University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Who We Are
Introducing the 32nd Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot team from the University of Pretoria.
This is the fifth team from the University of Pretoria that is taking part in the Vis Moot. In its second year of participation in the Vis Moot, the Pretoria Vis Moot team placed third overall in the competition worldwide, among 365 competing universities. With the Pretoria Vis Moot team still being a relatively “new” participant in the Vis Moot, the team hopes to draw from the previous successes of its past teams to make our university proud.
The Pretoria Vis Moot Team has been a part of Africa in the Moot since 2021 and the team is grateful for the opportunities and events which Africa in the Moot continues to provide to the teams involved in its programme. This year’s team particularly enjoys Africa in the Moot’s virtual educational series, which has improved their knowledge in international commercial arbitration.
The team is excited to start with the oral phase of the competition, and to connect with students and practitioners from around the world.
Bao Dinh Le
Bao is a second year, international student from Vietnam currently pursuing the Bachelor of Law degree at the University of Pretoria. He is a diligent and ambitious scholar, who has keen interests in International Commercial Arbitration, specifically with the intricacies in global regulation of AI within private international law.
His academic pursuit, while focused on law, extends to AI application in various fields, as well as relevant ethical studies behind its regulation. Competing in the 32nd Willem C. Vis Moot, he aims to advance his legal skills in legal research, advocacy, and team cooperation.
The Vis Moot Competition, while offers an excellent educational value, presents itself as an incredible networking opportunity. As the Chairperson of the International Student Association of UP, he aims to establish meaningful connections that not only furthers the ICA Community but also tertiary institutions’ cooperation at an international level.
Brendan Ewen
Brendan is a dedicated and ambitious second-year law student at the University of Pretoria with a keen interest in international commercial arbitration. Competing in the 32nd Willem C. Vis Moot, he combines his passion for learning and competition with a drive to hone his advocacy, legal research, and teamwork skills.
Brendan’s academic pursuits extend beyond law, encompassing philosophy and English literature, which fuel his curiosity about the intersections of law, ethics, and social justice
With a commitment to academic excellence and a passion for meaningful advocacy, Brendan is eager to contribute to the future of international law while exploring innovative solutions to contemporary legal challenges.
Kiana Lee Higgins
Kiana Lee Higgins is a second year LLB student at the University of Pretoria. She enjoys reading and traveling. The majority of her high school career was spent traveling along the coast of South Africa, which instilled a great reverence for her country's beauty and diversity.
Kiana's interest in the Willem C. VIS International Arbitration Moot was piqued in her first year at the University of Pretoria. She set it as a goal to participate as soon as she could, and so, she took part in an internal moot as well as the Alfred Deakin Commercial Arbitration Moot. The latter solidified her enthusiasm towards international commercial arbitration, and for her, it is a blessing and privilege to be part of the team.
Lesiba Lieschen Mphela
Lesiba Mphela is a final year Law (LLB) student at the University of Pretoria. When she is not busy studying, Lesiba enjoys playing tennis and reading. Her favorite book is the Holy Bible, and she is also passionate about playing chess and scrabble. A fun fact about her is that she is her own nail technician.
Lesiba's experience in the internal moot court competition held by her University, where she progressed to become a judge for the internal leagues, sparked her interest in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. She decided to take on the challenge, and it is a dream come true to be part of the prestigious 32nd Willem C. Vis 2024-2025. Lesiba feels honored to represent her university on an international level.
Sifiso Dlamini
Sifiso Dlamini is a passionate legal scholar and a candidate for the LLB degree at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. With a strong academic foundation, having graduated with distinction in a BA Law degree, Sifiso has earned 19 distinctions out of 30 modules and is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Sifiso has extensive experience in leadership, having served on various committees, including House Humanities for postgraduate and international students, and received awards for leadership and innovation.
Beyond academics, Sifiso has engaged in practical legal training through vacation programs at Adams & Adams, gaining firsthand experience in litigation, client consultations, and court appearances. Committed to fostering access to justice and African-centered legal education, Sifiso's research interests include transformative legal pedagogy and addressing systemic barriers in the law.
Chris Cloete (Coach)
Chris is a fourth-year LLB student and BA Law Graduate at the University of Pretoria. His participation in the 30th Vis Moot propelled his interest in dispute resolution and the pursuit of a career in the practice area of commercial arbitration. He is set to start his LLM studies in International Trade Law at the University of Cape Town in 2024.
Chris believes that through meticulous planning, a helping hand, and consistency, a team is set for success! As a coach for the 31st Vis Moot, Chris looks forward to cultivating these habits in the team and he is excited to assist the team in developing their research and legal-writing skills throughout the competition.
For the Vis season ahead, Chris wants to continue to embrace the vast knowledge that the Vis Moot has to offer and he is excited to interact and collaborate with other teams on their Vis Moot journeys. He resonates with the quote by Mark Cuban, “The only thing in life you can control is your effort. That is all and that is everything.”
Simon Augustyn (Coach)
Simon Augustyn is a third-year BCom Law student at the University of Pretoria. Simon is an alumni of the 29th Vis Moot team that placed third in the world in the Vienna rounds. Simon was a procedural speaker and was awarded an honourable mention for best speaker.
Simon is participating in the Vis Moot for the third time and for the second time as a coach. He is excited to bring a host of experience to the competition and help the team to advance in a positive way. Simon has grown to love international commercial arbitration and believes that it may be a calling for him in his career. Thus, he continues to give back to the competition that has given him so much as he has made it a goal to become an expert in the field during his career.
Michela du Buisson (Coach)
Michela is currently completing her third year of LLB studies at the University of Pretoria. She is an alumni of the 29th Vis Moot where the team placed third in the world and she successfully completed an internship at the International Law Institute, South African Centre for Excellence. She is now joining the rodeo for a second time as a coach on this year’s team.
Her intentions for coaching this year are largely based on proving that there is always room for compassion and humanness in the workplace, especially for something as intellectually challenging as the Vis Moot. She sincerely looks forward to watching our team embody a culture of enthusiasm and dedication, not only intellectually, but also towards their personal growth and well-being outside of the competition.
In Michela’s own words, “The Moot changed my life and I simply want to be able to assist in doing the same for our team.”
Zakir Wazar (Coach)
Zakir is a third-year BCom Law student at the University of Pretoria. After participating in the 30th Vis Moot as a speaker, Zakir fell in love with the craft and found an appreciation for private international law. Zakir believes that this competition not only fosters an environment to leave your comfort zone, but also enables you to grow as an individual and find a sense of belonging.
In 2022, Zakir won the Junior League Moot Court Competition, achieving second place for best speaker. In 2023, he coached 5 teams in the same competition, with one of his speakers achieving the awards for overall runner-up, best-written memorial, and best speaker. Now he is ready to take on the big leagues as a coach and shape the 31st Vis Moot team in having them leave Africa’s mark in the international sphere.
In the words of Malala Yousafzai, “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”