Following the successful completion of the VIII Belgrade Arbitration Conference, University of Belgrade Faculty of Law had the honor of hosting the ninth annual Belgrade Open Pre-Moot tournament for the Willem C Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, over the weekend of 12-13 March 2016. This year the Belgrade Open welcomed more than 600 participants – students, coaches, arbitrators – and gathered teams from 61 university coming from 29 countries of the world: from North and South America, Europe and Asia to Australia and Oceania. In line with the trend from previous years, the Belgrade Open attracted great interest of law schools worldwide. By the number of participants, the Belgrade Open Pre-Moot grew into the world’s biggest pre-moot for the Willem C. Vis, and as a testament to the lasting quality of the event, leading experts in arbitration, esteemed practitioners, judges, academics and attorneys from all around the world, as well as seventeen team that advanced in the elimination rounds in Vienna, including team from Buenos Aires that won in oral rounds of the competition in Vienna, joined as arbitrators, chairing and judging in more than 150 hearing that took place over the weekend.

During the two days of pre-moot, and continuing the tradition of challenging and stimulating pleadings, students from 29 countries were given an opportunity to showcase their skills before highly competent arbitrators in the seminar rooms of the Faculty of Law and in the offices of Karanović/Nikolić law firm, Moravčević, Vojnović& Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr, Nikolić, Kokanović,Otašević law firm, Samardžić Oreški Grbović Law Office, Mihaj Ilić Milanović law firm and American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia. The Schedule of hearings can be downloaded here.

On Sunday 13th March, students from all over the world were greeted by Dr. Alice Fremuth-Wolf, Deputy Secretary General of VIAC, whose rules students were scrutinizing during the six months of the competition. Dr. Fremuth-Wolf gave a lecture on the topic “Rights and obligations arising out of an arbitration agreement and possible remedies”.

The sponsors of this event did their best to provide the participants of the Belgrade Open Pre-Moot not only with the necessary and thorough practice but also a very rich social calendar. Thanks to the support provided, a welcome cocktail has been organized in the Bona Fides Faculty Lounge (El Derecho), Moravčević, Vojnović and Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr threw a traditional party for all the participants of the Pre-Moot in the urban ambiance of the Drugstore Clubhouse while the closing of the Belgrade Open took place in the authentic and pleasant atmosphere of Skadarlija bohemian quarter. A special evening cocktail organized for arbitrators preceded the opening of the Pre-Moot and was kindly hosted by Karanović/Nikolić law firm.

Aside from student volunteers from the Faculty of Law, the successful organization of the ninth Belgrade Open Pre-Moot tournament was generously supported by the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS), Serbian Arbitration Association, law offices Karanović/Nikolić, Moravčević, Vojnović& Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr, Nikolić, Kokanović, Otašević law firm, Samardžić Oreški Grbović Law Office, Mihaj Ilić Milanović law firm and American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia.

Photo gallery:

From Law Faculty >>

From Кaranovic/Nikolic >>

From Moravcevic Vojnovic & Partners in cooperation with Schoenherr>>

From AMCHAM >>