Mock Case

Based on the problem of the Twenty Third Annual Willem C.
Vis International Commercial ArbitrationMoot
THE PROBLEM
Kaihari Waina Ltd (Claimant)
Vino Veritas (Respondent
Thanks to Association for the Organisation and Promotion of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
Contents
Document Page
Fasttrack to VIAC (11 July 2022) 2
Statement of Claim (11 July 2022) 3
Claimant’s Exhibit C 1 (Contract of 22 April 2016) 9
Claimant’s Exhibit C 2 (Claimant’s Order 4 November 2021) 10
Claimant’s Exhibit C 3 (Respondent’s Notice 1 December 2021) 11
Claimant’s Exhibit C 4 (Excerpted articles about SuperWines of Nov/Dec. 12
2021)
Claimant’s Exhibit C 5 (Witness Statement Ms Buharit) 13
Claimant’s Exhibit C 6 (Claimant’s letter of 2 December 2021) 14
Claimant’s Exhibit C 7 (Respondent’s Termination Letter of 4 December 15
2021)
Claimant’s Exhibit C 8 (High Court – Interim Relief – 12 December 2021) 16
Claimant’s Exhibit C 9 (High Court –Declaratory Relief – 23 April 2022) 17
Claimant’s Exhibit C 10 (Contingent Fee Agreement – 5 December 2021) 18
Claimant’s Exhibit C 11 (Invoice LawFix – 25 May 2022) 19
Claimant’s Exhibit C 12 (Witness Statement Ms Lee) 20
VIAC’s letter to the Claimant (Receipt of statement of claim - 15 July 22
2022)
VIAC’s letter to the Respondent (Service of the statement of claim - 15 23
July 2022)
Answer to Statement of Claim (16 August 2022) 25
Respondent’s Exhibit No. 1 (Witness Statement Mr Weinbauer) 33
Respondent’s Exhibit No. 2 (Letter by Langweiler - 14 January 2022) 35
VIAC’s letter to Claimant (Forwarding of Answer to Statement of Claim, 36
comment on fast-track – 19 August 2022)
Claimant’s letter rejecting expedited proceedings (Letter by 37
Fasttrack – 21 August 2022)
VIAC’s letter to the Parties (Advance on costs – 22 August 2022) 38
VIAC’s letter to the Parties (Statement of acceptance of co-arbitrators - 28 40
August 2022)
VIAC’s letter to the Parties (Payment of advance on costs, commencement 45
of proceedings, statement of acceptance of chairman - 15 September 2022)
VIAC’s letter to the Arbitral Tribunal (Transmission of the file - 15 49
September 2022)
Letter Chairman– Parties (2 October 2022) 51
Procedural Order No 1 (2 October 2022) 52
Procedural Order N 2 (30 October 2022) 54
Based on the problem of the Twenty Third Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot 1
© Association for the Organisation and Promotion of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
Prof. Dr. Stefan Kröll
Horace Fasttrack
Advocate at the Court
14 Capital Boulevard
Oceanside
Equatoriana
Tel. (0) 214 77 32 Telefax (0) 214 77 33
fasttrack@host.eq
11 July 2022
By courier
The Secretariat of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre of the
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
Wiedner Hauptstraße 63
1045 Vienna
Austria
Dear Madam/Sir,
On behalf of my client, Kaihari Waina Ltd, I hereby submit the enclosed Statement of Claim
pursuant to the Vienna Rules 2021, Articles 7 and 10. A copy of the Power of Attorney
authorising me to represent Kaihari Waina Ltd in this arbitration is also enclosed.
The CLAIMANT requests the payment of damages for a breach of contract.
The registration fee of EUR 1.500 has been paid. The relevant bank confirmation is attached.
The contract giving rise to this arbitration provides that the seat of arbitration shall be
Vindobona, Danubia, and that the arbitration shall be conducted in English. The arbitration
agreement provides for three arbitrators. Kaihari Waina Ltd hereby nominates Ms Maria Gomes
as its arbitrator and requests that the VIAC appoints the chairman of the arbitral tribunal if the
party nominated arbitrators cannot agree on a chairman or directly, if RESPONDENT is in
agreement with such a facilitated procedure.
The required documents are attached.
Sincerely yours,
Horace Fasttrack
Attachments:
Statement of Claim with Exhibits
Power of Attorney
CV of Ms Maria Gomes
Proof of Payment of Registration Fee
11 July 2022
Horace Fasttrack
Oceanside
Equatoriana
Tel (0) 214 77 32 Telefax (0) 214 77 33
fasttrack@host.eq
By courier
1045 Vienna
Austria
Kaihari Waina v. Vino Veritas
Statement of Claim
Pursuant to Article 7 Vienna Rules
Kaihari Waina Ltd

