Boston University School of Law Competes in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
From April 11 to 17, 2025, a team of Boston University School of Law students competed in the 32nd Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot held in Vienna, Austria. The team was made up of both JD and LLM students, including Emma Bowler (’25), Gemma del Carmen (’25), Lucia Martinez (’25), and Azizah Puti Bungsu (’25), and was joined by Michelle Acquah (’25) for practice sessions. Dimitrios Ioannidis (CAS’86, LAW’90), Marlisa Payne (’24), and Karen Hunt (’24), all of whom have direct experience with the Vis Moot Competition, served as coaches. Ioannidis has been the coach of the Vis Moot for several years, mentoring Payne and Hunt when they competed in the 2023 and 2024 competitions.
The Vis Moot Competition brings together law students from around the world to promote the study and practice of international commercial sales law and arbitration. Each year, participating student teams are presented with a problem relating to international private law and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (“CISG”). During the competition, the teams participate in “General Rounds,” where they argue against other student teams and are monitored by three arbitrators.
“Participating as a mootie provided our students with a range of skills applicable to their developing legal careers,” says Assistant Coach Payne. “Further, the Vis challenges students to explore the realm of arbitration, which is often not explored in law school but relevant in practice.”
The arbitrators evaluate the students’ arguments and provide feedback based on their skills in public speaking and oral advocacy, written memoranda, and teamwork. “The competition allowed me to strengthen my oral advocacy and critical thinking skills as well as understand the importance of teamwork and collaboration,” shares Bowler.
The Vis Moot is one of the largest international arbitration moots in the world, with nearly 400 law schools participating each year. “The BU team had the opportunity to meet law students and arbitrators from all over the world,” says del Carmen. “Vis was an incredibly educational experience, but also one to create community as representatives of BU Law.”
During the general rounds, BU Law argued against teams from Moldova, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine, with arbitrators from Austria, Columbia, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Peru, Russia, Singapore, and the UK. “It’s really interesting to hear what kind of feedback attorneys from different countries give the students,” shares Assistant Coach Hunt. “There’s a big social component to the competition, so it’s really great to network with students and lawyers from all over, too.”
The competition not only promotes the study of international commercial sales law and arbitration but also provides a platform for law students to practice their advocacy skills. Martinez says, “I gained confidence in my ability to argue on behalf of clients and challenged myself to think on my feet…Learning is deepened when you are collaborating with others, and the experience is a good preparation for a career in litigation or arbitration.”
Elson Law (’25), who completed the BU Law JD/LLM in the International and Comparative Law dual degree program with the National University of Singapore (NUS), competed in the Vis Moot competition with the NUS team. Law served as the lead writer for both memoranda and received an Honorable Mention for Best Oralist.
Students prepare for the Vis Moot for several months prior to the competition, practicing with their coaches and participating in mock sessions. In March, BU Law hosted the Boston Vis Pre-Moot, organized by Coach Ioannidis, which brought together over 100 law schools from around the world to virtually prepare for the Vis Moot. “I want to recognize the administration of the school, and especially Jennifer Taylor McCloskey (’05), executive director of advocacy and legal skills programs, for making this possible for the students at our school,” Ioannidis shares. BU will offer a new course, titled Vis International Commercial Arbitration, starting in the fall 2025 semester.
In reflecting on the competition, Puti Bungsu says that this journey pushed her intellectually and emotionally. “It taught me how to advocate, how to listen, and how to grow with humility and courage. But more than that, it gave me friendships I’ll always treasure and memories I’ll carry with me long after the competition is over. Being a BU mootie wasn’t just an academic challenge – it was a personal gift, and I’m so proud and thankful to have been part of it.”