Posted by The Law School
14 April 2026We were delighted to take four University of Exeter students to Vienna for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot this year: Wakim Smahi, Lylou Caudal, Anastasiya Petrovska, and Keira Fernandes.
The team’s journey to this stage has involved months of commitment, from researching complex issues of international law, to drafting written submissions and developing their oral advocacy through repeated practice and refinement.
Our team included two LLM students and two third-year LLB students, whose collaboration across their programmes reflected the supportive and ambitious spirit of our law community. They represented Exeter with professionalism and dedication throughout the competition, gaining valuable experience of international arbitration.
While there were no awards on this occasion, the team has returned with enhanced skills, new friendships, and many lasting memories from a truly valuable experience. It was also a personal pleasure for Adam Nicholls (Director of Mooting and Competitions), to serve as an arbitrator during the competition working alongside passionate and dedicated colleagues.
A special thanks to Richard Bowyer and Caroline Fournet, whose support made our participation possible, and Mihail Danov for going above and beyond in supporting the team. Further thanks to Tina Patterson and Duncan Gorst for sharing their experience and practical insights.
Here are some reflections from the students:
Wakim:
For the past six months, I have been working hard on the 33rd Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot.
Here is what we achieved:
📄 Read and memorized over 60 pages of case facts.
✍️ Wrote two memoranda
🍦 Spent half a year arguing both sides of a complex contract dispute about vanilla orchids!I am so proud to share that we were the first-ever Vis Moot team from the University of Exeter. We did not have a previous team to learn from. We just accepted the challenge, worked hard, and showed up in Vienna ready to compete.
The journey was challenging but amazing. We had many late nights of research, learned how to argue for both the claimant and the respondent, and discovered what real teamwork looks like under pressure. A big thank you to Adam Nicholls, SFHEA and Mihail Danov for believing in us and guiding us from the very beginning. 🤗
Thank you to all the amazing people we met in Vienna. You made this experience feel like a true community, not just a competition.
A huge thanks to the University of Exeter and the University of Exeter Law School , who allowed us to take part in the competition!
And to my wonderful teammates Anastasiya Petrovska, Keira Fernandes and Lylou Caudal: we made history and opened a new door at Exeter for future students. I will always be proud of what we achieved together!
Wakim Smahi
Keira
Representing the University of Exeter in the 33rd Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot was a highlight of my final year. Over 6 months of preparation, I researched complex issues and developed oral arguments with my team, strengthening my analytical and advocacy skills.I took away 3 main points from our week in Vienna. Firstly, the importance of teamwork. The lasting friendships I have made with my team, through the careful compilation of memoranda and the intense preparation for the oral hearings, will be fondly remembered. Secondly, the strength of the international commercial arbitration community. Engaging with fellow students and professionals was both inspiring and rewarding, offering valuable opportunities to build professional connections. Thirdly, attending conferences hosted by the ICC Young Arbitration and ADR Forum, Young Austrian Arbitration Practitioners, the Moot Alumni Association, Fieldfisher, and the Young Singapore International Arbitration Centre provided insight into third-party funding and inclusive arbitration.
The United Nations Vienna tour was a particular highlight! Many thanks to Adam, Mihail and the Law School for their continued support over the past 6 months.
Keira Fernandes
Lylou
Nothing tests your legal reasoning quite like a “hot bench” of international arbitrators.Almost a week after the closing ceremony of the 2026 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, I am looking back on an incredibly rewarding journey.
Representing the University of Exeter as a pleader for the Claimant (Merits) through intense hearings was more than just a competition; it was a masterclass in international advocacy.
Stepping before the tribunal, I’ve gained invaluable insights that will undoubtedly shape my future practice in litigation:
The Power of Simplicity: Complex legal theories are only as strong as the facts that support them. I’ve learned that the most persuasive arguments are those that remain clear and grounded in evidence.
Precision in Delivery: In a high-stakes hearing, pace and clarity are not just stylistic choices—they are strategic tools to ensure your message resonates with the arbitrators.
Logical Architecture: Structure is the backbone of any legal argument. Navigating the merits required a rigorous and disciplined approach to case building.
Intellectual Agility: Successfully responding to the tribunal’s “hot bench” questions taught me to think on my feet and adapt my strategy in real-time.
Beyond the hearings, this week was a fantastic opportunity to engage with the global legal community—discussing current trends in international commercial arbitration with practitioners and attending insightful conferences.
A huge congratulations to my brilliant teammates: Wakim Smahi, Anastasiya Petrovska, and Keira Fernandes. We did it! 🥂
Deepest gratitude to our coaches and mentors: A sincere thank you to Adam Nicholls, SFHEA and Mihail Danov for your invaluable guidance on the memoranda, and to Duncan Gorst and Tina Patterson, MDR, MPA, FCIArb, CF APMP, for your expert coaching on oral advocacy and argument structure.
Lylou Caudal