IE Moot Team practices ahead of the Willem C. Vis Moot arbitration competition

The IE Moot Team is a collection of students dedicated to sharpening their skills in legal writing, oral advocacy and international dispute resolution. Representing various specialization tracks in IE Law School’s Master of Laws (LL.M.) program, they will be attending the 30th annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot—one of the most prestigious arbitration competitions in the world. This year, the event will be held in Vienna from March 31 to April 6.

The Vis Moot is an opportunity to foster the study and practice of international commercial sales law and arbitration, as well as provide students with practical training in the resolution of international business disputes. Luis Fernando Rodríguez, a leading lawyer and arbitrator, is an adjunct professor at IE Law School, teaching international arbitration and comparative contract law. He says, “The Vis Moot focuses on international commercial arbitration and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. It involves a fictional dispute between two fictional parties,” adding that, “Students [...] must prepare written pleadings and participate in oral arguments before a panel of arbitrators.”

Members of the IE Moot Team have been getting in as much practice as possible ahead of the upcoming Vis Moot. As part of their preparations, they have joined forces with the moot team at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid to organize several practice sessions, ensuring both perform optimally at the event. This effort will prove worthwhile, as Luis notes: 

“Having participated in the Vis Moot competition is highly regarded among international arbitration practitioners. It generally provides law students with valuable practical experience in commercial arbitration, as well as an opportunity to network with legal professionals from around the world.”

Its relevance cannot be overstated, as Iurii (Yury) Zakaznov, a student pursuing the International Dispute Resolution specialization, explains: “For law students, it is important to participate in these types of moot courts because they help develop various skills in research, legal drafting, oral presentation, justifying points of view and overcoming the fear of public speaking. In the course of my activities, I received a lot of new knowledge about arbitration and specific questions about the participation of the state in international arbitration.”

At the last edition, participants from 82 countries were in attendance, making this a unique moment for IE Law School students to expand their international network. Yury adds, “These competitions facilitate the development of various skills crucial for the legal profession in a relatively short period of time, but this event is unique in particular because of its organization and scope: it unites students from all continents and exposes them to an international law community that speaks the same language of universal legal concepts.” While in Vienna, the IE Moot Team will also have a chance to explore the city and participate in other exclusive activities alongside their peers.

The Willem C. Vis Moot arbitration competition is one of many extracurricular opportunities our students have to apply their knowledge outside the classroom. And as Luis asserts, “The Vis Moot is a golden opportunity to see students take their first steps into the real legal world and [witness] how much they grow as legal professionals in just a few months.”

We wish the IE Moot Team the best of luck.