Vis Moot Competition
VIS MOOT PRESENTATION
Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot is recognized as the most prestigious academic competition in international commercial arbitration in the world. Founded in 1993 in honor of the Dutch jurist Willem Cornelis Vis, this academic initiative aims to promote the study and knowledge of the CISG (United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods) among law students from universities all over the world.
Structure of the Competition
The competition, which takes place entirely in English, faithfully reproduces the two phases of an international commercial arbitral proceeding:
Written Phase – Teams are required to draft two memoranda, one on behalf of the claimant and one on behalf of the respondent, in response to the fictitious case published annually.
Oral Phase – Students argue the case before a simulated arbitral tribunal composed of arbitration experts from all over the world.
Global Participation and Academic Importance
Every year, the Vis Moot attracts around 400 university teams from every continent, as well as legal experts, lawyers, and internationally renowned arbitrators. The competition represents a unique opportunity for students to engage with a professional environment of the highest level, improving their advocacy skills and deepening their understanding of complex legal issues related to international commercial law.
The University of Pavia at the Vis Moot
For more than a decade, the University of Pavia has participated in this prestigious university competition.
Over the years, the team has had the opportunity to participate in important Pre-Moots (preparatory competitions for the main competition, but structured as autonomous events with their own competitive dimension, results, and winners) — including those held in New York — taking part in experiences of high academic and professional level; among these, the team distinguished itself for the results achieved, finishing at the top of the rankings in Pre-Moots held in Brussels, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Paris, and Stockholm.
2023 marked a historic milestone: the University of Pavia ranked among the best 64 universities in the world.
This result was achieved again in 2026, when the team secured first place in the General Rounds in Vienna, out of a total of 384 participating universities from all over the world.
Preparation and Support
The team is coached by:
- Avv. Mario de Nitto Personè — Project Leader and Head Coach;
- Barbara Cazzani, Nicholas Ciardullo, Letizia De Carlo, and Emanuele Ferrari — Student Coaches;
- Prof. Giulia Rossolillo — Academic Supervisor.
The team also benefits from the technical support of two leading Milan-based law firms with a strong multidisciplinary and international focus:
- LCA Studio Legale — supports the team during the written phase
- Legance - Avvocati Associati — supports the team during the oral phase
International Commercial Arbitration in Practice
Shortly before the release of the case, the course International Commercial Arbitration in Practice takes place at the Almo Collegio Borromeo, taught by Avv. Mario de Nitto Personè.
The course, strongly recommended for those wishing to participate in the competition, offers a complete introduction to international commercial arbitration, combining lectures with practical activities. The classes are enriched by the contribution of numerous guest speakers from different jurisdictions.
The course is recognized with 3 CFU within the courses of the Law Degree Programme [511904]; at the end of the course, a certificate of participation will be issued.
For further information, it is possible to write to:
mario.denittopersone@unipv.it.
Join the Team
Students interested in participating may consult the available selection calls and submit their application. Even when the calls are not open, interested students are strongly encouraged to contact us to receive further information and discover how to prepare to become part of the team.
For any questions or clarifications, it is possible to contact the team Coaches at: