Students represent Queen Mary in both Investment and Willem C. Vis Moots

In line with previous years, Queen Mary will be represented at the Willem C. Vis Moot in Commercial Arbitration in Vienna by students of the School of International Arbitration. For the first time, the School will also partake in the Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court.

The Willem C. Vis Moot - this year in its 18th edition - is with 262 universities from 66 countries all around the world the largest arbitration moot court in the world.  The problem of the Vis Moot involves a dispute arising out of an international sales contract, which is subjected to arbitration. Procedural issues, which are this year governed by the Milan Rules of Arbitration of the Chamber of Arbitration of Milan, concern the validity of the constitution of the abitral tribunal and its jurisdiction on the one hand, and obligations of confidentiality of the arbitration between the parties on the other.

Substantive issues,  traditionally governed by the Convention on the International Sale of Good (CISG), relate to breach of contract and proper inspection of goods. Participating teams need to prepare written submissions for both claimant and respondent, and will then defend both sides at oral rounds which will take place in Vienna between 15 and 21 April 2011.

This year's Queen Mary Vis Moot Team is comprised of Elizabeth Simos (UK), Marc Epstein (USA) and Marta Blocka (Poland). The team is coached by Dr. Stavros Brekoulakis and Ms. Angie Raymond, both lecturers at the School of International Arbitration, CCLS, Queen Mary University of London.

The Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court is this year in its fourth edition, and features problems drawn from historic foreign direct investment cases.   This year's problem centres on the Fugger banking family based in Spain in the 16th Century and its "claim" under a BIT against the Kingdom of Spain for loans made to the King of Spain. The proceedings take place under the ICSID Additional Facility Rules, and there are 9 issues for discussion, including whether the loans constitute an "investment", whether the loans were procured by way of corruption and/or bribery, and whether the non-repayment of the loans (and breach of the BIT) is justified on the grounds of necessity.

The SIA has supported the Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court in previous years, and a team will defend the School's colours this year as well. The Queen Mary Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court Team consists of Blerina Xheraj (Albania), Julie Audoux (France) and Vito Racannelli (Italy). The team is coached by Gloria Alvarez (Mexico) and Katherine Belton (New Zealand).

The Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court starts with the drawing of the teams and appointment of arbitrators on the evening of 14 March. Oral rounds take place between 15 and 18 March 2011. Prior to the drawing, the AFSIA is gathering for a roundtable on Current issues in Investment Arbitration Practice on 14 March 2011 (2-5 pm). More information on this event can be found elsewhere on this website or in the roundtable flyer.