Los Madrilenos

Goodbye, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu to the rolling fields and majestic wind turbines of Germany - buenos dias to the sun drenched avenidas of Madrid!

Yes, after a comprehensive practice mooting trip around Germany we found ourselves moving into the next phase of our preparation, with the competitive Madrid pre-moot next in our sights. While our German hosts were warm and hospitable, the weather there was a tad on the chilly side. And so, tired and laden with baggage we emerged from the Madrid underground, into the blinding sunlight and hubbub of the Gran Via.

After checking into our downtown digs, one of our two coaches, Petra Butler, arrived a few hours later, to bring our European complement to three. After a quick catch-up over some rioja, we set out to the pre-moot reception, at a tapas bar downtown to meet some of the other teams and socialise. But not too much, as pleadings began at 10am at the Lovells offices next morning, and these were the first moots for which we would be getting points for our performance.

Arriving at the law firm, we were greeted surprisingly effusively by one of our arbitrators. Listening more closely to his accent, he turned out to be the only kiwi-qualified lawyer working in Spain, David Cairns, a partner in international arbitration at B Cremades y Asociados! To his credit, he gave us a tough time of it as we pleaded against last year's champions, Carlos III, the home university. And afterwards, for the purposes of extensive feedback (and to catch up on news from back in NZ) David very kindly took us out to a great, authentic Castillian restaurant.

After mooting against Dusseldorf later in the afternoon, we made a late dinner and planned for tomorrow's Respondent moots. Next morning saw us in the offices of Perez-Llorca, and mooting first against Paris I, and then against the University of Navarre.

With a break between the moots and the announcement of the participants in the Final, we had some time to kill, and strolled blissfully around the Parque del Retiro in 25 degree sunshine, as well as indulging in a little light retail therapy. We have to say, Madrid in the Spring comes highly recommended!

And so, to the close of the Madrid Pre-moot, with a Final to be announced and pleaded at Garrigues, which we have been reliably informed is the largest law firm outside the English-speaking world. Their offices are certainly impressive, and all twelve of the participating teams were suitably awe-struck as they filed into the expansive conference room.

As you may have guessed by now, we have been devoting quite a bit of time to this particular entry - we made it to the Final! We were quietly pleased that our hard work thus far was bearing fruit, but didn't have time to soak it up, as we had just 10 minutes to get ready to plead against Aarhus University from Denmark.

Coming out for the Final was quite tense, but we had experienced something similar previously, with our show moot in Wellington, and that helped calm the nerves. Due to the slightly different set-up, due to the venue, we were basically cheek-by-jowl with Aarhus, but that wasn't too bad as they are lovely guys. And then the moot started, going by in a blur of complex and challenging questions.

It ends. We shake hands with Aarhus and get feedback from Petra. We mingle in a dazed sort of way. And then the Chair of the firm gives a speech. And announces the winner ...

WELLINGTON!!