12 Riesling Street
Oceanside
Equatoriana
- CLAIMANT-
Represented in this arbitration by Horace Fasttrack
Vino Veritas Ltd

56 Merlot Rd
St Fundus
Vuachoua
Mediterraneo
- RESPONDENT-
Statement of Facts
1. Kaihari Waina Ltd (“Kaihari”), the CLAIMANT, is a wine merchant specialised in top quality
wines for the collectors’ and high end gastronomy markets. Over recent years it has
consistently increased its market share in a highly competitive market. Kaihari has
developed a particular expertise in Mediterranean Mata Weltin wines from the Vuachoua
region and has gained a reputation with its customers of being a particularly reliable source.
Because of its high end customer base Kaihari only sells Mata Weltin wines of diamond
quality. Diamond quality Mata Weltin has a minimum alcohol content of 12.5 vol% and has
been judged as being on a par with the best white wines in the world. The wine gets its label
“diamond” from the diamond lizard which sun-bathes on the stonewalls in the Vuachoua
region.
2. The RESPONDENT, Vino Veritas Ltd (“Vino Veritas”), is one of the top vineyards in
Mediterraneo. It is the only vineyard in the Vuachoua region that has won the
Mediterranean gold medal for its diamond Mata Weltin in each of the last five years.
3. Kaihari has sold Vino Veritas diamond Mata Weltin wines for the last 6 years with great
success. The base of the Parties’ economic relationship is a framework contract concluded
between them on 22 April 2016 [Exhibit C 1]. The framework contract provides in essence
that, every year, CLAIMANT would buy a certain minimum number of bottles from
RESPONDENT which in return committed to deliver bottles up to a maximum amount of
10.000 bottles. The exact amount will be determined every year by orders placed by
CLAIMANT at the end of the year and normally before negotiations with other customers
start.
4. For CLAIMANT the certainty of supply is crucial and part of its business model and success.
The selected group of collectors and high end restaurants around the world which form the
majority of CLAIMANT’s customers want a quasi-guarantee that they will be supplied with
the high end Mata Weltin wines they order annually. Over the years, Kaihari has always
ordered between 7.500 and 8.500 bottles with a general tendency to increase.
5. Following a series of prizes granted to RESPONDENT’s Mata Weltin wines from earlier
vintages in the first months of 2021, by mid-September 2021 there had been a considerable
increase in pre-orders from Claimant’s customers. Consequently, on 4 November 2021,
Kaihari ordered from RESPONDENT the maximum amount of guaranteed bottles under the
contract. Furthermore, it made clear that in addition to those 10.000 bottles of diamond
Mata Weltin from the 2021 vintage it would be willing to buy more and expand the
co-operation with RESPONDENT further [Exhibit C 2].
6. On 1 December 2021, CLAIMANT received a letter from RESPONDENT stating that it would
only deliver 4.500 – 5.000 bottles of the ordered wine [Exhibit C 3]. The RESPONDENT
claimed that because of the 2021 harvest having yielded a much smaller than usual quantity
of diamond Mata Weltin wines, it was not able to fulfil the CLAIMANT’S entire order. Vino
Veritas stated that it had opted to fulfil its contractual obligation with its customers on a pro
rata basis in order to maintain business relationships with all of them.
7. The CLAIMANT, while not denying that the 2021 harvest had yielded less than the normal
quantity has, however, received information that the real reason for the RESPONDENT’s
breach of contract was not the shortfall in yield; information from industry sources suggests
that the real reason for not delivering the entire 10.000 bottles has been that the
RESPONDENT has contracted with SuperWines, thereby exceeding its available capacity.
The RESPONDENT, rather than honouring its long standing contract and business
relationship with CLAIMANT, tried to woo SuperWines, an international wine wholesaler
which has recently started to expand into the high end market by delivering the sought-
after quantity of its high end wine on demand without delay. However, not only did
RESPONDENT want to establish a new business relationship, RESPONDENT also used the
opportunity to make a larger profit. Reports published in industry journals around that time
suggest that SuperWines paid a premium for the wine [Exhibit C 4].
8. The RESPONDENT’s letter received on 1 December 2021 came as an unpleasant surprise to

