 2015 for oral argument rounds!
Pitt Law Consortium Team Pre-Moot
Vis Moot Final Banquet
Arriving prior to the official start of the
Vis Moot in Vienna, the BiH teams will
have the opportunity to meet the other
Pitt Law consortium teams and take
part in practice arguments.
A wonderful opportunity for teams
to meet and interact with
international students from all over
the world!
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