The competition brought together students from across Brazil and selected the teams that will represent the country in the world’s largest international arbitration tournament

By Pedro Augusto

The CAM-CCBC Pre-Moot, the largest training event for young arbitration lawyers in Brazil, brought together more than 25 teams in São Paulo for three days of intense competition. The preparatory tournament for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (Vis Moot), the world’s largest international arbitration competition, culminated in the victory of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP) team, which will compete in Hong Kong. Represented by Gustavo Imperatori Sanchez and Leticia Crestana in the final, the team defeated the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) in a hard-fought match.

The winning team’s performance was recognized for its legal arguments and participants’ advocacy skills before the arbitrators. First place was awarded to Bruno Hermes (UERJ), followed by Helena Rocha (PUC-CAMP) and Valentina Belén D’Oeio Olmedo (UBA). Honorable mentions were also given to Ana Carolina Alvarenga (UFSC), Gustavo Imperatori Sanchez (PUC-SP HK), Maria Beatriz Ribeiro Ramos (Mackenzie), and Anna Caroline Santos Freitas (UFBA).

Considered one of the most important preparatory events for the Vis Moot, held annually in Vienna, Austria, the São Paulo Pre-Moot challenges law students to simulate an international arbitration proceeding, tackling complex cases and developing essential skills for legal practice.

This year, participants analyzed a fictional case involving international commercial transactions, based on the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). Throughout the rounds, teams represented clients in an arbitral proceeding and were assessed by experienced arbitrators, who evaluated not only the structure of their legal arguments but also their clarity in advocacy and ability to respond to technical questions.

“What we have seen over more than ten years of CAM-CCBC Pre-Moot competitions is the students’ preparation, the knowledge and experience they gain, and how this training in international arbitration makes them even more prepared for legal practice,” said Silvia Pachikoski, Vice President of CAM-CCBC.

The São Paulo Pre-Moot is part of a broader set of CAM-CCBC initiatives to support the preparation of Brazilian teams, including international training programs, legal writing courses, and public speaking workshops. The top three teams (PUC-SP, UERJ, and UFRJ) receive financial support from CAM-CCBC to enable their participation in the Vis Moot, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to the development of arbitration in Brazil.

Beyond supporting universities, the event strengthens Brazil’s legal community by bringing together students, professors, lawyers, and renowned arbitrators. “We engage the entire Brazilian legal community in preparing this new generation—the future arbitrators and arbitration practitioners in Brazil. CAM-CCBC has always embraced this initiative, and it’s amazing to see how it grows year after year. I’m sure 2025 has not disappointed anyone, and it is a source of great joy. Thank you to the sponsors, supporters, arbitrators, and everyone who joined us once again to accomplish this mission,” Pachikoski added.

Since its creation in 2011, the São Paulo Pre-Moot has contributed to the increasing participation of Brazilian teams in the Vis Moot. In 2024, Brazil was the third country with the most teams in the competition, behind only the United States and Germany.