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Information about Moot

2nd Draft Common Frame of Reference Warsaw International Arbitration Moot at the Court of Arbitration at the PCC

The Court of Arbitration at the Polish Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the European Legal Studies Institute is pleased to invite all interested students and their professors to join the 2nd edition of the International Arbitration Moot in Warsaw – a competition touching problems concerning the Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR) and procedural issues in arbitration.

he Moot is intended to popularize and disseminate knowledge regarding the Draft Common Frame of Reference prepared by the Study Group on a European Civil Code and the Research Group on EC Private Law (Acquis Group), and to promote the use of international commercial arbitration to resolve international commercial disputes in accordance with the DCFR. The competition will promote knowledge of the process of European Private Law unification, and show the vital importance of the DCFR as a complete set of rules which will significantly facilitate the settlement of disputes, especially in international arbitration. The Moot will be an occasion to conduct a public discussion concerning the text of the DCFR – its Principles, Definitions and Model Rules of European Private Law, as well as of the opportunities for applying these in practice in arbitration proceedings. For young participants, it will also be an opportunity to appear in the role of an attorney, gain practical experience, and hone skills previously acquired.

The Moot is a simulated arbitral proceeding based on a fictitious case. For the procedural part the Rules of the Court of Arbitration at the PCC are to be applied in their current version. The teams’ task is try a case and discuss legal problems applying the Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR).

The competition consists of two stages: A written stage, in which each team prepares a written statement for both: the Claimant and the Respondent. An oral stage, in which the 8 teams having reached the highest scores for their written statements present their arguments before the Arbitration Tribunal as counsel of either the Claimant or the Respondent.

The written statements and the oral pleadings will be evaluated by an independent and impartial Arbitral Tribunal. We cordially invite all Arbitrators to join in the venture in order to create a valuable experience for everyone concerned. Dear Arbitrators, your contribution will be highly appreciated. The event provides the opportunity to meet distinguished professors, other prominent practitioners, and ambitious students.

The moot will be conducted in English.

We are looking for ambitious, motivated and enthusiastic students to apply for the competition in teams of 2 to 6 members.

Time schedule:

  • 22 April 2014 – publication of the Problem
  • 9 May 2014 – deadline for submitting request for clarification to the Problem
  • 23 May 2014 – deadline for team registration
  • 1 June 2014 – deadline for submitting Statement of  Claim
  • 6 July 2014 – deadline for submitting Statement of Defence
  • 19 August 2014 – announcement of the 8 finalists
  • 10-12 December 2014 – oral hearings at the Court of Arbitration at the PCC

The first edition of the competition was held in 2012. The written statements submitted in the first round were highly professional and of outstanding quality. Young lawyers presented their extensive legal knowledge and great skills. Each written statement was evaluated by an independent and impartial Arbitral Tribunal consisting of three members. The South Texas College of Law team was awarded for the best Statement of Claim the best Statement of  Defence. According to the Rules for the Moot, eight teams with the highest scores qualified for the next phase of the competition. The oral stage, which took place the Court of Arbitration at the PCC in Warsaw was a major challenge for all participants. The students accomplished their task and met the expectations splendidly. The Arbitrators were not only impressed by their profound knowledge but also by the students’ oratorical skills and ability to use simple and persuasive language. Awards for the best speakers were presented to: Maria Łabno (University of Silesia), Armin Lambertz (Maastricht University) and Arbreshe Zogjami (Pristina University). The winner of the competition was the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. Further places were taken by the teams from the University of Silesia in Katowice, the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and University of Prishtina.

We hope that the second edition of the Moot will be an event as interesting and valuable as the first one and that a wide range of students from all over the world will decide to take part in this legal adventure.

Please direct all enquiries regarding the Moot to: moot@sakig.pl