It was the annual meeting of young bright minds and distinguished arbitrators when global law firm, Clifford Chance hosted the annual Ciarb Australia Pre-Moot from 24 – 25 March. Congratulations to the UNSW team: Aman Mohamed, Sonia Ram, Nathan Roberts and Tucker Greer who prevailed over Victoria’s La Trobe University to win and secure a place in the 2025 Introduction to International Arbitration course to be held in Melbourne on 10 September. Coached by Ciarb Australia Member, Ashna Taneja, they went on to further display their skills and talents with an almighty impressive performance at the Willem C Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria Small but mighty team shines on Vienna stage, UNSW Newsroom

Ciarb Australia continues to invest in the career development of young students with various initiatives, and no more significantly, then the annual Pre Moot, an initiative, now its in eighth year, developed by Kristian Maley, Ciarb Australia Councillor and Chair of the Young Members Group.

This year, the Pre Moot teams appeared before an esteemed panel chaired by The Hon Justice Stevenson, New South Wales Supreme Court, together with co-arbitrators and experienced arbitration counsel Tamlyn Mills, Norton Rose Fulbright and Kristian Maley, They proved to be thorough interventionists, challenging the teams with a range of astute questions and counterpoints, which were met with robust and compelling engagement from the teams.

Following the Grand Final round, teams and arbitrators enjoyed a lively closing reception thanks to the generosity of Grand Final sponsor Sky Discovery and its management: Matthew Hollings, James Moeskops and Tom O’Brien

Aside from these hearings, the Pre Moot gave students insights into the experience and careers in international arbitration, shared during a panel discussion featuring Chester Brown SC, Victor Lau, Sanjna Pramod, and Sophie Anderson, ably moderated by Jake Lengui.

The teams travelled to Hong Kong to compete in the Vis East Moot, and then to Vienna for the Willem C Vis Moot.

Special thanks to Kristian Maley and Sanjna Pramod for organising the successful event and other participants including the aforementioned Tribunal, Geoff Farnsworth, Ciarb Australia President and Alexandra Wittings, Moot Alumni Association.
Appreciation and gratitude also to the following:

• No less than 36 members of the arbitration community who generously volunteered their time to serve as arbitrator, from Ciarb Australia, ACICA, NSW and Victorian Bars and some of Australia’s leading law schools who travelled from interstate.
• Our arbitrators also included representatives from most of the major arbitration practices in Sydney: Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, DLA Piper, Norton Rose Fulbright and Quinn Emanuel.
• To the teams: Australian Catholic University; Australian National University (East);  Australian National University (West) – Semi-Finalist; La Trobe University – Runner Up; Queensland University of Technology; University of New South Wales – Winner; University of Sydney –Semi-Finalist)

The 2025 Ciarb Australia Pre-Moot in Photos. Credit: Quentin Jones

The CIArb Australia Vis Pre-Moot is open to Australian teams participating in the Willem C Vis Moot in Vienna or the Vis (East) Moot in Hong Kong.

The Pre-Moot gives teams an unprecedented opportunity to test and develop their skills before experienced arbitration professionals, and to network with fellow students and practitioners, before leaving Australia for Vienna or Hong Kong.  If you are interested in participating in 2026 Pre Moot please email us via info@ciarb.net.au