24th Willem C. Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot 2026-27, Hong Kong (Oral Arguments 7-14 March 2027)

The Twenty-Fourth Willem C. Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot (VEM24) is organised by the Vis East Moot Foundation Limited and run by the Vis East Moot Administration in Hong Kong. It is the sister competition to the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna. Both use the same problem, but they are two separate competitions with separate rules, registrations, fees and winners; the Vis East is not a regional round for Vienna, and a school may register for either or both.

According to the official Rules, 170 teams submitted written memoranda in the Twenty-Third Vis East Moot and 160 teams from 38 jurisdictions argued orally in Hong Kong, with over 600 international arbitrators taking part.

The VEM24 problem is a controversy arising out of an international sale of goods governed by the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). The dispute is before an arbitral tribunal under the AAA-ICDR International Dispute Resolution Procedures, seated in Vindobona, Danubia, a Model Law (2006 amendments) state; all states involved are party to the New York Convention.

The Problem was published on 2 October 2026 (CEST) on the Vienna Vis Moot and Vis East Moot websites. Every team prepares a Memorandum for Claimant and a Memorandum for Respondent and argues both sides in the oral hearings. The moot is conducted in English.

• Teams may come from a law school or from another higher educational institution that includes law as part of its programme of study, anywhere in the world. Indian law schools are therefore eligible.
• Each law school or institution may enter only one team.
• A team is composed of two or more students registered at the institution, for a first degree or an advanced degree (including PhDs). Students need not be nationals of the country in which the institution is located.
• There is no maximum number of students on a team (subject to the fees below), but a maximum of eight students from any institution may compete in the oral arguments.
• A student licensed to practise law, or with practical experience in law or arbitration, may participate only with the express permission of the Vis East Moot Administration. Eligibility is determined as of 10 December 2026.
• A student who argued as an oralist in an elimination round of a previous in-person Vis Moot (Vienna or Hong Kong) may be a team member but cannot be an oralist in VEM24. No student may argue orally in both Vis Moots in the same year.

• Standard registration (4 to 8 team members participating in person in Hong Kong): HK$10,000.
• Small-team registration (2 to 3 team members participating in person): HK$9,500.
• Additional team member (beyond 8 in person): HK$1,500 each. Team members include student participants, student coaches and non-student coaches on the Team List.
• A team application is complete only when accompanied by full payment of the HK$1,500 deposit (plus related fees) or proof of payment. The deposit is non-refundable once the application is accepted.
• The standard fee includes four Gala Awards Banquet tickets; the small-team fee includes a ticket for each member registered as travelling to Hong Kong.
• Payment is made through the Financials section of the Team Account (PayPal, Stripe including card, AliPay and Link, or bank transfer). Bank details are in the Team Account. All bank, card and exchange charges are borne by the team.

Registration is a three-step process under the VEM24 Rules:

• Step 1: Create a Team Account with a single Authorized Team Email and submit the fully completed Team Application Form through the Team Registration page, with the HK$1,500 deposit, by 23:59 Hong Kong Time on Thursday, 12 November 2026 (9:29 pm IST). Late applications are automatically rejected unless the Administration approved them in writing before the deadline.
• Step 2: After the Administration confirms the application, submit the Memorandum for Claimant by 23:59 HKT on Thursday, 10 December 2026.
• Step 3: Pay the complete registration fee by 23:59 HKT on Friday, 11 December 2026.

The number of teams is limited and spaces are allocated until they run out, so the Rules strongly recommend applying early. Acceptance, waitlisting or denial is at the Administration's discretion and is communicated by email and on the Team Account.

A school that withdraws after acceptance but before the Claimant's Memorandum deadline forfeits the non-refundable HK$1,500 deposit and will be barred from future Vis East Moots unless the Administration decides otherwise. Teams withdrawing on or before 10 December 2026 receive the balance of their paid fee minus the deposit and charges; no refunds are given after 10 December 2026.

Oral hearings are held solely in person in Hong Kong. The general rounds (8 to 11 March 2027) and elimination rounds (12 to 13 March 2027) take place at the West Wing of Justice Place, Central. The Final Round is on the morning of Sunday, 14 March 2027 at the Hopewell Hotel, Wan Chai, followed the same day by the Group Photo and Gala Awards Banquet.

Teams are solely responsible for their own visas. Team members can generate Visa Invitation Letters through the Team Account from 12 December 2026. The official Key Dates notice states that Indian nationals visiting Hong Kong for up to 14 days must apply online for Pre-Arrival Registration (PAR), which is valid for six months and multiple visits, and that the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong advises applying well in time. If PAR is unsuccessful, a Hong Kong entry visa can be sought from the Immigration Department, which generally takes about six weeks.

Certificates of Participation are issued for up to sixteen participating student team members from the Team List, and Letters of Recognition for up to four non-student team members. Certificates must be downloaded from the Team Account by 15 July 2027.