Registration Now Open for 2027 Annual Competition, Giving Law Students Hands-On Experience with Commercial Arbitration Issues and Procedures
Washington, D.C. (September 25, 2026) — American University Washington College of Law’s Center on International Commercial Arbitration and the American Arbitration Association® (AAA), the global leader in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), today announced a new partnership to enhance and expand the Washington American Arbitration Competition (WAAC), an annual moot arbitration competition that gives law students practical experience with U.S. arbitration practice and procedure.
Registration is now open for the 2027 competition; students from across the United States and around the world interested in gaining practical experience with American arbitration practice are invited to participate.
Through this new partnership, the AAA will bring its arbitration expertise, rules, educational resources, and connections to experienced practitioners to help participating law students build their skills and engage with arbitration in practice. Each year, the competition will be conducted under a different set of AAA rules, giving students the opportunity to explore a broad range of arbitration practices, procedures, and advocacy skills while working through a realistic dispute.
“The best way for students to understand arbitration is to experience the process and put the skills they are developing in law school into practice,” said Steve Andersen, division vice president of education services at the AAA. “Through this partnership, we can bring the AAA’s experience, rules, and network of arbitration professionals into the competition. Together, we can help WAAC grow as a distinctive opportunity for students from across the United States and around the world to develop practical skills and experience American arbitration in action.”
“We are excited to partner with the AAA to bring real-world arbitration techniques and experience to students,” said Professor Horacio A. Grigera Naon, director of the Center on International Commercial Arbitration. “The partnership builds on our commitment to providing students with practical exposure to arbitration throughout their legal education.”
The 2027 competition’s moot problem involves a healthcare product licensing dispute between companies connected to California, Virginia, and Texas and will be administered under the AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules. Participating teams will address issues including the effect of related local court proceedings on gateway issues in arbitration, the participation of non-signatories, the interpretation of contractual provisions governing the merits, the calculation of damages, and challenges concerning the independence and impartiality of arbitrators.
Through the competition, students will gain firsthand experience with how an arbitration proceeds. They will work as legal teams, develop case strategies, analyze complex legal issues, prepare written submissions, and present persuasive arguments during oral hearings. During the oral rounds in Washington, D.C., from April 8–10, 2027, participants will argue before experienced arbitrators serving as competition judges, providing students with exposure to the perspectives and expectations of professionals working in arbitration.
Registration is currently open to new teams through February 10, 2027. For further information, including registration requirements, complete the online form or contact the Center on International Commercial Arbitration in Washington, D.C., at arbitration@wcl.american.edu.
About American University Washington College of Law’s Center on International Commercial Arbitration
The Center on International Commercial Arbitration provides a high-level academic forum for exchanging ideas on significant issues and current developments in arbitration. It offers an LL.M. in International Arbitration and Business Law, online certificate courses in commercial and investment arbitration, a Summer Institute, a Practical Seminar, and an introduction to international arbitration for judges. The Center is directed by Professor Horacio A. Grigera Naón, an independent international arbitrator and former Secretary General of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. Professor Bjorn Arp serves as Assistant Director, overseeing the development of the Competition. For more information, visit https://www.american.edu/wcl/impact/initiatives-programs/arbitration/
About the American Arbitration Association
The American Arbitration Association is the largest provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services in the world. Marking its centennial in 2026, the American Arbitration Association has transformed how legal issues are resolved for better since 1926, turning disputes worldwide into opportunities for understanding and progress. A not-for-profit organization, the American Arbitration Association’s mission is to deliver ADR services with integrity, transparency, and innovation. For more information, visit www.adr.org/.
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