CLAIMANT. In a meeting on 25 November 2021, Ms Buharit, Claimant’s development
manager, had made clear to Mr Weinbauer, Respondent’s CEO at the time, that CLAIMANT
needed as a minimum the full quantity of bottles ordered but preferably more [Exhibit C 5].
Mr Weinbauer had left no doubts that no quantity larger than the 10.000 bottles Claimant
had asked for could be delivered. However, he had created the impression that
RESPONDENT would honour its contractual delivery commitments, even if that meant
delivering fewer bottles to other customers. These other customers normally only place
their binding orders in December or January. Consequently, at the time of RESPONDENT’s
letter there were no existing contractual obligations to such customers, even if they were
long standing ones. CLAIMANT had pointed that out in its email of 2 December 2021 and
had demanded the delivery of 10.000 bottles of diamond Mata Weltin 2021. It had stated
clearly that it was not interested in any future compensation for the non-delivery of 5500
bottles but would instead insist on performance [Exhibit C 6].
9. Mr Weinbauer completely overreacted to this reasonable request for contractual

performance. He accused CLAIMANT of outrageous behaviour and purported to terminate
the contract, threatening that no delivery would be made at all [Exhibit C 7].
10. At that time CLAIMANT had already received a considerable number of orders for diamond
Mata Weltin 2021, some of which it had already accepted. Consequently, CLAIMANT had to
protect its interest and its business reputation. Thus, on 8 December 2021, CLAIMANT
sought an interim injunction in the High Court of Capital City, Mediterraneo, prohibiting
RESPONDENT from selling to other customers the 10.000 bottles of diamond Mata Weltin
2021 ordered by CLAIMANT. The interim injunction was granted on 12 December 2021
[Exhibit C 8] and RESPONDENT refrained from challenging the order.
11. Given Mr Weinbauer’s temper and the reduced quantity harvested it could not be
guaranteed that RESPONDENT would actually deliver the 10.000 bottles that it had been
injuncted to keep. Consequently, CLAIMANT in parallel immediately started to contact other
top vineyards and managed to make substitute arrangements for the 5.500 bottles
RESPONDENT had already refused to deliver in its first letter of 1 December 2021.
12. That CLAIMANT’s action was justified is evidenced by the fact that RESPONDENT, in breach
of the arbitration agreement, subsequently started court proceedings in the Courts of
Mediterraneo seeking a declaration of non-liability. The request was denied, primarily on
procedural grounds. CLAIMANT had invoked the arbitration agreement in the contract and
the court denied jurisdiction [Exhibit C 9]. In the oral hearing the judge made clear,
however, that he considered RESPONDENT to be in breach of its obligations under the
contract and would most likely have rejected the action on the merits as well.
13. In both proceedings, CLAIMANT incurred considerable costs. CLAIMANT is a medium sized
Equatorianan business that does not have sufficient liquid capital at its disposal to pay
Mediterranean legal fees which are - compared to the fees in Equatoriana - very high. In
addition the unfavourable exchange rate had exacerbated CLAIMANT’s problem. Also no
third party funding could be obtained. Therefore, CLAIMANT had engaged the local
Mediterranean law firm, LawFix, on a contingency fee basis [Exhibit C 10]. Even though
CLAIMANT was successful in the Mediterranean courts, under Mediterranean procedural
law each party has to bear its own costs.
14. As a result of the rejection of RESPONDENT’s application for a declaration of non-liability,

