The Riga Graduate School of Law (RGSL) team has successfully concluded its participation in the 33rd Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, the final rounds of which took place in Vienna from 27 March to 2 April 2026.
This year, the Vis Moot brought together approximately 390 teams, more than 2500 students, and over 1098 arbitrators from around the world, making it one of the largest and most prestigious international moot court competitions. During the oral rounds in Vienna, RGSL was represented by Bachelor students Adrians Kupcovs, Elizabete Fiļipoviča, Marta Vitkovska, and Mārcis Krištopāns, while Bachelor students Edvards Staķis and Renāts Budilovičs contributed to the preparation of the written memoranda.
The problem for the moot is always based on an international sales transaction subjected to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, 1980 and involves procedural issues of arbitration. The 33rd Vis Moot case concerned the international sale of Vanilla Orchids following the introduction of environmental regulations prohibiting such trade, raising questions on exemption from liability and the obligation to pay damages. The procedural framework was based on the Singapore International Arbitration Centre Rules, adding an additional layer of complexity to the proceedings.
The competition provided students with a valuable opportunity to engage in high-level legal debate and to further develop their oral advocacy skills in an international environment. To prepare for the competition, the team participated in four pre-moots, however during the final rounds in Vienna, the RGSL team competed against universities from around the world, including Loyola University New Orleans (USA), Stockholm University (Sweden), Christ University Bangalore (India), and Galatasaray University (Turkey).
A particularly memorable experience was the joint meeting of the Baltic teams, where participants also had the opportunity to meet ambassadors from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
Participation in the Vis Moot is an intensive academic and professional challenge, requiring months of preparation, advanced written submissions, and rigorous oral training. At the same time, students are truly grateful for the opportunity to deepen their understanding of international commercial law and arbitration, and to build meaningful connections within the global legal community that endure well beyond the competition.
The team expresses its sincere gratitude to Riga Graduate School of Law, as well as to the team’s coaches – Katrīna Salmgrieze and Associate Professor Dr. Aleksandrs Fillers.
