Stetson Law Emerges as Top U.S. Team at Vis Moot
Over days of intense competition, Stetson Law emerged as the only U.S. team to make it to one of the final rounds of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria.
The five-member team representing Stetson Law at the prestigious tournament – consisting of Phillip Faires, Jaclyn Foster, Sam McDougall, Mary Roseth, and Team Captain Taylor Simonds – competed against 378 teams from 89 countries. They were one of 49 teams from the U.S. to compete – and the only U.S. team to make it into the event’s top 16 teams before advancing to become one of the competition’s top eight teams. This was the first in-person Vis competition since 2019, when Stetson’s team also advanced to the top eight.
As a top-eight team, Stetson lost in a split decision to a team from Singapore. The incredible run – which put the Stetson team in the top two percent in the world – serves as a milestone for the five competitors and their coaches, alumni Jason Stearns and Matt Ceriale, as well as Professor Stephanie Vaughan.
“Hearing Stetson’s name called not only for one of the Top 64 teams out of 378 that would be advancing, but also as the (by unanimous vote!) winner of three head-to-head elimination rounds in a row is undoubtedly the highlight of my law school career,” said Simonds.
Prestigious event, extensive preparation
The team spent months preparing for the event, which featured a fictional case involving drone manufacturers in the politically unstable “nation” of Equitoriana. The experience helped them develop their advocacy skills and explore new areas of the law.
“The entire team worked so hard in devoting ourselves to this problem for upward of five months – improving our advocacy skills, researching international standards for niche areas of law, and trying to convince ourselves and others that a helicopter-sized drone might not legally be an aircraft – and seeing all that work pay off was incredibly validating,” Simonds said.
An advocacy milestone
As both a professor and a coach, Vaughan said it was incredible to watch the team members develop their skills through diligent practice – then to advance farther than any other school in the United States.
“To say that I am proud of this team would truly be an understatement,” Vaughan said. “Being a part of this team’s success at Vis has been incredibly rewarding. It was a true feat for Stetson Advocacy.”
To the team, it was an incredible honor to emerge as the top U.S. team after competing with the likes of Harvard Law and Columbia Law School.
“Overall, this was an experience none of us will ever forget, and it allowed us an unparalleled opportunity to grow our skills in communication, research, creative argument, teamwork, and international perspectives in a way I know we will all carry into our careers,” Simonds said.
Post date: April 12, 2023
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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