The Vis Moot is an internationally renowned law student mock arbitration hearing competition. It aims to promote the study of international commercial law and arbitration for resolution of international business disputes through its application of a “real-life” practical legal problem and to develop future lawyers in arbitration practice. The goal of the Vis Arbitral Moot is to develop the study of international commercial law and arbitration for resolution of international business disputes through its application to a legal problem of a client and to train law leaders of the future in methods of alternative dispute resolution.

The International Arbitration Centre (IAC) organises and hosts the Preliminary Rounds and Final of the IAC Central Asia Vis Pre-Moot annually.

This IAC competition is now firmly recognised as the number one law student competition of its type in Eurasia. It contributes to the overall success and international recognition of Astana as the stand-alone arbitration hub in Eurasia. It also supports the IAC as the premier international arbitration centre in Eurasia.

For the third year the competition was held by the IAC and the second year it was organised in partnership with the US State Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP). It aims to promote the study of international commercial law and arbitration for resolution of international business disputes through its application of a ‘real-life’ practical legal problem and to develop future lawyers in arbitration practice.

Every year more than 100 law students from CIS countries, Europe and Asia compete offline and online in the Preliminary Rounds. More than 50 arbitrators and lawyers from leading international law firms and arbitration associations adjudicate the Preliminary Rounds. The Final is adjudicated by the IAC Chairman and leading arbitrators.

The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot or Vis Moot is the most prestigious international arbitration moot in the world. Since 1994, it has been held annually in Vienna, Austria, attracting more than 300 law schools from all around the world. The Willem C. Vis (East) Moot is held in Hong Kong just before the rounds in Vienna. It was established in 2003 and attracts around 150 teams every year, making it the second largest commercial arbitration moot. Due to increased popularity of Vis Moot many law students participate in preliminary rounds worldwide and practise their arguments before going to Vienna or Hong Kong.

2021

In February 2021 the IAC held the first Online IAC Central Asia Vis-Arbitration Pre-Moot 2021. The competition was held in cooperation with the Association for the Organisation and Promotion of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot.

22 teams participated in the preliminary rounds from 17 countries: Kazakhstan, Austria, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, US, and Uzbekistan.

The two best performing teams in the preliminary rounds, The National Law University Delhi and The Moscow State Institute of International Relations, competed in the Final. The Winning Team in the Final was The Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

2022

During 13-15 March 2022 the IAC organised and hosted the Preliminary Rounds and Final of the IAC Central Asia Vis Pre-Moot 2022. This was the second year the competition was held by the IAC.  The IAC partnered with the Association for the Organisation and Promotion of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, which is the world’s premier international arbitration moot competition.

More than 160 law students in 28 teams from 20 countries competed in the Preliminary Rounds which included 9 teams from the CIS countries (including 3 teams from Kazakhstan), 10 teams from Europe, 7 teams from Asia, and 2 teams from the Americas.  More than 40 arbitrators and lawyers from leading international law firms and arbitration associations adjudicated the Preliminary Rounds. Teams from China (University of International Business and Economics) and India (Lloyd Law College) competed in the Final which was held in the IAC Hearing Room at the IAC premises in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, on 15 March 2022.

2023

The IAC partnered again with the U.S. State Department of Commerce and Commercial Law Development Program (“CLDP”). Together, for the second consecutive year, the IAC and CLDP provided international standard arbitration moot training to law student teams from across the Eurasia region.

In 2023, over 100 teams from 60+ countries registered for the IAC Central Asia Vis Pre-Moot.

20 teams from 16 countries were selected to participate in the competition with 8 teams from the CIS countries (including 2 teams from Kazakhstan), 6 teams from Europe, and 6 teams from Asia.