its new management finally offered to deliver up to 4.500 bottles, as “a sign of their goodwill
and to terminate all legal proceedings.” It was, however, not willing to reimburse
CLAIMANT for the costs and the damages incurred due to the unreasonable behaviour by
Mr Weinbauer.
15. That makes the initiation of arbitration proceedings necessary. In the light of the successful
business relationship in the past and an eventual future cooperation, CLAIMANT will limit
this action to claiming the legal fees it had incurred and the damages it had suffered
consequent on RESPONDENT’s breaches of the contract. Under the condition that there is a
firm commitment to deliver 4.500 bottles by 1 November 2022, CLAIMANT is willing to
refrain from enforcing its right to specific performance in regard to the remaining 5.500
bottles of diamond Mata Weltin 2021. Instead, it will merely ask for the damages it incurred
through the non-delivery. CLAIMANT is in the process of estimating those damages.
Nomination of Arbitrator
16. In accordance with the arbitration clause in the contract and Article 7 (5) of the Vienna
Rules we nominate Ms Maria Gomes, 14 Heurigen Lane, Oceanside, Equatoriana, for
confirmation by the Secretary General.
Legal Evaluation
Jurisdiction
17. The arbitral tribunal has jurisdiction over the RESPONDENT by virtue of the arbitration
agreement contained in Article 20 of the contract between CLAIMANT and RESPONDENT of
22 April 2016 [Exhibit C 1]. The clause provides as follows:
Art 20: Dispute Resolution/Applicable Law

All disputes shall be settled amicably and in good faith between the parties. If no
agreement can be reached the dispute shall be decided by arbitration in Vindobona by
the International Chamber of Commerce (VIAC) under its International Arbitration Rules
in accordance with international practice. The number of arbitrators shall be three to be
appointed in accordance with the Rules. The proceedings shall be conducted in a fast and
cost efficient way and the parties agree that no discovery shall be allowed. The award
shall be binding and each party shall comply with the award. This contract is governed
by the law of Danubia including the CISG.
18. We are aware that the Parties did not use the VIAC Model Arbitration Clause available at
https://www.viac.eu/en/arbitration/content/viac-rules-of-arbitration-and-mediation-
2021-arbitration-clause. Notwithstanding the lack of precision concerning the name of the
institution the acronym “VIAC” shows that the Parties clearly wanted to arbitrate under the
Vienna Rules and that the place of arbitration shall be Vindobona.
Merits
19. RESPONDENT through its refusal to deliver the 10.000 bottles in accordance with the
contract and by initiating court proceedings in Mediterraneo breached the Framework
Agreement of 22 April 2016 and the arbitration clause contained in it. These breaches
required CLAIMANT to seek interim relief in the state courts of Mediterraneo and led to
legal costs which CLAIMANT is entitled to recover as damages pursuant to Articles 45, 74
CISG.
20. Pursuant to Article 4 of the Framework Agreement of 22 April 2016 [Exhibit C 1] and
CLAIMANT’s order of 4 November 2021 [Exhibit C 2], RESPONDENT was contractually
obliged to deliver 10.000 bottles of diamond Mata Weltin 2021 to CLAIMANT.
21. In its letters of 1 and 4 December 2021, the RESPONDENT announced that it would not
comply with its contractual obligation, first only in relation to 5.500 bottles and then, after a
purported termination of the contract, in its entirety. CLAIMANT does not contest that the
2021 harvest of diamond Mata Weltin was of severely diminished quantity due to weather
conditions. However, CLAIMANT has good reason to believe that the real cause for the part
avoidance of the contract was not the diminished quantity of diamond Mata Weltin due to
the disastrous harvest but rather that RESPONDENT wanted to win over SuperWines as a
new customer [Exhibits C 4]. In light of wine industry practice not to enter into long term
commitments but to negotiate the quantities year by year, CLAIMANT has serious doubts as
to the existence of any firm commitments for delivery at the time of CLAIMANT’s order
which would have justified a pro rata allocation of the existing quantities. Therefore,
RESPONDENT cannot partly avoid the contract in accordance with Article 79 CISG but has
to perform it in accordance with Article 28 CISG.
22. To ensure delivery and to prevent RESPONDENT selling and delivering the existing lower
quantity of bottles to other customers, CLAIMANT had to seek interim relief in the courts of
Mediterraneo which was granted. The costs incurred in this action are direct damages
resulting from the RESPONDENT’s breach of contract. They were foreseeable as it was clear
that CLAIMANT had to protect its interest with its customers and could not afford the
ordinary rates of Mediterranean lawyers. Legal costs can be claimed pursuant to Article 74
CISG.
23. The same applies to the costs incurred in the successful defence against the action for a
declaration of non-liability brought by RESPONDENT in the courts of Mediterraneo. That
action constituted a clear breach of Article 20 of the Framework Agreement which covered
all matters in relation to the contract of 22 April 2016 and the order of 4 November 2021.
24. Under Article 74 CISG the CLAIMANT is entitled to the reimbursement of US$50.280,00 in
legal costs [Exhibit C 11].
25. In principle, CLAIMANT would also be entitled, pursuant to Article 28 CISG, to specific
performance for the full amount of the 10.000 bottles ordered. As indicated above
CLAIMANT wants a quick and amicable solution of the dispute. Therefore, CLAIMANT is, at
present, not enforcing its right to specific performance in relation to all bottles but is willing
to accept the offer made by RESPONDENT for the delivery of 4.500 bottles of diamond Mata
Weltin 2021 if delivered by 1 November 2022.
26. However, CLAIMANT will suffer lost profits in regard to the 5.500 bottles it will not be able
to sell and demands damages in accordance with Article 74 CISG. CLAIMANT contends that
the breach of contract by RESPONDENT was wilful and, thus, CLAIMANT would be entitled
to compensation for loss of profit and indirect damages. At this point in time, CLAIMANT
can do no more than estimate these damages at present which should not be below EUR
110.000.
27. To demonstrate that RESPONDENT knowingly and wilfully breached its obligations,
CLAIMANT submits the following
Procedural Request
To order RESPONDENT to provide to CLAIMANT all documents from the period of 1

