University of Vienna - Willem C. Vis Moot Team

Productive days in Boston! 🧑⚖️ As our team begins preparations for the oral rounds in Vienna and Hong Kong, we are thrilled to reflect on our first pre-moot, the Harvard Law School Vis Pre-Moot, which took place from 15–16 February! Over the past two days, we had the privilege to practice with our friends from Stetson University, Copenhagen University, Bucerius Law School, Yale University, and the University of Pittsburgh. We are deeply grateful to all arbitrators who generously took the time to make this pre-moot possible. A special thanks to the Harvard International Arbitration Law Students Association (HIALSA) for organizing an outstanding event!

As the submission deadline for the Memorandum for Respondent draws closer, we are excited to introduce the sixth and final member of our team: Alina Waldenberger. Alina is a dedicated advocate with a passion for dispute resolution. A law student at the University of Vienna since 2021, she quickly distinguished herself by earning a place in the Faculty’s excellence program in 2023. She currently works as a student assistant at the Department of Civil Procedure. With a strong foundation in multi-tier dispute resolution, Alina made sure to start this year’s Vis Moot season on solid ground. Over the summer, she completed an internship in the commercial litigation practice of a prominent Austrian full-service firm and enhanced her skills by attending the Austrian Arbitration Academy in Strobl. Beyond her academic pursuits, Alina is also dedicated to promoting social change. She is a co-founder and active member of SHE*talks, an initiative focused on amplifying female legal voices at the University of Vienna’s Faculty of Law, while also advocating for women’s rights more broadly. Rounding out our team’s lineup of musical talent, Alina is also trained singer. That creative energy naturally extends to her role on the team. With her sharp legal acumen, practical experience, and unwavering commitment, Alina is sure to play a vital role in the team’s success.

As the deadline for the submission of the Memorandum for Respondent approaches, we are excited to introduce the fifth member of our team: Agnes Oppitz. Agnes is known as the team's calm and collected voice of reason. A law student at the University of Vienna since 2021, she has already gained valuable practical experience through internships at boutique law firms. Currently, she works as a student assistant at the Department for Civil Law, where she supports research and teaching. Agnes had first-hand exposure to the Vis Moot before even becoming a participant. Two years ago, she volunteered with the Organizing Committee of the 30th Moot, helping to ensure a smooth competition for all participants. Her experience attending the oral hearings and witnessing the energy of the event inspired her to apply herself. A graduate of Vienna’s prestigious French-language high school, Agnes is fully fluent in French and continues to build on this foundation in law school. She is currently enrolled in the faculty’s elective curriculum on European and international francophone legal culture, making her the team’s go-to resource for French-language authorities and case law. Agnes also brings a creative dimension to the team. A skilled woodwind musician, she plays the soprano, alto, and tenor recorder. Until 30 January, Agnes will be fully focused on the Problem. With her meticulous research skills, she is sure to make an impact.

Today, the University of Vienna is proud to introduce the fourth member of our team: Jonas Schneider-Beron. Jonas’s talent for dispute resolution was evident early on. While still in high school, he won first place in Austria’s annual Federal Youth Speech Competition, laying the foundation for his future in advocacy. Since then, he has continued to refine his skills as a debater and as a coordinator for the European Youth Parliament. Jonas is not only a persuasive advocate but also a true team player. As a drummer, he has mastered the art of finding the right balance between assertiveness and collaboration — a quality that serves him well in the context of team-based challenges. After enrolling at the University of Vienna in 2020, Jonas discovered his passion for dispute resolution during the 2022/23 Franz von Zeiller Moot. His team’s success, including a podium finish in the Vienna regional rounds and a spot in the federal final, solidified his interest in the field. Now in his fifth year of law school, Jonas has already gained hands-on experience at four leading dispute resolution practices. His international outlook is reflected in his work abroad, which includes a summer internship at Liechtenstein’s largest commercial law firm and an exchange semester at the University of Groningen. A certified peer mediator since 2019, Jonas is uniquely equipped to engage with this year’s Problem. His experience, insight, and passion for dispute resolution make him an invaluable member of the team.

Today, we are pleased to introduce Sophie Hannah Egger, one of our merits specialists for this year’s team. Originally from Salzburg, Austria’s renowned capital of music, Sophie’s early years were shaped by her passion for the arts. She learned to play the violin, the piano, and even took singing lessons, showcasing her diverse creative talents. After graduating high school, Sophie moved to Vienna in 2021 to pursue a law degree. Her academic excellence quickly became evident: She has received multiple merit-based scholarships and was admitted to the high-potential program of the Faculty of Law. Currently, she works as a student assistant at the Department of Civil Law, where she supports courses on general private law. Sophie’s curiosity and drive for interest in diverse experiences make her a valuable member of our team. She has studied five languages — including Ancient Greek — and channels her cultural understanding into a passion for travel, embracing opportunities to explore new places. With her sharp analytical skills, intellectual curiosity, and passion for learning, Sophie is well-positioned to make a valuable impact on our team this year. We are excited to have her on board and look forward to her contributions to the Memorandum for Respondent.

