Faculty's Vis Moot Team enjoys further success

Congratulations to the Cambridge team: Wanting Guo (Queens’), Zofia Halbersztat (Trinity), Zheng Yu Chow (Emmanuel), Ben Mays (Trinity), Julian Poon (Wolfson), Sarah Hair (Christ's), Sam Pearce (Churchill), Jonathan Saunders (Selwyn) for their achievements in the Vis Moot International Commercial Arbitration Competition, one of the most prestigious international commercial law competitions.

In the first of the season of pre-moots leading up to the final rounds of the Vis Moot in Vienna, the Cambridge Team (Sam Pearce, Julian Poon and Jonathan Saunders won the DLA Piper Vis Pre-moot in Stockholm.

The team came second to Gray’s Inn in the White & Case Pre-Moot, with Sam Pearce awarded runner-up as best speaker. Cambridge were then Semi-Finalists in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Pre-Moot, coming second in the marked rankings after the first round. Cambridge were then Quarter Finalists in the ICC Pre-Moot in Paris (ending the competition 5th from 44 teams).

In the Final Rounds in Vienna, the Cambridge team comfortably reached the final 64 (out of 373 university teams from around the world). (Cambridge and LSE were the only English teams to reach the Round of 64). The team also received Honourable Mention for Best Team Orals (Eric Bergsten Award).

In other competitions happening concurrently, Sam Pearce won the BPP Advocate of the Year Competition and team member Zheng Yu Chow won the Landmark Chambers Property Law Moot Competition.

All the team members are to be thoroughly commended for their commitment to the Vis Moot activities over the last 6 months. This is equivalent to an extra module in international commercial arbitration. Compliments also to tireless coaches Andriy Byelka LLM and Katarina Byelka LLM, FCIArb in Cambridge and, externally, Nicholas Davidson KC and Andrew Stevens of counsel as well as Sir Rupert Jackson and members of the Clifford Chance International Commercial Arbitration Group, who gave up their valuable time to guide the team. Maroof Rafique assisted with pre-moot activities.

The team would like to thank those who supported their achievements by their generous financial contributions, notably Wilmer Hale, King & Spalding, Clifford Chance, Dame Elizabeth Gloster, Sir Richard Aikens, Chantal Dorries KC, Richard Siberry KC, Simon Crookenden KC, Charles Kimmins KC, Marcos Dracos KC and James Howells KC. Also thanks to Alina Papathanasiou, President of the CU Arbitration Society and James Hayton, Secretary of the CU Arbitration Alumni Association for their support.