Team 31st/21st Moot
The team representing Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin at the 31st/ 21st (East) Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot 2023/2024
Isabel Niesen
Isabel is studying law at Humboldt University of Berlin in her 7th semester. After successfully completing two modules in foreign language legal studies in English Law (FRS), she spent her specialisation (Schwerpunkt) at King's College London. There, she focused on English contract law, EU competition law, IP law, and European law. Isabel gained practical insights through her work as a student assistant at an international corporate law firm and through internships at a boutique IP law firm as well as in the IT/IP department of a major law firm. Isabel has acquired fluent English skills through stays abroad in New Zealand and England. Additionally, she has basic knowledge of Spanish and acquired a Latin proficiency certificate. Besides her studies, she finds balance in literature, yoga and ballet.
Jakob Schmidt
Jakob is a 5th semester law student at the Humboldt University of Berlin. He gained his first practical experience during internships in international law firms in the area of corporate law and through his work as a student assistant at the chair of Prof. Wagner, especially in the area of arbitration and tort law. Jakob will already be preparing for the 1st State Examination next year and, after graduation, will complete Master's courses in London at King's College and Paris at the Université de Paris II Panthéon-Assas as part of the European Law School. Jakob is fluent in German and English and has a good knowledge of French. His English skills stem primarily from a year abroad in Whistler, Canada and courses in contract law as well as tort law. He spends most of his free time doing sports, especially boxing and soccer. For the past two years, he has played on the first team of the JFK faculty team.
Jakob Zang
Jakob has just completed his major in "Lawmaking and Legal Policy" and is now in his seventh semester studying law at Humboldt University of Berlin. In addition to his studies, he works as a student assistant in a Bundestag office. Previously, he was able to gain practical experience during a working student position in the legal department of a large German sporting goods manufacturer, as well as during an internship with a criminal defense attorney. In addition to German, Jakob speaks English and French. He was able to develop his language skills through foreign language law studies in English law and a six-month voluntary service with "kulturweit" in Prague. Jakob is very active in sports. After engaging in numerous club sports, he has been ambitiously involved in weight training for several years.
Johann Darie
Johann is a 7th semester law student at Humboldt University of Berlin. Upon completion of the compulsory modules in German law and additional courses in English law at Humboldt University, he moved to London to undertake his specialisation studies at King's College London. In particular, courses on inter-state dispute resolution and lectures on arbitration sparked his interest. Alongside his studies, Johann gained experience as a research assistant in a German law firm in London and as an intern in the litigation and dispute resolution department of a major law firm. He holds a scholarship from the “Konrad Adenauer Foundation” and is interested in international relations and strategic issues, which is why he is engaged in the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). In his spare time, he devotes himself to jazz and neoclassical improvisation as well as long-distance running.
Jule Wendler
Jule is a 7th semester law student at the Humboldt University of Berlin. She has just completed her major in "Law and Digital Transformation" and is involved in the recode.law association for the digitalisation of the legal system. Jule gained practical insights alongside her studies by working as a student assistant in a law firm specialising in IP law. She also completed internships at various courts and in a law firm in Prague. She took part in several MUN conferences and organised the conference hosted by her school. In her free time, Jule rowed competitively for many years and was involved in a hospice. She is a scholarship holder of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes.
Julia Jakubek
Julia is currently a 3rd-semester student at Humboldt-University of Berlin. As she ist taking part in the European Law School programme she will spend two years abroad after her studies in Berlin. Julia has gained working experience during an internship at the Namibian Embassy in Berlin as well as in her current position at the youth welfare office of Berlin’s district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. This year she was a German representative at the EU-ASEAN Youth Conference on Sustainable Urban Development in Bangkok and moderated the 4th Berliner EuropaDialog on the EU China-strategy. Julia was born in the United States and received a bilingual high-school education, during which she participated in numerous MUN conferences, including as an advocate in a moot-style ICJ simulation. Alongside German and English, she speaks French and Italian. She holds a scholarship provided by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes and enjoys playing the viola in her free time.
Josephine Matschie (Coach)
Josephine is a 7th semester student at the Law Faculty of Humboldt University of Berlin. She has gained practical experience through her internship at the German Parliament. Additionally, she obtained international experience while living in Ethiopia for a number of years and attending the German-Embassy School in the capital city Addis Ababa. Furthermore, she completed seminars in Private International Law, English Contract and Commercial Law, as well as English Criminal Law, all of which were held in English. She participated in the 29./19. Vis Moot Court and reached the elimination rounds in Vienna with her team. She was also awarded an honourable mention for the best individual oral performance. In her spare time, Josephine enjoys baking and bouldering.
Maximilian Wolters (Coach)
Maximilian graduated in March 2023 by completing his first state examination. He majored abroad at King's College London. Maximilian is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in antitrust law and in the course of this is working as a research assistant at the chair of Prof. Dr. Heike Schweitzer. Previously, he gained experience in legal practice during internships at various large law firms. He also participated in the Willem C. Vis Moot Court in 2020/2021, reached the semi-finals in Hong Kong and was awarded an Honorable Mention for the best individual oral performance. Maximilian was supported in his studies by a scholarship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and speaks fluent German as well as English. He devotes most of his free time to sports and is captain of the JFK, the football team of the HU Law Faculty.
Nadja Rode (Coach)
Nadja completed her law studies at Humboldt University of Berlin in March 2023 with the first state examination. She majored in intellectual property law. Currently, she is a research assistant and doctoral candidate in intellectual property law at the chair of Prof. Dr. Axel Metzger, Humboldt University. Nadja is also a volunteer mentor at the Caroline von Humboldt Mentoring Programme for female law students fostering the promotion of women in law. She participated in the Willem C. Vis Moot Court for the Humboldt University team in 2020/21. Having pursued a bilingual school education Nadja speaks fluent English and also has a Latin certificate. In her free time, she reads a lot, plays the piano and enjoys doing yoga.
Raoul Sievers (Coach)
Raoul has just completed his law studies at Humboldt University with the first state examination in September 2023. Raoul specialised in corporate and company law. In addition to his studies, Raoul worked in the corporate and real estate department of an international law firm. Since his participation in the 29th/19th Vis Moot Court, however, Raoul's true passion lies in arbitration law. There, his team reached the quarter finals in Hong Kong and he was awarded an honourable mention for the best individual oral performance. Raoul went to a German-French bilingual school and speaks fluent German, French and English as well as some Spanish. In his free time, Raoul travels a lot, enjoys hanging out with friends, and plays football for JFK, the Humboldt University Law School team.