2019 CIArb Australia Vis Pre-Moot

Back row (L-R): University of Queensland team - Liam Inglis, Adam Lukacs, Riley Quinn, Mia Campbell, Ben Wilson; Griffith University team - Grace Norris, Madaline Hartwig, Neha Gangaram; Kristian Maley and James Sullivan. Front row (L-R): Caroline Kenny QC, CIArb Australia; The Hon Justice Clyde Croft, Supreme Court of Victoria and Gowri Kangeson, DLA Piper.

Following closely fought final rounds, University of Queensland was victorious in the 2019 CIArb Australia Vis Pre-Moot for the second consecutive year, narrowly prevailing over Griffith University in the grand final round, and over semi-finalist teams Monash University and the University of New South Wales The teams appeared before a grand final panel comprising the Hon Justice Clyde Croft AM, Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria; Ms Caroline Kenny QC, President of CIArb Australia; and Ms Gowri Kangeson, Partner of DLA Piper, at the Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne. In recognition of their performance, the grand final oralists of the University of Queensland team have secured places at CIArb Australia's Introduction to International Arbitration course in Perth on 10 May this year. This course is tutored by leading arbitration practitioners and provides a pathway to Associate membership of CIArb. The 2019 Vis Pre-Moot was held on 21 and 22 February at DLA Piper and RMIT University in central Melbourne. Along with the practice rounds, teams attended an informal panel discussion focusing on the moot problem, with panelists Prof Jeffrey Waincymer, Paul Hayes QC, and Dr Rajesh Sharma. The Pre-Moot was organised by the CIArb Australia Young Members Group (YMG), with the support of hosting sponsor DLA Piper, and sponsors RMIT University, Epiq Australia, and the Federal Court of Australia. It was made possible by over 50 volunteers from the Melbourne arbitration community who generously volunteered their time to serve as arbitrators. We are grateful for the support of sponsors and arbitrators. The Pre-Moot attracted 10 university teams: Australian Catholic University; Deakin University; Griffith University; La Trobe University; Monash University; RMIT University; University of New South Wales; University of Notre Dame Australia; University of Queensland; and University of Sydney. Teams travelling from interstate received support for travel and accommodation costs from CIArb Australia and DLA Piper. The CIArb Australia Vis PreMoot is open to Australian teams participating in the Willem C Vis Moot in Vienna or the Vis (East) Moot in Hong Kong. The Pre-Moot gives teams an unprecedented opportunity to test and develop their skills before experienced arbitration professionals, and to network with fellow students and practitioners, before leaving Australia for Vienna or Hong Kong. Congratulations to YMG Chair Kristian Maley and committee members James Sullivan and Andrew Di Pasquale for organising a successful event. Thanks also to volunteer round coordinators Emma Collard, Sarah Nassour, Patrick Stratmann, and Sarah Sullivan for their support.