Students from the University of Miami School of Law's International Moot Court program showcased exceptional talent and dedication at this year's Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition, leaving an indelible mark on the global stage of international legal advocacy. The competition, which encompasses Vis East in Hong Kong and Vis West in Vienna, saw the School of Law participants achieving remarkable success and recognition.
The Vis Moot is the largest international commercial arbitration competition and the second largest in the world; it is considered a significant moot. The competition is one of the several that make up the International Moot Court Program led by Professor Paula Arias.
On the way to the Vis East competition, the team participated at Moot Shanghai, where the student oralists Tamara Galeote and Alexandra Santamaria stood out as semifinalists, demonstrating outstanding oral advocacy skills. Galeote and Santamaria received multiple honors, including Honorable Mentions for Best Oralist in both Shanghai and Hong Kong and Honorable Mention for Best Memorandum on behalf of the Claimant. Notably, they advanced to Round 32 in the Vis East in Hong Kong, representing the only American university to achieve this exceptional milestone. The oralists were accompanied by assistant coach Josefina Silva, a Chilean attorney, and School of Law LL.M. student, who provided her complete guidance and support to the team.
Their exceptional performance reflects the School of Law's commitment to excellence in international legal education and highlights the students' impact on the global legal community. Galeote's recount of their experience underscores the significant impression the School of Law left among peers and arbitrators.
"People commonly say 'it's about the journey and not the destination,'" said Santamaria. "I can truly say the enriching learning experience came from both the arduous journey of being molded to an avid and effective advocator to arriving at Shanghai and Hong Kong to showcase the hard work backed by an amazing and supportive team."
In parallel, the Vis West team, which consisted of Raini Butler, Andrew Co, Megan Neubauer, and Megan Williams, made waves in Vienna. The team's journey began with the release of the 31st Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Problem, leading to intensive preparation, including drafting memoranda and participating in various rigorous pre-moots, including the Florida Bar Pre-Moot, in which the School of Law obtained second place and Neubauer and Santamaria were awarded Honorable Mentions for Best Oralist. The team also earned first place in the USCIB/ICC Practice Competition in New York and fourth in the V Galicia PreMoot in Mexico City.
Immediately before Vienna, the Vis West team competed in Cam-CCBC in Hamburg and the Budapest Pre-Moot, where Andrew Co earned an Honorable Mention for Best Student Arbitrator. Their participation exemplifies the School of Law's commitment to thoroughly preparing students for the complexities of international legal practice.
"The dedication and hard work of the entire team paid off in multitudes," said Butler. "Everyone grew as people and lawyers from the moment we received the problem to the last moment of the competition making it even more of a gratifying and rewarding experience."
The School of Law's success at the Vis Moot reaffirms our reputation as a leader in international legal education. We are immensely proud of all our participants for their outstanding performance and contributions to the School of Law's global standing," said Arias. "Congratulations to our Vis East and Vis West teams on their exceptional achievements!"
Read more about Miami Law’s moot court programs.