January 2021 – 14 July 2022 pertaining to communications between RESPONDENT and
SuperWines in regard to the purchase of diamond Mata Weltin 2021 and any contractual
documents, including documents relating to the negotiation of the said contract between
SuperWines and the RESPONDENT in regard to the purchase of diamond Mata Weltin
2021. That includes in particular all documents relating to the number of bottles
purchased and the purchase price.
28. These documents are not in the possession of CLAIMANT and are relevant and material to
the outcome of the arbitration. Without these documents CLAIMANT will not be able to
demonstrate that RESPONDENT knowingly and wilfully breached its obligations vis-a-vis
CLAIMANT.
29. The exclusion of “discovery” in the arbitration clause was meant only to cover extensive
discovery proceedings which are practice in some jurisdictions such as the USA with wide
reaching requests for all types of documents, depositions and interrogatories. It was not
intended to exclude the standard type of document production requests as are common in
international arbitration and are in line with the IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence
[Exhibit C 12]. Furthermore, pursuant to Article 28 Vienna Rules, the Tribunal has to ensure
that the Parties’ right to be heard is not infringed which would be the case if no document
production were granted.
30. In addition to this procedural request, CLAIMANT makes the following two requests on the
merits, the first of which will be specified once the documents have been disclosed.
Statement of Relief sought:
1. A declaration that RESPONDENT knowingly and wilfully breached its obligations vis-a-vis
CLAIMANT.
2. Payment of damages to be determined.
3. Reimbursement of legal costs of US$ 50.280,00.
4. RESPONDENT shall bear the cost of this arbitral proceedings.
Horace Fasttrack
Enclosures: Exhibits C 1 – C 12
EXHIBIT C 1
FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
Art 1: Contracting Parties

Seller: Vino Veritas Ltd, 56 Merlot Rd, St Fundus Vuachoua, Mediterraneo
Buyer: Kaihari Waina Ltd, 12 Riesling Street, Oceanside, Equatoriana
Art 2: Obligations of the seller

The seller agrees to sell annually to the buyer up to 10.000 bottles of its wine of diamond quality
to the buyer at a price to be agreed between the parties in accordance with the following
provisions.
The seller agrees to support the buyer in its marketing activities wherever possible without
disruption to its ordinary course of business.
Art 3: Obligations of the buyer

