A Griffith Law School team has finished in the top eight teams of the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot held in Hong Kong.
Jessica Musulin, Kerrod Giles, Louis Baigent and Daniel Popple made it to the quarter finals as the last Australian team standing.
The team’s written memoranda of argument for both claimant and respondent received an honourable mention. These memoranda were also contributed to by Marcus Dyason, Tegun Middleton, Jackson Dixon-Best and Christiaan Van Oeveren.
Jessica Musulin, Kerrod Giles and Daniel Popple also received honourable mentions as individual oralists for their excellent performance.
Coach Dr Therese Wilson is proud of her students.
“The competition attracts very high quality law schools from all over the world and we made it all the way to the quarter finals,” said Therese.
Therese co-coaches with Ms Libby McKillop, an alumnus of the Griffith Law School, who now works at international law firm Ashurst.
“In 2010 Libby received first-runner up for best individual oralist in this very competition. She’s been an amazing coach,” said Therese.
The team’s success owes a lot to the help provided by alumni and the legal profession, particularly Mr Khory McCormick partner at Minter Ellison and adjunct professor at Griffith University.
“We’ve had generous support from the legal profession and Vis alumni, but, I would like to sincerely thank Khory McCormick for his ongoing and generous support over the last ten years.”
Justice John Muir, who is set to retire at the end of the year, hosted the team’s final practice which includes a traditional debrief over wine and cheese.
“His Honour hosted a marvellous moot practice at the Court of Appeal for the eighth year in a row, which concluded in the Judge’s common room where students received valuable feedback,” said Therese.
Some alumni connections yielded intriguing forms of assistance. Eammon Atkinson with team mate Mat Shelley won the 2008 Vis Moot competition and now works as a news reporter.
“Eammon took us into the Channel 7 studios to get some style tips form newsreaders!”
“We’re very grateful to all the legal practitioners and Vis alumni who helped us along the way,” said Therese.