The 3rd Beijing Pre-Moot and the 9th Shanghai Pre-Moot as parts of the global series of the 26th Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot were held from March 15 to 17 in Beijing, and March 26 to 28 in Shanghai respectively. Fudan University Team competed with high-level teams from home and abroad, and received the semi-finalist in both moots. Yang Yuhan and Xiang Yi won the awards of “Best Oralist” in the Beijing Pre-Moot.

 The 3rd Beijing Pre-Moot was held by Beijing Arbitration Commission/Beijing International Arbitration Center, the Chinese Initiative on International Law, International Chamber of Commerce Young Arbitrators Forum and China Young Arbitrators Group jointly. 12 teams from 10 universities in China including Peking University, University of International Business and Economics, Renmin University of China et cetera participated in the competition. The number of the participating teams, contestants and matches reached a record high this year. A number of senior arbitrators, senior lawyers and professors specialized in international commercial arbitration judged the matches.

 In the Beijing Pre-Moot, Fudan University Team ranked top in the General Rounds, advanced to the semi-final and was finally the second runner-up. Yang Yuhan and Xiang Yi won the awards of “Best Oralist” of the General Rounds, ranking first and third respectively; Liu Yanbin ranked fifth in the General Rounds, which was also remarkable.

 Shortly after the Beijing Pre-Moot, Fudan University Team headed for the 9th Moot Shanghai.

 The 9th Moot Shanghai was held by East China University of Political Science and Law and Shanghai School of Political Science and Law jointly, and co-organized by Shanghai International Arbitration Center and International Chamber of Commerce. This year the competition attracted 26 teams including teams of University of Denver, University of Florida, National University of Singapore, University of Amsterdam and other foreign universities; teams of Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Wuhan University, Tongji University and other domestic universities. More than 170 law school students participated in the competition. A total of 125 legal professionals judged the matches.

 In the Moot Shanghai, Fudan University Team scored high in both General Rounds and the Quarter Final, becoming the only Asian team advancing to the semi-final and was finally the second runner-up. This is the new record in Fudan University mooting experience. A bunch of distinguished arbitrators, participants and the audience spoke highly of Fudan University Law School students for their critical thinking skills and fluency in English.

 Under the auspices of Vice Dean Chen Li, Professors Lu Zhian and supported by Fudan Law School alumni, Fudan University Team has performed well in Vis Moot series in the past. This year’s Fudan University Vis Team comprises Ye Ziyi (J.M. 2020), Liu Yanbin (LL.M. 2021), Chen Haowen (J.M. 2021), Yang Yuhan (LL.B. 2019), Xiang Yi (LL.B. 2019), Zhou Zeling (LL.B. 2020), Sun Miao (LL.B. 2020), Jiang Zhiqi (LL.B. 2020) and Wang Lvzhi (LL.B. 2021). After forming the Team in early October, 2018, through months of laborious preparation, the Team had held several intensive practice sessions before travelling to Beijing and around Shanghai for the event. Vice Dean Chen Li, Ban Tianke, Chen Li, and the exchange student Darren Leong warmly helped and contributed much to this year’s breakthrough.

 In recent years, Fudan University mooting teams have made remarkable progress in various competitions at home and abroad. This shall be attributed to the enthusiastic support from Fudan Law School administration and faculty members. Increasing numbers of students could get involved in famous international mooting competitions, including Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition, Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot, and ICC Moot Court Competition.

By: Xiang Yi, Yang Yuhan

Photos: Beijing Pre-Moot Committee, Moot Shanghai Committee, Chen Haowen