MDX Students participate in Vis Arbitral Moot - Vienna

A team of students from the department of Law and Politics travelled to Vienna, Austria to participate in the XXIV Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, one of the legal profession's most prestigious moot arbitration competitions, welcoming teams from over 350 universities and law schools across the globe. The goal of the Vis Arbitral Moot is to foster the study of international commercial law and arbitration for resolution of international business disputes through its application to a concrete problem of a client, and to train the law leaders of tomorrow in methods of alternative dispute resolution.

Each year, the Vis Arbitral Moot brings together more than 2000 law students to present their arguments and participate in forensic and written exercises for claimants or respondents, alongside more than 900 international lawyers, legal professors and other arbitration practitioners. As well as the chance to take part in the intellectual challenge of the arguments themselves, Middlesex University Dubai students who attended the Moot had a unique opportunity to meet other students from across the world, make new friends and connections and join a platform to learn about and discuss the field of arbitration and its place on the modern legal landscape.

The Middlesex University Dubai team, supported by the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC), is a talented team comprising of five individuals with diverse cultural and geographical backgrounds who have an interest in developing a better understanding of International Commercial Arbitration. Alia El-Abiary, Arshiya Munir Khan, Laureen Ampurire, Maimoona Nalkhande and Carina Watkins have been selected to participate in this moot, based on their academic performances, their advocacy skills and their interest on arbitration. Their coaches, Maali Khader from EMAC, Ilham Kabbouri from Hogan Lovells and Samantha Roberts from Middlesex University provided the team with valuable mentoring and enormous support.

Following four hearings over four days just 64 out of more than 350 teams progressed to the elimination rounds.  Teams included Cambridge University, Harvard University and the University of Ottowa, who claimed first place in the competition. The Middlesex University Dubai team, despite not qualifying to the elimination rounds, demonstrated excellent skills in the oral presentations and received praise from the panel of arbitrators sitting in each hearing. The Vis Moot was an invaluable experience for all involved and the University looks forward to participating in this exciting event in the future.

“The Vis Moot was a fantastic opportunity to develop and demonstrate advocacy skills. It was enriching to meet with so many new people from around the world and learn about their experiences.” - Arshiya Munir, Third Year LLB Student, Vis Moot Oralist.

“It is always a pleasure to work with committed, focused students such as the team from the Middlesex University.  It was a steep learning curve and they performed exceptionally well for first time participants.  I am confident that the Willem Vis Moot experience will pave the way for these students as they embark on their journey as the next generation of successful arbitrators.” – Maali Khader, Case Manager EMAC

“I am delighted to have been able to support the Middlesex University Dubai team during their Vis Moot journey. I am so proud of the team and what they have achieved.” – Samantha Roberts, Lecturer in Law Middlesex University Dubai

If you would like to know more about our Law and Politics Programmes, please visit: http://www.mdx.ac.ae/courses/school-of-law/law