Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, the major annual international arbitration and contract law competition, has been held since 1993. Its younger sister, Vis East, has just turn 18 this year. Each year, the Vis moot competitions attract hundreds of law schools, thousands of law students and countless professionals from the field meeting to fight for their teams, learn from each other, share their experience and network. This year, the Vis moot dispute content revolved around the very timely issue: Covid-19 vaccine. CESL Vis Team had a chance to take part in both competitions proudly representing the school.
Yang Youquan, Fei Teng (Double Masters students of 2020), Zhong Yaoying, (Single Master student of 2020), Ouyang Yueying, Liao Jingwen and Dai Xin (Double Masters students of 2019) formed the core of the team this year. They were greatly supported by researchers: Wang Yuelian, Li Zhuofan, Wang Jiawei, Zhang Mengxi, Li Yan, Qiao Luting, Zhao Huihui, Yue Yangyi, (Double Masters students of 2020) and Liu Jia (Double Masters student of 2019). Professor Susan Wintermuth, Professor Monty Silley and Professor Monika Prusinowska. Student coaches: Liu Lusheng, Jiang Jiaying and Ke Xi offered their irreplaceable assistance.
The online meeting of the team
(From left to right: Professor Susan Wintermuth, Yang Youquan, Fei Teng, Liao Jingwen, Ouyang Yueying, Dai Xin, Professor Monika Prusinowska, Zhong Yaoying)
From October 2020 to April 2021, the CESL Vis Team participated in nine competitions: the 18th “CIETAC Cup” International Commercial Arbitration Moot, the 2021 Florida Pre Moot, the 5th AIAC Pre Moot, the 11th Shanghai Pre Moot, the 4th TRAC Pre Moot, the 12th Moscow Pre Moot, the 11th Budapest Pre Moot, and the final games of 18th Willem C. Vis East (Hong Kong) and the 28th Willem C. Vis (Vienna) International Commercial Arbitration Moot. This year, all the competitions were held virtually, in a fashion that real international arbitration cases are being currently held.
The 2021 Florida Pre Moot
On its way to Hong Kong and Vienna, the CESL Vie Team not only took part in a number of pre-moots aimed at giving it more practice, but also prepared written memoranda on behalf of claimant and respondent. In addition to regular training sessions, the Team had a chance to practice internally with other law schools: Bond University (Australia) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China).
The 5th AIAC Pre Moot
All involved: the team members, student coaches and faculty coaches have worked hard facing the issues of different time zones and significant workload. Sometimes it meant waking up at 2 am to plead in the middle of the night, sometimes it meant staying up late to finish the legal memorandum. The faculty and students coaches offered their guidance, feedback and ideas for competition strategies.
The Practice Round with Bond University
The Clever Idea of Yang Youquan
The 18th Vis East (Hong Kong)
During the Vis East Moot (Hong Kong) held from March 15 to 18, 2021, Yang Youquan and Liao Jingwen competed successfully against four teams from four different countries and continents: Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique), University of Wisconsin (USA), Bucerius Law School (Germany) and Universidad Interamericana de Panamá (Panama).
The 28th Vis (Vienna)
In the Vis (Vienna) competition held from March 27 to 30, Dai Xin, Fei Teng, Ouyang Yueying and Zhong Yaoying courageously faced the teams of University of Edinburgh (UK), Ghent University (Belgium), Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), and Aix-Marseille Université (France).
During the months of preparation, we all have learned a lot. Despite the fact that the whole Vis adventure happened online this year, we could feel a lot of support and connection. The team members have immensely improved their skills of legal research and writing, oral advocacy and team work. Congratulations!
Writing: Fei Teng, Yang Youquan, Ouyang Yueying