The buyer agrees to buy a minimum of 7.500 bottles of wine of diamond quality from the seller
as a price to be agreed by the parties in accordance with the following provisions.
The buyer agrees to market and resell the wine as a premium product and to refrain from any
actions which may damage the reputation of the seller or its wine.
Art 4: Quantities and Price

The buyer will each year no later than 20 December place its orders for that year’s vintage. The
parties will then enter into negotiations to determine the price for the orders. If no price can be
agreed between the parties a reasonable market price will be determined by an expert
appointed by the Mediterranean Wine Association. The price fixed by the expert shall not be
more than 15% higher than the price for the previous year.
[...]
Art 19: Duration and termination

This contract shall run for a minimum period of 5 years.
Thereafter, unless either a party terminates the contract before 1 January of any year the
contract is prolonged automatically for one year.
Art 20: Dispute Resolution/Applicable Law

All disputes shall be settled amicably and in good faith between the parties. If no agreement can
be reached the dispute shall be decided by arbitration in Vindobona by the International
Chamber of Commerce (VIAC) under its International Arbitration Rules in accordance with
international practice. The number of arbitrators shall be three to be appointed in accordance
with those Rules. The proceedings shall be conducted in a fast and cost efficient way and the
parties agree that no discovery shall be allowed. The award shall be binding and each party shall
comply with the award. This contract is governed by the law of Danubia including the CISG.
Date: 22 April 2016

For the buyer: For the seller
Mr. Gustav Friedensreich Mr. Werner Weinbauer
Kaihari Waina Ltd EXHIBIT C 2
Oceanside, 4 November 2021
Werner Weinbauer
Vino Veritas Ltd
56 Merlot Rd
St Fundus
Vuachoua
Mediterraneo
Order: 10.000 bottles of Diamond Mata Weltin
Dear Mr Weinbauer,
First of all let me congratulate you on the various prizes your wines have won during
this year. They are well deserved and underline your status as the top vineyard in
Mediterraneo.
In line with our overall agreement we herewith order the maximum guaranteed number
of 10.000 bottles of diamond Mata Weltin 2021. In light of the number of pre-orders we
have already received, we would be more than happy to buy another 2.000 bottles, so
that the 10.000 bottles guaranteed under the contract is really the minimum we need.
Ms Buharit, our development manager, would like to visit you on 25 November to

discuss this order and our new marketing strategy which offers exiting opportunities for
you. Please let me know whether the date suits you and what time would be most
convenient.
Kind regards
Best wishes
Gustav Friedensreich
12 Riesling Street, Oceanside, Equatoriana, tel + 214 77 32 45 74, fax + 214 77 32 45 75

kaihari@host.eq
EXHIBIT C 3
St Fundus, 1 December 2021
Kaihari Waina Ltd

12 Riesling Street
Oceanside
Equatoriana
-by email-
Dear Mr Friedensreich,
As already discussed with Ms Buharit we will only be able to deliver 4.500 – 5.000
bottles of Mata Weltin 2021 at a price of EUR 41,50 per bottle to you. This year’s harvest
was made particularly difficult by the very wet second half of August which at the same
time was marked by high night temperatures. That combination led to a great deal of rot
in the grapes. Since the weather conditions did not improve during September the
harvest was one of the most difficult in recent memory. That resulted in one of the worst
harvests in the last ten years in relation to quantity, albeit one of the best quality ones.
We only will be able to bottle half of the usual quantity of diamond Mata Weltin.
Given our long lasting relationship with all our customers we have decided that it is in
the best interests of everyone that we distribute the available quantities pro rata and
deliver therefore only up to half of the ordered quantities to each of them. From the first
impression, we are confident that the quality of the 2021 vintage will compensate you
and your customers at least for some of the inconvenience caused by the bad harvest.
The proposal submitted by Ms Buharit looks in some parts very interesting but because
of our new strategy we will in the future, however, be unlikely to be able to guarantee
delivery of more than 8.000 bottles per year. We should discuss that during the price
negotiations agreed for next week.
We are looking forward to be able to present you a high quality elegant and nutty
diamond Mata Weltin in May 2022.
Kind regards
Werner Weinbauer
56 Merlot Rd, St Fundus, Vuachoua, Mediterraneo, tel + 587 4 587128, Fax + 587 4 587129, email
vinoveritas@vinoveritas.com
EXHIBIT C 4
SuperWines the New Kid on the Block

