Highest Honors for Professor Bergsten
We are delighted to share that Prof. Dr. Eric E. Bergsten, Founder of the Vis Moot, has received one of the highest honors of the Republic of Austria.
The Federal President of the Republic auf Austria, Alexander van der Bellen, has awarded the Grand Decoration of Honor in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria (Großes Silbernes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich) to Professor Eric Bergsten acknowledging his remarkable service and incomparable commitment to the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot.
Founding the Vis Moot in 1993 and leading it for 20 years, Professor Bergsten created an incredible legacy that has impacted the education, professional development, and personal lives of many thousands of students, practitioners, and academics around the globe.
Congratulations, Professor Bergsten! And thank you for everything!

Digital Book Project
We are excited to share with you the announcement of a special “digital book project”, to which we hope you will contribute to.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Willem C. Vis Moot, the Vis Moot and Moot Alumni Association will celebrate the father and founder of the Vis Moot, Prof. Dr. Eric E. Bergsten, through recognizing and remembering his impact, both personally and professionally, on so many generations of “Mooties”, “Arbitrators” and “VIS supporters” by creating a digital celebration book.
The Vis community is encouraged to contribute to the book by sharing tributes, memories, photos, etc., reflecting the impact that Professor Bergsten and the Vis moot has had on the Vis community in personal and professional ways. We hope that the contributions will reflect the wide and diverse global VIS community.
Please find attached the Call for Contributions and the Guidelines for Contributions. Please share these with your relevant VIS supporting community and any person or organization that might be interested in contributing. We would welcome you to post these on your social media accounts and website, circulate them electronically through your mailing lists, and spread the word in any other manner.
Contributions and inquiries may be addressed to: CelebrateBergsten@maa.net
Contributions should be received no later than February 26, 2023.
The “Editorial Board” consists of Patrizia Netal, Stefan Kröll, Chris Kee, Sherlin Tung and Patricia Shaughnessy. The Board is assisted by two “Contribution Coordinators” Navin Ahuja and Ipek Ince.
We look forward to your contributions and continuing support
Patrizia Netal, Stefan Kröll, Christopher Kee, Sherlin Tung and Patricia Shaughnessy
Guidelines for Digital Celebration Book
Call for Contributions_Prof. Dr. Eric E. Bergsten
In Memoriam – DDr. Werner Melis
The Willem C. Vis Moot Association is mourning the loss of it’s valued supporter
DDr. Werner Melis
who passed away on 20 September 2022
Format of the 30th Vis Moot
Vienna, 06 September 2022
Dear Vis Moot Community,
Another Vis Moot year just started and it requires us to take a decision on how to proceed with the organization of the 30th Vis Moot in light of the ongoing global pandemic. In the past three years we were required to conduct Virtual Vis Moots although we all thought one purely remote event was enough. Most countries and most persons have found now ways to live with the Covid-19 pandemic and try to resume social gathering. Governments loosened restrictions in most parts of the world. We therefore decided to go back to organize the Vis Moot as an in-person event only to meet all of you again in Vienna in the week before Easter (1-6 April 2023).
We strongly believe in the Vis Moot Spirit being created by personal relations. One of the most important features of the Vis Moot are the social- and network opportunities for students, coaches and arbitrators during the week of the oral hearings in Vienna. The benefits and the educational value of an in-person event are invaluable for the students. The Social Bubbles which we organized during the last edition of the Moot clearly showed us how important this factor is and how people are longing for exactly those interactions.
We are very conscious that the Virtual Vis did enable participation by teams and students who might not otherwise have been able to travel to Vienna (irrespective of Covid). This breadth of participation is very important to the Moot, and we will be investigating ways we can support and enable wider participation in future years.”
We will try to set up an interesting and diversified social programme not only meant for participants but also for their spouses and families. The registration fee will be 700€ per team and will not be increased for inflation reasons. Possible additional fees might apply for the social programme.
It is our great pleasure to welcome as many of you back in Vienna to celebrate with us the 30th Anniversary of the Vis Moot. Join us to refreshen “old” bonds and to create “new” ones in the Vis Moot community.
The Vis Moot Directors
and the Association for the Organisation and Promotion of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot