Congratulations Again, Dispute Resolution Board and Vis Team

First, a bit of background:  Every year, Stetson’s Dispute Resolution Board competes in an international commercial arbitration competition called the William C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, which takes place in Vienna.  Some years, we participate instead in the Vis East Moot, which takes place in Hong Kong.  This year, in which both competitions are being held virtually, we are fielding teams in both. 

This competition is such a huge international event that it is traditional for teams to participate in one (or more) pre-moot competitions, to prepare for the main event.  This year, our Stetson teams are attending three pre-moots.  This competition requires a great deal of dedication and hard work:  teams practice – and prepare memoranda – for about six months.  

When you last heard from me, our Vis team had just swept the awards in its first pre-moot of the year, the Florida Bar International Law Section’s Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot in Miami.  This week, I am delighted to announce that our Vis team advanced to the finals and finished second (in a field of forty teams from around the world) at the prestigious CAM-CCBC São Paulo Pre-moot.  This invitation-only pre-moot is sponsored by the CAM-CCBC, which is one of the world’s best-regarded arbitration tribunals.  The arbitrators are some of the world’s leading scholars and practitioners in the area of international commercial law.

Congratulations to all of our Vis team members — student coach Joseph Kim and team members Sierra Demartino, Ben Lazarus, Pedro Jimenez Lopez, Mario Makram, Taylor Simonds, and Jessica Zelitt for a second outstanding performance.  And a very special thanks to Coach (and Stetson Vis alumnus) Matt Ceriale, and most of all, Professors Vaughan and Morrissey, who have invested a tremendous amount of care, time, and mentoring in these students’ success.  Great job, and we can’t wait to hear the next chapters of your Vis story!

(If you are a 1L or 2L and think you might be interested in learning more about how to be part of Stetson’s next great Vis team, make sure to make room in your Fall 2022 schedule for the International Sales Law and Arbitration course, successful completion of which is required for all students who want to be considered for this team.)

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