In the year 2025/26 as well, Leibniz University Hannover will once again be represented by a dedicated team of six students at the 33rd Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. With now almost 400 participating universities from all over the world, the Vis Moot is the largest and most renowned moot court in the field of civil and commercial law. The content focus is on international arbitration law as well as the UN Sales Law (CISG).
The participants – also called “Mooties” – work on a fictional case file in an attorney-like approach. During the written phase, which runs from October until the end of January, they prepare two comprehensive memoranda: the Claimant’s Memorandum (statement of claim) and the Respondent’s Memorandum (statement of defense). Afterwards, the oral phase begins, during which the Mooties demonstrate their rhetorical skills through pleadings before international tribunals. This leads them to practice hearings and so-called “Pre-Moots” in numerous law firms and other universities in various countries. The competition culminates in the final rounds in Hong Kong and Vienna.
The Team 2025/26
This year's coaches Daniel Bosdorf and Julius Grotjahn selected the six Mooties through a three-stage application process consisting of a written application, an individual interview, and an assessment center. Under the academic supervision of Professor Dr. Wiese, the following students will represent Leibniz University Hannover:
- Maximilian Jäckel
- Sarah Lidekat
- Sina Elanur Gümüsgöz
- Mia Simecek
- Jan-Henning Landsmann
- Luca Cot
This year's team also marks a special transition: After many years of intensive commitment, the chair of Professor Dr. Wolf has handed over the supervision of the Moot Court team to the chair of Professor Dr. Wiese. Leibniz University expressly thanks Professor Dr. Wolf for his tireless commitment over the past decades and looks with Professor Dr. Wiese forward to the coming years with great anticipation.
Preparation for the Challenge
To be optimally prepared for the great challenge, the Mooties start by participating in the university’s own “Alternative Dispute Resolution Summer School”. There, they lay the substantive and methodological foundations for the competition. Afterwards, their first joint trip follows with the renowned Frankfurt Drafting School (24–26 September 2025), where the team will further deepen its skills in legal drafting and research.
The case is released on 10 October 2025, officially starting the written phase. In the new year, numerous “Pre-Moots” in Germany and Europe will await, which the team will use as dress rehearsals for the international final rounds.
The oral hearings of the final phase will take place on the following dates:
- 23rd Vis East Moot: 15–22 March 2026 in Hong Kong S.A.R.
- 33rd Willem C. Vis Moot: 27 March – 2 April 2026 in Vienna
Join the excitement!
We wish the team every success and joy on their way through the written and oral phase, and keep our fingers crossed for the competitions in Hong Kong and Vienna.
If you want to follow the excitement, you are warmly invited to follow the team on Instagram !
What is the Willem C. Vis Moot?
The Willem C. Vis Moot was founded in 1993 by Professor Eric Bergsten (Pace University, New York) to promote the UN Sales Law (CISG) worldwide. Today, almost 400 universities participate. The competition is considered the “Olympics of International Trade Law” and offers students a unique opportunity to realistically simulate international arbitration proceedings.
In addition to advanced legal knowledge in CISG and arbitration, the participants gain valuable experience in legal writing, research and pleading, and can demonstrate their commitment and team spirit.
Further information about the Willem C. Vis Moot can be found here.
