You took part in the Willem C. Vis Moot Court, one of the most prestigious competitions in the field of international arbitration. For those who are not familiar with it, how does it work and what were the main steps in your journey, from preparation to the final hearings?

The Willem C. Vis Moot is an international legal competition that simulates a commercial arbitration between universities from all over the world. Around 400 institutions participate, each one tasked with resolving a dispute between two companies from different countries, governed by different legal frameworks. The dispute is resolved through international arbitration—an alternative to state courts—where a tribunal, appointed by the parties, makes decisions based on international conventions and, when necessary, national laws.

The competition is divided into two phases: a written phase, where participants submit two memoranda (one for the claimant and one for the respondent), and an oral phase, involving pleadings before arbitration tribunals made up of industry professionals in various international cities.

Our journey began in late September, after an internal selection process by the Department of Legal Sciences. Once the case was released by the organizers, we began our legal analysis and submitted both memoranda in January.

At the same time, we reached out to various foundations, associations, and law firms in our region—including Fondazione CRTrieste, Le Fondazioni Casali, Fondazione Pietro Pittini, Fondazione Ananian, Fondazione Brovedani, Studio Legale FinPro, Studio Legale Zunarelli e Associati, Studio Legale Borgna, the Beniamino Antonini Legal and Economic Studies Circle, and Sirio Real Estate Group—to raise the funds needed to cover travel expenses for the Pre-Moots (preparatory competitions held ahead of the finals). Thanks to their generous support, along with backing from the University, we were able to attend simulations in Rome, London, Bucharest, Munich, and Belgrade, concluding our journey in Vienna, the venue for the final phase of the competition.

What were your days abroad like? Where did the pleadings take place, and what stood out to you the most about these international experiences? Was there a moment or a city that you’ll especially remember?

Our days during the trips were largely filled with hearings, held mostly in law firms and universities. The pace was intense and the environment dynamic—pleadings followed one after another. We used the short breaks in between to review our arguments, debrief, and support one another. At the end of each day, we made time to exchange feedback and fine-tune our strategies based on what had emerged during the sessions.

What struck us the most was undoubtedly the tremendous educational value of the experience. We were immersed in a unique setting, where we engaged with brilliant students from all over the world and top professionals in the field of international arbitration. The opportunity to interact with both groups enriched our journey and constantly pushed us to give our best. Every single piece of advice we received became an added value to incorporate into our personal and professional development, strengthening key skills and self-awareness for our future careers.

The moment that will stay with us the most is probably the final hug we shared after our last hearing in Vienna. It marked the end of eight intense months of work—days and nights spent together preparing the memoranda and refining arguments, one trip after another. In that moment, the anxiety, stress, and fatigue gave way to pure joy and emotion. That was when we realized we had completed the most challenging yet most rewarding experience of our university journey.

Preparing for a competition like this means months of study and simulations, often in legal English and involving complex cases. What were the main challenges you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them as a team? How much do you think UniTS helped you take on this challenge? In what areas did you feel well-prepared, and in what areas less so?

UniTS gave us a solid theoretical foundation, especially in civil procedure, private law, and commercial law. The Vis Moot Court allowed us to build on this and develop our skills in argumentation and dialectical reasoning—the ability to sustain a debate and respond to opposing arguments with precision and structure. In this type of competition, these skills are absolutely essential.

The universities we competed against had already taken specialized courses in this area. Introducing a subject on arbitration into the law curriculum would be a valuable addition for UniTS.

On a personal level, the Moot was also an emotional and interpersonal challenge. For example, as Respondents, we initially struggled to effectively rebut the Claimants’ arguments. We overcame this thanks to the support of our team, which always worked with a collaborative spirit and strong dedication. In a competition like this, the team truly makes the difference.

Another challenge was conducting debates entirely in English—particularly in technical legal English, which differs significantly from everyday language. At times, we naturally felt less prepared or confident when facing native English-speaking teams or participants from highly experienced universities, like Vienna.

During your journey, you met students from all over the world. What was it like to engage with such diverse legal and cultural perspectives?

This type of exchange was one of the most stimulating aspects of the entire experience. We encountered legal cultures that challenged the way we typically approach the law. On the day of a pleading, for instance, we would check whether the arbitrators came from civil law or common law backgrounds, so we could tailor our arguments accordingly. We strategically chose whether to reference doctrine or case law to make our legal reasoning more persuasive for that particular panel.

Another valuable aspect was seeing how, despite coming from different legal systems, we were all debating the same case based on a common framework—the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). This added richness to the discussions and brought out unique solutions and viewpoints.

That said, even in Italy, jurisprudence plays an important role—many subjects are taught starting from Constitutional Court or Supreme Court decisions. However, seeing how precedents are used in common law countries in such a central and strategic way was very eye-opening, especially from a methodological standpoint.

Beyond the competition itself, the Willem C. Vis Moot is also a networking opportunity for young legal minds. Were there any moments of connection, collaboration, or encounters that stood out and that you'll carry with you?

One of the most important aspects on a human level was, first and foremost, the teamwork we built among the six of us. From the beginning, we became a real team—not just in terms of logistics and preparation, but also on a personal level. We shared an intense experience filled with collaboration, dialogue, and mutual support. The bonds we formed are some of the most precious takeaways from this journey, beyond the competition itself.

Externally, the Vis Moot is an extraordinary opportunity for international networking with top students from very prestigious universities, and for forming friendships we often reconnected with at various pre-moots.

Another thing that struck us was the performance of Sofia University, Bulgaria—despite limited funding, they managed to reach the Top 64. A reminder that determination and talent can shine regardless of resources.