Hofstra University School of Law, Hempstead, NY: In the highest finish ever for Hofstra Law in a “Vis International Moot” competition, 11 students from Hofstra Law School surpassed teams from all over the world to grab first place for “Best Memorandum on Behalf of Respondent” at the competition’s Far East site, held in Hong Kong March 3-9.

This year’s competition attracted teams from 52 law schools, representing 13 countries. The Hofstra Vis Moot team also finished as First Runner-Up in the category of “Best Brief Submitted on Behalf of the Claimant.” In the oral competition, Hofstra’s team finished tied for fifth in the opening round and advanced to the Round of 16 elimination rounds for the first time ever.

Countries represented included Australia, China, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Taipei and the United States of America. The competition included New York area schools such as Cardozo Law School, Columbia Law School, Fordham Law School, and New York University School of Law.

The 11 students on the Vis International Moot Arbitration Team are Adam Marshall, Drew Gulley, Ella Govshtein, Mariam Habib, Meghan Rudy, Nana Japaridze, Nicole Fidler, Sean Masson, Tamara Schmidt, Timothy Schmidt, and Rob Syzba. The entire Hofstra team helped draft the two briefs, one on behalf of the claimant and one on behalf of the respondent. Ms. Fidler and Ms. Govshtein participated in the oral arguments, and Ms. Govshtein won an honorable mention for outstanding individual oral arguments.

The team was coached by Hofstra Law School Professors Seth A. Presser, Special Professor of Law, and Julian Ku, Associate Professor of Law.

The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot is a prestigious annual international moot court competition held in Vienna, Austria. The Vis East is a sister moot to the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot and takes place in Hong Kong. The Vis East attracts more than 500 students, lawyers and professors from around the world. It uses the same problem and essentially the same as the rules as the Moot that takes place in Vienna.

# # #

Hofstra Law School was founded in 1970 and is accredited by the ABA. It has an alumni body of approximately 8,500 graduates. The school is located on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, which also includes a national arboretum. In addition to its full-time juris doctor (J.D.) degree program, Hofstra Law School offers part-time day and evening J.D. programs as well as graduate degree programs, including an LL.M. Program in American Legal Studies (for foreign law graduates), and LL.M. programs in International Law and Family Law.