Willem C Vis East Moot
The Vis East is the sister moot to the Vis Moot. Introduced in 2004, it is the second largest international commercial arbitration moot in the world after the Vis. Hosted by various institutions in Hong Kong and City University of Hong Kong, it uses the same moot problem as the Vis but takes place days before the Vienna rounds.
The moot problem is typically divided into two main segments, with one speaker handling the procedural issues (based on a chosen set of institutional arbitration rules, such as the International Chamber of Commerce and Singapore International Arbitration Centre rules), and the other handling the substantive issues under the Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Other relevant applicable rules include the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts and the IBA Guidelines on the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration.
The arbitration panels typically comprise a range of arbitration practitioners, with senior and leading figures such as Geoffrey Ma and Lucy Reed featuring in the knockout stages. Due to travel restrictions brought about by COVID-19, the 2019/20, 2020/21 , and 2021/22 editions were held online. The 2022/23 edition saw a return to in-person format.
Established: 2004
Venue: Hong Kong
Record number of participants: 150 teams (2021)
Subject matter: International commercial arbitration
Qualification process: None, but pre-moots available, such as AIAC, Melbourne, Shanghai
Prep window: October to March
Comp duration: 8 days, with socio-academic events included
Maximum team size: No limit
Team anonymity: No
Format: Sit-down, 4 issues, 2 speakers, 30 minutes (including 2-speaker rebuttal); 4 prelim rounds, knockouts from 32 with random seeding; 35-page pleadings for each side
Memorial weightage: None
Advanced round qualification priority: Oral scores
Registration fee: 1100 USD per team
Repeat participation: No for oralists who made the knockouts in either Vis moot
Multiple teams from same institution: Not allowed
Most championships: Four-way tie (2)
Most awards won in a single edition across both moots: Singapore Management University (11, 2019/20)
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Past winners
Final four (no of teams)
2024 (144): National Law University, Jodhpur; Charles University; Peking University; National Law University, Delhi
2023 (130): Royal Institute of Colombo; National Law School of India University; Universitas Katolik Parahyangan; University of Mannhein
2022 (online): Singapore Management University; Monash University; University of Munster; National University of Singapore
2021 (online): Fordham University; Humboldt University; University of Mainz
2020 (online): Chinese University of Hong Kong; University of Sao Paulo; Singapore Management University; Maharashtra National Law University
2019 (136): University of Amsterdam; Jindal Global Law School; National Law Institute University; University of Bucharest
2018 (133): ILS Law College; University of Freiburg; Singapore Management University; University of Ankara
2017 (128): West Bengal National University; NALSAR University; Singapore Management University; University of Bucharest
2016 (133): Chinese University of Hong Kong; Singapore Management University; NALSAR University; National University of Singapore
2015 (107): Singapore Management University; Arizona State University; Symbiosis Law School, Pune; West Bengal National University
2014 (99): Loyola University Chicago; University of Amsterdam; China-EU School of Law; University of Bucharest
2013 (93): University of Canberra; University of Munster; Bond University; Chinese University of Hong Kong
2012 (90): City University of Hong Kong; University of Houston; La Trobe University; University of St Gallen
2011 (87): Bond University; City University of Hong Kong; University of Freiburg; University of Hong Kong
2010 (75): University of Freiburg; Deakin University; University of Houston; University of Munich
2009 (64): Loyola Law School; Stetson University; La Trobe University; Hamline University
2008 (51): Griffith University
2007 (46): Pepperdine University; Monash University; National Law School of India University; University of Wisconsin
2006 (32): Loyola Law School; Deakin University; Loyola University Chicago; Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
2005 (18): West Bengal National University; University of Houston; Deakin University; Humboldt University
2004 (14): Tsinghua University; Loyola University Chicago; Monash University; University of Hong Kong
Best speaker
2024: Peking University
2023: Peking University School of Transnational Law
2022 (online): University of Munster
2021 (online): University of Cincinnati
2020 (online): Singapore Management University
2019: National University of Singapore
2018: National University of Singapore
2017: Harvard University
2016: American University Washington College of Law
2015: Bond University
2014: China-EU School of Law
2013: University of Basel
2012: University of Freiburg
2011: American University Washington College of Law
2010: Georgetown University
2009: Loyola Law School
2008: Loyola Law School
2007: Fordham University
2006; Loyola Law School
2005: Deakin University
2004: West Bengal National University
Best memorial (C)
2024: University of Zurich
2023: Humboldt University
2022: University of Munich
2021: University of Bucharest
2020: University of Heidelberg
2019: Chinese University Hong Kong
2018: University of Mannheim
2017: Stanford University
2016: University of Munich
2015: University of Munich
2014: Harvard University
2013: University of Basel
2012: Bond University
2011: Stetson University
2010: York University
2009: University of Freiburg
2008: University of Freiburg
2007: Fordham University
2006: University of Munich
2005: University of Houston
2004: University of Munich
Best memorial (R)
2024: University of Zurich
2023: University of Mannheim
2022: University of Heidelberg
2021: Gujarat National Law University
2020: City University of Hong Kong
2019: University of Freiburg
2018: University of Mainz
2017: University of Helsinki
2016: University of Munich
2015: University of Hannover
2014: NALSAR University
2013: University of Freiburg
2012: University of Freiburg
2011: University of Basel
2010: Stetson University
2009: Harvard University and University of Mainz
2008: Hofstra University
2007: University of Victoria
2006: University of Munich
2005: University of Munich
2004: Loyola University Chicago