AMMAN, JORDAN VIS INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION TRAINING

OCTOBER 14-16 ,2014

2014-201522nd Annual Willem C. Vis International

Commercial Arbitration 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.

Goal of the Vis Moot

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

Friday, 12 December 2014

Memorandum for Claimant due

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