Jean Barolo, former manager of LiquorLoja which went into liquidation five years ago, is now
heading SuperWines. In an interview he talked about the mistakes that were made at
LiquorLoja and what he personally had learned from that experience. …
It is understood that SuperWines paid a premium to convince Vino Veritas to supply to
SuperWines.
SuperWines- A Force to be Reckon With

SuperWines is a new force in the alcohol retailing and one which has the
potential to shake up the wine industry in particular. Jean Barolo,
former manager of LiquorLoja, will bring considerable experience
especially to the wine side of the business. An acclaimed wine judge, he
will pay special attention to high end wines, probably from the region.
It will be interesting to see whether the strategy of paying a premium
for particular popular wines and spirits will pay off this time- it has
failed once before….
Wine News
For many, wine is everything but “just” another alcoholic beverage. For some, it is an
investment, however, for many, a glass of the most elegant and high quality wine at the end of a
long day is the epitome of sophistication. Jean Barolo’s aim is to let a wider community
participate in that sophistication. Barolo who is an acclaimed wine judge and has worked in the
wine industry for 30 years, has taken the helm of SuperWines. SuperWines, which has taken the
place of LiquorLoja as a major retailer of alcoholic beverages in Equatoriana, Danubia, and
Mediterraneo, has the distribution network to allow the distribution of high end wines at
reasonable prices. With a marketing machine behind it and Barolo’s expertise and standing
among the winegrowers, SuperWines will be very attractive to for all wineries that want to
expand their reach. Highly respected for its gold medal winning reds, Vinto Vineyard in Danubia
has already teamed up with SuperWines. Rumour has it that other high end vineyards will
follow suit……Rumour has it that SuperWines attractiveness for the producers also has
something to do with it paying premium prices…..
EXHIBIT C 5
Witness Statement Isme Buharit
My name is Isme Buharit. I was born on 21 July 1980 in Oceanside, Equatoriana. I am

currently residing at 23 Silvaner Rd, Oceanside, Equatoriana. I am the development
manager at Kaihari Waina Ltd, 12 Riesling Street, Oceanside, Equatoriana.
On 25 November 2021 I visited Vino Veritas to discuss Kaihari’s new marketing strategy
with Mr Weinbauer. This was a courtesy visit to cement the relationship Kaihari had
with Vino Veritas. Diamond Mata Weltin from Vino Veritas has been one of our most
popular high end wines. In addition, Vino Veritas is a popular tourist attraction being
located only 80km from Equatoriana’s capital Villanova and offering wine tastings in a
16th century monastery. We wanted to develop a partnership with Vino Veritas
combining our retail experience and our market presence with their product.
The meeting with Mr Weinbauer had been difficult. He had been very annoyed by our
order of 10.000 bottles, after he had apparently sent us a fax the day before telling us
that only a smaller amount could be delivered. Due to problem with our fax machine that
fax had not been properly printed out and never reached the relevant persons. Mr
Weinbauer is known in the industry to be personally very difficult and very impulsive. In
the past he has terminated relationships with several customers for personal
differences. Therefore, I was very alarmed when he told me that after the receipt of our
order he had originally been inclined to deliver no bottles to us and to immediately
terminate the contract with us. I had told him that we had never received the fax and
tried to explain to him why it was so crucial for us to receive the bottles ordered. At the
end of the discussion, I had the impression that we had managed to convince him to
deliver the quantities requested. He had promised to give our offer “a favourable
consideration”. I remember that wording very well as in my subsequent report to Mr
Friedensreich about the meeting we discussed whether that meant that we could even
get more than the 10.000 bottles guaranteed under the Framework Agreement.
After the meeting had finished I had another walk around the adjacent vineyard and the
cellar to test out a few ideas for photo shots. I left Vino Veritas therefore later than
anticipated. I was just about to get into my car when a Mercedes with SuperWines logos
on both doors pulled up beside me in the car park. I think I recognised Jean Barolo in the
driver seat. I have never met Jean Barolo personally, however, his photo often appears in
the relevant industry journals.
Isme Buharit
Oceanside, 8 July 2022
Kaihari Waina Ltd EXHIBIT C 6
Oceanside, 2 December 2021
Werner Weinbauer
Vino Veritas Ltd
56 Merlot Rd
St Fundus Vuachoua
Mediterraneo
Order: 10.000 bottles of Diamond Mata Weltin
Dear Mr Weinbauer,
We have been very surprised by your letter of yesterday and cannot accept the proposal
you made as to quantities. At the meeting on 25 November Ms Buharit made clear that
we needed all 10.000 bottles of wine. That amount is guaranteed to us under Article 2 of
the Framework Agreement and has already largely been promised to our customers.
We understand that there has been a drop in quantity this year. However, we doubt that
at present you already have binding orders which exceed the quantity harvested and
that would legally oblige you to deliver on a pro rata basis. Our relationship was
deliberately structured in a way that we would order before all other customers. That
allowed you to guarantee us delivery up to the maximum amount agreed and then to
negotiate with the other customers concerning the remaining quantity.
You will understand that we are in particular not willing to give up some of our bottles
for the delivery to our biggest competitor SuperWines. According to press releases they
are buying large quantities from you for the first time.
Since we know you to be a trustworthy business partner we are confident that you will
honour your contractual obligations to us and that this will not affect our long lasting
and mutually beneficial relationship. As Ms Buharit already told you we are willing to
cooperate even more closely with you and use your facilities more frequently for wine
events with our collectors creating additional opportunities for you.
The price of EUR 41,50 per bottle is accepted.
Best wishes
Gustav Friedensreich
12 Riesling Street, Oceanside, Equatoriana, tel + 214 77 32 45 74, fax + 214 77 32 45 75

