Willem C. Vis Pre-Moot has been held in Ukraine for the fourth consecutive year. The event has been was organized by Vasil Kisil & Partners with support from the International Commercial Arbitration Court (ICAC) at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI), Ukrainian Arbitration Association and Sayenko Kharenko law firm.
Participants of the Pre-Moot included teams from leading universities in Ukraine and Poland, such as, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, and Lazarski University (Poland).
The arbitrators of the debates were the leading international arbitration practitioners from Austria, United Kingdom, Slovenia, Ukraine and Switzerland.
Based on results of the competition, the team of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy won and was named the “Best Team,” while Leila Kazimi, student of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, was awarded the “Best Speaker” prize.
Oleg Alyoshin, Partner and Head of International Arbitration practice at Vasil Kisil & Partners, said, “I am very happy that Willem C. Vis Pre-Moot is turning into an annual tradition in Ukraine and attracts new partners who are ready to combine their efforts to develop Ukrainian arbitration community. These debates are a splendid place for future professionals to obtain practical knowledge and skills in the international commercial law and arbitration. We notice that the level of the teams grows substantially each year. I am convinced that the great professional future is waiting for all who now participate in these debates.”
Olga Kostyshyna, advisor to the President of the ICAC at the Ukrainian CCI, said, “ICAC has been facilitating holding the Ukrainian rounds of Willem C. Vis Moot for three consecutive years now and awards the best teams with the Academician Ihor Pobirchenko Prize. We are pleased to see each year as Ukrainian teams grow and become more prepared, showing strong knowledge and public speaking skills and being well-deserved to represent Ukraine in the contest in Vienna. We are happy to be involved and support growing new generation of arbitration lawyers in Ukraine.”
Olena Perepelynska, President of Ukrainian Arbitration Association, emphasized that “it is extremely important for students to obtain theoretical knowledge not alone, but as much as possible practical skills as well. That’s why the Ukrainian Arbitration Association supports holding the Willem C. Vis Moot enabling participating teams to gain valued experience in the international commercial arbitration and being worthy of participating in the international rounds.”
The Vis Pre-Moot is aimed at promoting professional training of law students to international commercial law and arbitration. By participating in the Ukrainian Vis Pre-Moot, students from various universities were afforded an opportunity to present their arguments on the case to the leading legal practitioners and receive valuable advice for their further participation in international events. Similar competitions are held in 100 countries and attended by almost 300 teams.
