The Vis Moot at Heidelberg University
The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot ↗ is the largest international moot court competition in the field of civil law, with over 300 universities worldwide now participating. The goal of the Vis Moot is to teach law students about international trade law and arbitration through a moot court, that is, a simulated court proceeding. Students must argue a fictional case in the field of international trade and arbitration law from the perspective of both the plaintiff and the defendant, first drafting written submissions and later facing teams from other universities in oral proceedings. The oral final rounds of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot have traditionally taken place in Vienna during the week before Easter. At the same time, a large number of alumni, academics, and practitioners from around the world gather in Vienna annually for the final rounds, making the Moot one of the largest professional gatherings in the field of international arbitration.
Since 1995, Heidelberg University has participated very successfully in the Willem C. Vis Moot International Commercial Arbitration Moot every year. Heidelberg teams have received numerous awards for both their written submissions and oral presentations. A complete overview of the achievements of the Heidelberg Vis Moot teams, as well as an introduction to the current Heidelberg Team at the Vis Moot, can be found on the website of the Institute for Comparative Law, Conflict of Laws and International Business Law ↗ at Heidelberg University.
