Deakin Law School students have once again demonstrated why they are amongst the world’s best, at the recent Willem C. Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong.
The ‘Vis Moot’ is an international commercial law moot, held annually in Hong Kong and in Vienna. The Vis Moot is now in its 24th year – Deakin is one of only a very small handful of universities that have participated every year that the competition has run. The Deakin Law School has a strong history of success at the Vis Moot – having won the Vienna rounds twice (in 1999, and in 2014), and having been grand finalists in Hong Kong on two occasions.
To this, the Deakin Law School now adds a number one placing in Hong Kong, in the 2017 competition.
Eleven students took part in the Vis Moot for Deakin in 2017 – Casey Guilmartin and Nick McConville (representing the team in Hong Kong), Taylor Woodcock and Lachlan Morgan (representing the team in Vienna), and Lisa Mundos, Joel Breckler, Rukaiyah Abdullah, Nicholas Brewer, James Bell, Ryan Gale, and Emma Halliday. At the oral rounds in Hong Kong, which concluded on 2 April, Deakin progressed to the second round of the elimination finals, and both Casey and Nick were recognised for their individual efforts with Honourable Mention awards.
On 26 April, it was further confirmed that the Deakin Law School team placed number one, out of the 125 participating teams, as at the end of the general rounds – with Casey Guilmartin being the fourth ranked speaker overall (out of 223 eligible speakers in total), and Nick McConville being the overall eleventh ranked speaker.
Deakin’s Vis Moot coach, Dr. Benjamin Hayward, congratulated the team on their results. ‘Having reached the second stage of the elimination rounds in Hong Kong, and having received two honourable mentions at the time, was an exceptional result – and to now know that the team placed #1 out of 125 universities as at the end of the general rounds is the best possible endorsement of our students’ participation, and of our program here at the Deakin Law School’ Dr. Hayward commented.
We congratulate the Deakin Law School team on another outstanding year at the Vis Moot!
Originally published on Deakin Law School Newsroom.