The Faculty of Law at the University of Bucharest achieves outstanding results at the 2025 Willem Vis Hong Kong

The University of Bucharest Faculty of Law once again stood out among the top-performing teams at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, an annual competition held in both Hong Kong and Vienna.

The Willem C. Vis Moot, which takes place every year in Hong Kong and Vienna, is the largest and most prestigious international competition in the field of private law, often described as the “Olympics of international law.”

Each year, over 400 universities from around the globe participate, representing all continents and a wide range of legal systems and traditions.

Outstanding results at the Hong Kong edition

At the Hong Kong edition, the University of Bucharest team earned an Honorable Mention (4th place ex aequo) for the Claimant’s Memorandum, as well as an Honorable Mention (4th place ex aequo) for Best Individual Oralist, awarded to Andreea Stoiculescu.

The delegation that traveled to Hong Kong included Bianca Drăgan, Vlad Duca-Ghenoiu, Ilinca Leșovschi, Leonard Mareș, and Andreea Stoiculescu. Vlad Duca-Ghenoiu and Andreea Stoiculescu represented the team in the four general rounds, where they faced teams from China, Russia, India, and the Czech Republic. The team was accompanied to Hong Kong by attorney Alexandru Köber, from the law firm Filip & Company, and attorney Raluca Rusu, from Guia, Naghi & Partners.

The preparation process

The University of Bucharest Faculty of Law team competing in the Willem Vis Moot (both the Hong Kong and Vienna editions) is made up of 12 students who jointly prepare for all stages of the two competitions. The 12 students are: Eduard Acsinte (3rd year), Eduard-Cristian Bodescu (2nd year and Collège Juridique), Liana-Ștefana Bonca (3rd year and Collège Juridique), Elena-Bianca Drăgan (4th year), Damian Dogaru (3rd year), Vlad Duca-Ghenoiu (3rd year), Ilinca Leșovschi (4th year and Collège Juridique), Leonard-Viorel Mareș (2nd year), Svenja-Alexia Papirowski (2nd year and Collège Juridique), Ștefan Pătruț (3rd year and Collège Juridique), Petra-Luciana Rusu (2nd year and Collège Juridique), and Andreea-Nicola Stoiculescu (4th year).

The team is coached by Lecturer Raluca Papadima, PhD, Assistant Lecturer Mihaela Gherghe, PhD, attorney Alexandru Köber (Filip & Company), and attorney Raluca Rusu (Guia, Naghi & Partners).

To achieve these results, the team began its preparation as early as May 2024. After completing the written phase, the students participated in several friendly pre-moot competitions, including: the APAC Vis Pre-Moot, held February 15–18, 2025 with the support of the Borneo International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (BICAM), where they advanced to the elimination rounds; the London Vis Pre-Moot, held March 1–2, 2025; the Helsinki Vis Pre-Moot, held February 28 – March 2, 2025; the Prague Vis Pre-Moot, held March 14–16, 2025; and the Bucharest Vis Pre-Moot, held March 7–9, 2025.

Bucharest Vis Pre-Moot

The Bucharest Vis Pre-Moot was organized by the Vindobona Association and the University of Bucharest Faculty of Law.

The event brought together 14 teams and over 150 participants for pleading rounds and international conferences on topics such as the admissibility of evidence in arbitration, the impact of prior mediation clauses on arbitration agreements, and the applicability of the CISG to turnkey contracts. During the competition, Svenja Papirowski placed 4th in the individual oralist rankings.

The event was made possible thanks to the contributions of Cristina Badea and Cezara Diaconescu (Logistics Directors), Raluca Papadima and Mihaela Gherghe (Academic Directors), Raluca Rusu and Alexandru Köber (Hearings Directors), and Petra Rusu and Eduard Bodescu (Student Directors). Students Sabina Kohut, Teodora-Cristiana Liliceanu, Diana Petrovan, Denisa-Andreea Dincă, Daniel Abbasi, and Adriana Petruța Nicolae were also involved as volunteers.

 

Next steps

The team is now preparing for the Vienna edition of the competition, scheduled to take place April 11–17, 2025. The students are currently attending the Belgrade Vis Pre-Moot, accompanied by attorney Cristina Badea (Guia, Naghi & Partners).

Team sponsors

The University of Bucharest Faculty of Law team benefited from financial support from the University of Bucharest, as well as sponsorships arranged through the Vindobona Association, with the help of a group of generous alumnae who shared their time and experience: attorney Maria Avram (Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații), attorney Cristina Badea (Guia, Naghi & Partners), attorney Cezara Diaconescu (Andronic & Partners), and attorney Andreea Mitroi (Clifford Chance Badea).

The team’s main sponsors were: Clifford Chance Badea, Guia Naghi Partners (GNP), Popa Legal, Pop Briciu Crai Attorneys at Law, Țuca Zbârcea și Asociații, Rizoiu & Asociații și Stoica & Asociații.

Other sponsors included: Ingenio, Institutul Național pentru Pregătirea și Perfecționarea Avocaților (INPPA), JGV și Asociații, Mihai & Co Business Lawyers, Reff & Asociații (Deloitte Legal) și Stratulat Albulescu. 

The team also raised funds through the Swimathon program organized by the Bucharest Community Foundation and benefited from a grant provided by the Mâine Va Fi Mai Bine Foundation.