Mock Arbitration Prepares Law Leaders of Tomorrow

Professor Thomas Maroney, Valerie Makarewicz, Christopher Brough, and Carson Clements in Vienna

After months of preparation, writing and rewriting two 30-page briefs, refining their oral arguments, polishing their advocacy skills, three Syracuse University College of Law students traveled to Vienna, Austria to face their opponents in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot.

For six days in March, teams from 108 universities representing 36 countries participated in this educational event, which has become the world's leading student competition in the field of international commercial law and alternative dispute resolution.

The 2002 team from Syracuse, third-year law student Dr. Carson Clements and second-year law students

Valerie Makarewicz, Christopher Brough, and Carson Clements in Vienna

Christopher Brough and Valerie Makarewicz faced teams from University Pantheon-Sorbonne (Paris), Vilnius University (Lithuania), Moscow State Institute of International Relations (Russia), and University of Kiel (Germany). Coach Thomas J. Maroney called the mock arbitration a "most unique experience…meeting people from all over the world who are interested in fostering the growth of international commercial arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism."

Sitting: Arbitrators Cecilia Carrara (Italy), John Beechy (UK), and Sven Bostyn (Netherlands) Standing: Teams from Moscow and Syracuse

The Moot Competition starts in October, when the problem, comprised of initial statements of claim and defense, as well as motions regarding procedural questions and exhibits, is distributed to the participating teams. The students assume the role of attorneys representing the Claimant and prepare a brief. As the Moot proceeds, each team receives a Claimant's memorandum prepared by a different team. The next challenge is to change viewpoints and represent the Respondent in opposition to the memorandum received.

Oral Hearings in Vienna mark the final stage of the Arbitral Moot. Each team advocates its case as Claimant as well as Respondent against competing teams. The arguments are judged by a tribunal of professional and experienced arbitrators, who, Maroney says, were very well prepared. "They had clearly read carefully the problems and briefs submitted to them. It was a good challenge for the team."

Valerie and Chris toast the end of the competition.