Bringing together young law students and distinguished arbitrators, Ciarb Australia hosted its 2026 Pre-Moot from 4 – 5 March in Sydney, and once again, delivered an inspirational initiative to provide support for burgeoning arbitrators.  This annual event highlights the talents and insights of participants preparing for the Willem C Vis Moot in Vienna and the Vis (East) Moot in Hong Kong.

Congratulations to the University of Queensland team: Robert Gilbert, Jackson Hanigan, Emily Johns, Yasmin Sparks, Sophie Szabo, and Ella Woods, led by Coach, Paivi Adeniyi, who prevailed over the University of Sydney to win and secure a place in the 2026 Introduction to International Arbitration course.

A cornerstone of the Institute’s annual program, the Pre-Moot is deemed vital to the growth of the Australian arbitration community. Teams of law students participate in simulated hearings of an international commercial arbitration case. The Pre Moot uses the problem of the Vis Moot, a prestigious competition held annually in Vienna, and the Vis East, its sister competition held in Hong Kong. It provides an opportunity for students to develop their advocacy skills in advance of the Vis Moot and Vis East.

Geoff Farnsworth, Ciarb Australia President said: “With a 30 plus history Ciarb Australia is committed to investing in the career development of students and young members through various initiatives with the annual Pre Moot being a significant highlight. It is the annual meeting of young bright minds and distinguished arbitrators creating a vibrant atmosphere of learning, collaboration and networking.”

This year’s Pre-Moot was organised by the Ciarb Australia Young Members Group (YMG) Steering Committee – Katie Mead, Lucinda Brabazon, Amy Hando, Jake Lengui, led by YMG Director, Kristian Maley. A Ciarb Australia Director and a Member of the global CIArb Approved Faculty, Kristian runs a busy practice as Counsel at Clifford Chance and developed the initiative.

“I participated in the Vis Moot as a student in 2008. I was very fortunate that my team’s coach was Professor Gabriel Moens, a rather famous (or perhaps infamous) figure among Vis ‘Mooties’, partly due to his record of coaching the winning teams in two previous moots. The countless hours of drafting and preparation were gruelling at times, but truly shaped my career by teaching me the art of written and oral advocacy, and cultivating an enduring interest in international dispute resolution.

After the Vis Moot, I competed in the inaugural Foreign Direct Investment Moot in Boston as a member of the winning team, and served as a coach and arbitrator in the Vis and FDI Moot in subsequent years. In the early 2010s I completed the Ciarb Introduction to International Arbitration course and, not long after, progressed to working on real international arbitrations. By 2015 I was Chair of the Ciarb Australia Young Members Group Committee, when we identified an opportunity to organise a pre moot for Australian Vis Moot teams. With the enthusiastic support of Ciarb Australia, and generous backing from the arbitration community, we organised the first Ciarb Australia Pre Moot in early 2017, which proved to be a great success.”

The Grand Final Tribunal was comprised of esteemed arbitrators: Professor Doug Jones AO, Professor Janet Walker CM and Hon AJ (Tony) Meagher SC.

Mr Meagher SC brings eminent judicial experience in NSW and now in the Singapore International Commercial court in which he presently sits with Professor Jones AO, experience as a leading senior counsel, his appointment to the NSW Bench, and now as an international arbitrator, observed:

“Four thoughtful speakers presenting complex arguments nimbly and with clarity. It was a privilege to be there.”

Both Professors Jones and Walker have significant experience as commercial and investor state arbitrators, and have for many years served as arbitrators in the Vienna and Hong Kong Vis moots, sitting in the Finals of both. 

Professor Jones remarked: “It was inspiring to listen to such excellent advocacy, and also to be part of this Vis Pre Moot showcasing the talent of the Australian Universities heading off to  Hong Kong and Vienna.”

For many years Professor Walker, who was the Grand Final Tribunal Chair, coached teams from Osgoode Hall Law School in the Vienna Vis moot, and to victory in 2004, said: 

 “It is a thrill to see such promise and such interest in the coming members of the profession – and a privilege to be able to share this special time with them.”

Next year the Pre-Moot will be held in Sydney from 24 – 25 February, where we will be celebrating the 10^th Anniversary. If you are interested in participating in the 2027 Pre-Moot, whether as a team, arbitrator, host, or sponsor, please email us via premoot@ciarb.net.au.

With thanks:

The Universities, Coaches, Students, YMG Committee, Sponsors, Host Firms, and the Eminent Tribunal are all listed here https://ciarb.net.au/events/ciarb-australia-pre-moot-2026/. And our many volunteers from the arbitration community across Australia who gave their time.

• No less than 56 members of the arbitration community generously volunteered their time to serve as arbitrators, from Ciarb Australia, ACICA, NSW and the Victorian Bars, as well as some of Australia’s leading law schools who travelled from interstate.
• Our arbitrators also included representatives from most of the major arbitration practices across Australia, including: Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Clayton Utz, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Gilbert + Tobin, and HFW, as well as the barristers’ chambers active in this area, including: 7 Wentworth Selborne, 8 Wentworth Chambers, Banco Chambers, and Sydney Arbitration Chambers.
• To the teams: Australian Catholic University; Australian National University; Griffith Law School; La Trobe University (Semi Finalist); Queensland University of Technology (Semi Finalist); University of Hong Kong; University of New South Wales (Semi Finalist); University of Notre Dame Australia; University of Queensland (Winning Team); and University of Sydney (Runner Up).
• Our Sponsors: