By Eric H. Mao, Director of Academic Affairs
For the second year in a row, Peking University School of Transnational Law’s (STL) Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court team bested 32 other Chinese schools to win the championship of the 12th annual CIETAC Cup in Beijing from November 17-21. The team is composed of 4 students, all 2Ls from the Class of 2017 – Guo Yufei, Liu Yi, Wang Biyu, and Yu Yadian.
A truly complete team performance, the Vis squad swept their way to the final round by arguing on behalf of the moot problem’s claimant, defeating teams from Jilin University in the quarterfinal round and China University of Political Science and Law in the semifinal round. Upon reaching the final round, the team switched sides, arguing on behalf of the respondent and then vanquishing Shantou University. Claimant oralists were Guo and Yu while respondent oralists were Liu and Wang.
Upon being announced the champions, the team rose to the stage and received their trophy to the applause of hundreds in attendance, among them judges, arbitrators, professors, students from around China and the world. In addition to the championship, the team garnered five Best Oralist awards, including the Best Oralist award for the quarterfinal round (Yu), semifinal round (Yu), and final round (Wang). Judges commented throughout the week on the team’s “deeply impressive” advocacy and “forceful” argumentation.
As champions, the team has now earned scholarships sponsored by CIETAC to support travel and accommodations at the international Vis competition in Vienna in March.
Guo commented, “I met lots of talented young students and had a taste of what real arbitration proceeding is like during the CIETAC Cup. This is an invaluable and memorable experience for me. Through CIETAC Cup, I also realize how far I’ve come since I entered into STL. The training here is extremely helpful.”
Wang added, “I am so glad that I have had the privilege to participate in the CIETAC Cup as a member of the STL Vis Team. The CIETAC Cup is a fascinating event where law students have the access to the real world of legal practice. What excites me more is that we managed to defend the championship for STL. The STL community has provided enormous support in all aspects, without which we would not be able to make our path to the final.”
The CIETAC Cup is sponsored by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC). The CIETAC Cup uses the same case problem as the international Vis competition, focused around the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, and simulating an actual arbitral hearing. The competition is held entirely in English.
The four students on STL’s Vis team are among 23 who participate each year in the school’s international moot court program. The moot court competitions provide intense training in legal writing and oral advocacy, helping to augment skills acquired in the school’s Transnational Legal Practice program. Faculty coaches work closely with each moot court team to guide learning while the law school provides financial support for travel.
This year, in addition to the Vis team competing in Vienna, STL has teams competing in the Vis (east) Competition (based in Hong Kong), the European Law Student Association WTO Moot Court (based in Geneva), the International Criminal Court Trial Competition (based at the Hague), the Jessup International Law Moot Court (based in Washington, D.C.), and the Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Court (based in Hong Kong).
Additional coverage of the team’s achievement appeared in several national news organizations as below.
