Todd Wells' International Arbitration Blawg

Published by: The Law Office of Todd A. Wells, LLC (please note that this blog is for educational purposes only)

I had the great privilege of serving as a volunteer arbitrator at the Willem C. Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition this past week. The Vis Moot (East) took place this year in Hong Kong at the City University of Hong Kong in Kowloon Tong. The Vis Moot is one of the great social and networking events of the international commercial arbitration community every year. It brings together international arbitration professors, students, practitioners, and world-renown arbitrators in an action-packed week of moot hearings, conferences, and parties. Many of the friendships made at the moot last forever. Students who attend the moot often remember the moot as the most important learning experience of their careers (as a two-time participant in Vienna I can certainly attest to that).

Hong Kong has become one of the major international commercial arbitration centers around the world, rivaling the traditional centers of arbitration in Paris, New York, Stockholm, and London. Much of this success can be attributed to the rise of China among world powers. It is a favored center for Chinese parties (including Hong Kong), and many others throughout Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The bulk of arbitration work in Hong Kong is handled by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the "HKIAC"). The HKIAC is also the heart of arbitration instruction and events in Hong Kong. They sponsor the Vis Moot (East). The final round of the Vis Moot is conducted at the HKIAC in the same conference room where massive arbitrations take place throughout the year. Located in  Exchange Square, most of the conference rooms have incredible views of Victoria Harbour.

The opening ceremony for the moot took place at the Hong Kong Club in Central, and was generously sponsored by Baker & McKenzie. This is the first chance for the participants to meet their competition and future colleagues in the profession.

 The Hong Kong Club is a beautiful setting for the opening of the Moot and gives the participants a glimpse of the "good life" in the city.

 The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (East Branch) is a huge part of the Vis Moot (East) and contributes much of their time and money to the success of the moot. One of the events for the coaches and arbitrators also took place at the Hong Kong club during the week of the moot.

 The level of competition and skill exhibited by the students at the moot is often extraordinary. When one realizes that these students are often only 19 or 20 years old, it can be a shocking experience. I had the honor of serving as chairman in one of the rounds between Griffith University and Gujarat National. Here you can see the Griffith team on the left with Mr. Matthew O'Shea and Ms. Lauren Dancer. On the right is Mr. Shamik Bhatt and his co-counsel Ms. Aditi Gulati. The arbitrator on the left is Mr. Marco Lam of White & Case (Hong Kong), with Professor Rieko Yamashita-san (山下 りえ子) of Toyo University (東洋大学) in Tokyo, Japan.

 As coach of the University of Denver team (only attending the Vienna moot this year), I missed my own students and so I spent time getting to know some of the students from other teams. I made a lot of friends with the Waseda University Team (早稲田大学) and their coach Professor Dr Kubota-san Takashi (久保田隆). Here I am below taking a few of the Waseda students to dim sum at Maxim's in City Hall shortly after one of their rounds.

Hong Kong is a beautiful city and a fantastic place for the Vis Moot (East). Having been to both the main Vienna moot twice and the Hong Kong moot twice, I probably have a personal preference for the Hong Kong moot. The two moots are quite different. The Hong Kong moot remains smaller and more intimate, yet the city is much more overwhelming for the first time visitor and in traditional Hong Kong fashion: intensely commercial. This is a good background flavor for the Vis moot, which is always a dispute about the sale of goods. On the other hand, Vienna is much more at ease, and comes with its own unique classical appeal and beauty. It is somewhat easier to get to know some of the top arbitrators in Hong Kong, who then fly off to Vienna for many more rounds of fun. The Vienna moot can be overwhelming in terms of the number of participants involved, and it can be harder to get to know the arbitrators there.  Of course, I presently live in Hong Kong, so naturally I am biased, but the students get an amazing educational experience in either city. But why choose one or the other city? Some teams go to both!

- Todd A. Wells

Copyright 2009, The Law Office of Todd A. Wells, LLC