Continuing our team introductions, we are pleased to present Lukas Hellmayr, one of our procedure specialists. Lukas’s path to dispute resolution was a natural one. After following the team's journey for two years, he felt inspired to become part of the team himself. His commitment to mastering the field was evident even before the Vis season began, as he spent his summer gaining practical experience through internships at two Austrian courts. An accomplished student, Lukas has earned multiple scholarships for academic excellence and secured a coveted student trainee position at one of Vienna’s most prestigious law firms. But Lukas’s strengths extend beyond academic and professional achievements. Drawing from his prior paramedical experience, he knows how to remain calm under pressure — a quality that will undoubtedly prove invaluable in the critical moments leading up to the submission of our memoranda. Lukas is also a talented guitarist and active member of a band. With experience performing on stage, he is no stranger to high-pressure situations, making him well-prepared for the challenges ahead. We are proud to have Lukas on our team and look forward to seeing him bring his composure, precision, and creativity to this year’s competition.

We are excited to introduce the first member of our team on Linkedin — Varvara Artiukh! Varvara brings a diverse and impressive array of talents and experiences to the table. A recipient of multiple awards in international jazz choir and debating, she has already honed her advocacy skills in various other moots. Her global outlook is reflected in her fluency in three languages and her academic experiences studying abroad in both Ireland and Australia. Varvara’s passion for international arbitration was sparked in 2022, when she was awarded a competitive scholarship for the Austrian Arbitration Academy, graduating with near-perfect results. She has since continued to develop her expertise as a student assistant at the Department of European, International and Comparative Law, while also working as a research assistant in the Banking & Finance practice group of a renowned Magic Circle firm. With a double major in law and philosophy, Varvara is uniquely equipped to tackle the complex issues presented in this year’s Problem. Her analytical mindset and creative reasoning will undoubtedly make a lasting impact. We are thrilled to have Varvara on our team and look forward to seeing her contributions in action!

Appearing on behalf of GreenHydro Plc, meet the members of the University of Vienna's team for the 32nd Willem C. Vis Moot! The team members for the 2024/25 academic year are: Sophie Hannah Egger, Lukas Hellmayr, Alina Waldenberger, Agnes Oppitz, Jonas Schneider-Beron, and Varvara Artiukh. In the coming days, we will introduce our mooties individually. Stay tuned!

5 days left - Apply now! Become part of the University of Vienna‘s Team to participate in the 32nd Willem C. Vis Moot! Send your CV + Transcript of Records to vismoot.zvr@univie.ac.at! 🚀

🏆 RUNNER-UP & WINNER OF THE GENERAL ROUNDS IN THE 31st VIS MOOT 🏆 After 108 rounds of pleading and 6 months of intense, often fun, sometimes exhausting, but always rewarding preparation, we (Josef Auer, Sophia Danzer, Milena Erak, Laura Leeb, Orhan Maglajlić, Julia Reichstamm) are proud to announce that our Vis Moot journey has come to a fantastic end: During an electrifying Vis week, we got to plead with the universities of Sarajevo, Olomouc, Ceará and City LS London, after which we emerged as the Winner (out of 373 teams) of this year‘s General Rounds! 🥇 We thus advanced to the Elimination Rounds where we met with the great teams from FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, National Law University, Delhi, Leibniz Universität Hannover, WU Vienna Vis Moot Team and University of Pristina. After prevailing in all these rounds, we got to plead in the Grand Final with our friends from Bucerius Law School before an esteemed tribunal of Claudia Salomon, Milena Djordjevic and Cláudio Finkelstein. Ultimately, we were beyond words to receive the Eric E. Bergsten Award as Runner-up in the 31st Vis Moot! 🥈 As the cherry on top, Sophia Danzer received the Martin Domke Award as 2nd Runner-up for Best Individual Oralist and our merits queen Julia Reichstamm won an Honorable Mention in the same category! 🎤 What is more, we were also fortunate enough to win the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Austrian Pre-Moot and reach the finals of the Plesner Pre-Moot Copenhagen and the Breakfast Rounds in Hamburg. 🇦🇹🇩🇰🇩🇪 At the Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong, we advanced to the last 16, which is the best result ever for our university! For her stellar performances, our procedure ace Milena Erak, who was already crowned Best Speaker at the ICA Pre-Moot, was awarded an Honorable Mention for the Neil Kaplan Award as Best Individual Oralist! 🇭🇰 While we are incredibly grateful for all these achievements, what stands out most for us are all the great friend- and relationships that we could build along the way. Most importantly, we want to thank our coaches David von der Thannen and Paul Eichmüller, who have now led the Vienna team to the final for two consecutive years! Moreover, we are also forever grateful to Prof. Christian Koller, Prof. Matthias Lehmann, Katarina Marko, Laurenz Faber and Franz Schwarz for their guidance and support! Finally, we met so many lovely other teams and people, who taught us a lot, not only on a professional but also on a personal level! ♥️ Thank you! The University of Vienna's Vis MC Team '24 #vismoot #vienna #final #mootcourt