UP law team places third in international moot court competition
As “the first Africa team to make it this far, the UP Law team is elated to represent the continent and show the world that we are as skilled and as determined as our global counterparts in becoming key players in the wonderful world of international commercial law”.
A team from the University of Pretoria’s law faculty (UP Law) came third at the 29th annual Willem C Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition, held virtually recently.
The UP Law team defeated approximately 265 teams, over 2 500 students, and 84 jurisdictions in the international competition held from April 8-14.
“A large number of teams consisted of LLM and Doctorate of Law students coached by experienced lawyers and academics. Thus, UP Law’s achievement is even more significant,” said UP spokesperson Primarashni Gower.
The team consisted of six students: Nicole Gloy (LLB III), Tiara Joseph (LLB III), Simon Augustyn (BCom Law II), Michela du Buisson (BCom Law II), Chloe Eacott (LLB IV) and Liam Bolton (LLB II), while the coaching was headed by UP Law’s Keeghan Smith (LLB IV) and Nick du Toit (LLM).
Gower said a final-year law student, Tara Dakin from Deakin University in Australia, participated as a remote consulting coach.
“The UP Moot Society team’s ranking is not only UP Law’s strongest showing in the competition since it started participating in 2021, but also the furthest a university on the African continent has made it overall,” Gower said.
Head coach Smith said, “as this is only the second time UP Law has participated in the competition and with a semi-final placement this year and a top 32 placement in 2021, I believe that UP has set themselves apart in the competition as one to look out for in the future”.
He said seven months ago, the team had set out the goal of improving on UP Law’s 32nd-spot placement in 2021.
“After months of sleepless nights, the team began to see success at the various pre-Moots hosted in preparation for the actual competition.”
Smith said the team won the Africa Round in the pre-Moot hosted in Nairobi and scored second place in the virtual Fox Williams pre-Moot.
He said it was an honour for the team to have been presided over by esteemed names in the international commercial law community such as Ingeborg Schwenzer, Louis Flannery and Peter Ashford.
“Being part of the first Africa team to make it this far, the UP Law team is elated to represent the continent and show the world that we are as skilled and as determined as our global counterparts in becoming key players in the wonderful world of international commercial law,” Smith said.
He said UP was appreciative of the non-profit organisation Africa in the Moot, which provided the team with access to resources, connections with previous ‘mooters’ across the globe, and much-needed motivation during the actual rounds.
UP Law congratulated Sofia University on winning the overall tournament.
Smith added that “third place is no small feat, especially for a university new to the Vis Moot competition”.
“The knowledge, experience and direction it has provided for the team will remain with us for the remainder of our legal careers.”
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