Dear Students,

We are looking for students who will represent the University of Fribourg in the next Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (“Vienna Moot”). 

The Vis Moot is the largest and most prestigious competition in the field of international commercial and arbitration law. Each year, more than 340 teams from every corner of the world write memoranda and plead on a fictional commercial case to be resolved in front of an arbitration panel. 

The benefits for participating include 15 ECTS that can count either as special credits or “special credits and seminar” (master), or as “a proseminar” (bachelor). What is more, the moot offers the opportunity to gain experience in international commercial arbitration, to argue in front of specialized lawyers in Switzerland (Schellenberg Wittmer, Lenz & Staehlin, Homburger, Bär & Karrer, Kellerhals Carrard, etc.) and abroad, as well as to extend one’s circle of contacts.

The 2018/2019 Vis Moot will start in October 2018 and be over by the end of March / beginning of April 2019. From October to January, the Fribourg team will write two memoranda; one asserting a claim, another answering to another team’s memorandum. They will then learn to plead in front of trained lawyers, in Switzerland and abroad (Paris, London, Helsinki, Stockholm, Belgrade, etc.) during the so-called Pre-Moots, which consist of international gatherings of teams competing against each other. Finally, the team will go to Vienna in order to argue their case. All of this is of course also a wonderful opportunity to meet and befriend people coming from all around the globe. 

In the last few years, several teams of the University of Fribourg won numerous awards for their memoranda and pleadings. We sincerely hope that we keep up the good work!

The application is open to students who have completed four semesters of law studies and have a good knowledge of the English language. Applications (including letter of motivation, CV, grades, certificates, etc.), in English, should be sent to franz.werro@unifr.ch until the 26th of August 2018.

For more information, you can go to https://www.unifr.ch/ius/werro/willem-c.-vis-moot, or send an email to the coaches cordey.isabelle@gmail.com; josephinelea.rueegsegger@gmail.com or jessica.blankenbyl@gmail.com.

Best regards

Prof. Dr. Franz Werro