From November 18 to 24, 2024, the week-long “Voice of Moot” series composing of nine training events came to a successful conclusion. The series brought together nearly 30 arbitrators and dispute resolution lawyers with rich practical experience to discuss the core aspects of international arbitration, the latest development trend, mooting skills, international arbitration practice and arbitration issues in specific fields in nine sessions. On November 24, 2024, as the finale of the Voice of Moot, the 9th “CIETAC and MAA Joint Event - Journey to Excellence: Growth Trajectory, Core Skills and Diverse Perspectives in Arbitration” was successfully held. This event was co-organized by CIETAC and MAA, with the CIETAC Cup Alumni Association (CCAA) as the supporting organization, bringing together numerous renowned arbitrators and senior lawyers practising in international commercial arbitration to participate in the exchange and discussion.

MAA is the official alumni association of Vis Moot, founded in Vienna, Austria, with the aim of promoting arbitration moot competitions such as Vis Moot and Vis East, facilitating contacts and exchanges between participants, and raising awareness of international arbitration and international trade law in general.

At the event, Lu Fei, Director of Business Development Department of CIETAC and Vice Chairman of CCAA, and Navin G. Ahuja, Co-Chairman of MAA, delivered opening speeches on behalf of their respective organizations. They both indicated that CIETAC and MAA have a long history of good cooperation, and have been working together for four consecutive years in organizing seminars in the Voice of Moot series of training activities, which provide a learning and exchange platform for the participants. Lu Fei noted that, since its inception in 2000, the CIETAC Cup has attracted tens of thousands of young students, who have grown into a vital force in China’s foreign-related arbitration by participating in high-level international moots and engaging in international practices. The Voice of Moot series of training activities have been organized since 2021, aiming to provide young students with more exposure to front-line practical experience and career planning during the CIETAC Cup, which is of great benefit to them in the competition as well as in their subsequent study and career. It is hoped that the participants can make full use of the platform and resources provided by CIETAC to broaden their horizons and continuously hone their debating skills and legal literacy.

(Speeches delivered by Director Lu Fei and Navin G. Ahuja)

The first session was moderated by Liu Xin, Partner of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, and was attended by Kim Rooney, Independent Arbitrator, Barrister and Mediator, Bai Xianyue, Partner of Grandell Law Firm and CIETAC Arbitrator, May Tai, Independent Arbitrator, Independent Non-executive Director of ANZ Bank and China advisor of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, and Wu Zongnan, Partner of V&T WS Law Firm. The speakers discussed the “Arbitrator's Perspective: Differences in the Role of Arbitrators between Arbitration Moots and Practical Arbitration”, and provided an in-depth analysis of the role of arbitrators, the considerations of awards, and the unique value of arbitration moots.

(From top to bottom, left to right: May Tai, Liu Xin, Kim Rooney, Bai Xianyue, Wu Zongnan)

The second session was moderated by Chen Haowen, Member of the MAA China Program and Lawyer at Global Law Firm. Alice Meissner, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution in Austria of Fieldfisher, and President of the  European-Chinese Association of Arbitrators (ECAA), Sherlin Tung, Partner of Withersworldwide Law Firm, and Director and CEO of Vis East Moot Foundation, Zhao Huili, Partner of JunHe Law Firm, Zhang Li, Partner of Tiger Partners, Eugene Thong, Independent Arbitrator from Singapore and Secretary of Arbitral Tribunal, and Dai Wen, Partner of Zhong Lun Law Firm, shared their experience in arbitration from perspectives of different jurisdictions, and discussed the balance between globalization and localization of arbitration, the promotion of diversity and the application of science and technology under the theme of “New Era for International Arbitration: Trends and Challenges”.

(From top to bottom, left to right: Chen Haowen , Zhao Huili , Zhang Li, Alice Meissner, Dai Wen, Sherlin Tung, Eugene Thong)

The event attracted nearly 50,000 viewers online, pushing the cumulative number of online viewers of the nine events of this year's Voice of Moot series to a new height reaching nearly 150,000, which not only highlights the extensive influence of the Voice of Moot series, but also provides valuable learning resources and professional inspiration for the participants of the CIETAC Cup, and effectively promoted in-depth exchanges and cooperation among legal practitioners.