kaihari@host.eq
EXHIBIT C 7
St Fundus, 4 December 2021
Kaihari Waina Ltd

12 Riesling Street
Oceanside
Equatoriana
-by email-
Hello Mr Friedensreich,
I find your behaviour extraordinary!!! Uncooperative and rude!!!
In all my years in the industry I have never experienced anything comparable. You are
the only customer I have ever had which is unwilling to cooperate in finding a mutually
acceptable solution to the problems created by the extremely low quantities of grapes
harvested this year. Instead, you accuse me of lying and misrepresenting the real
reasons for our request as well as the outcome of my conversation with Ms. Buharit.
You do not seem to understand the world of high end wine making. Our whole business
is based on mutual trust and long lasting relationships. Already your insistence on a
written framework contract and fixed quantities five years ago again was extremely
unusual. At the time, I ascribed that to your lack of experience in the field. Now I realize
that this is just your way of doing business. Since that is, however, not my way of doing
business, I consider our relationship terminated.
To avoid any doubts: there will be no delivery of any bottle of the 2021 harvest to you
even if we have to drink them ourselves which I doubt given the interest in our quality
product.
Goodbye
Werner Weinbauer
56 Merlot Rd, St Fundus, Vuachoua, Mediterraneo, tel + 587 4 587128, Fax + 587 4 587129, email
vinoveritas@vinoveritas.com
EXHIBIT C 8
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MEDITERRANEO

IN THE CAPITAL CITY JUDICIAL DIVISION
FILE NO: IJCV/K/111/2021
BETWEEN
KAIHARI WAINA LTD PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT
AND
VINO VERITAS LTD DEFENDANT
ORDER
UPON THIS MOTION dated 8th day of December 2021, coming before the Court and
praying as follows:
An Interim Injunction restraining the Defendant by itself, agents, or representatives from

selling or committing for sale any number of bottles of the Defendant’s diamond Mata Weltin
2021 that would prevent it from supplying a total of 10.000 bottles to the Plaintiff pending
the determination of the claim by a court or an arbitral tribunal.
[…..]
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 54 OF THE DECLARATORY JUDGMENT

ACT 2020 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
The Defendant by itself, agents, or representatives is hereby restrained from selling or

committing for sale any number of bottles of the Defendant’s diamond Mata Weltin 2021 that
would prevent it from supplying a total of 10.000 bottles to the Plaintiff pending the
determination of the claim by a court or an arbitral tribunal.
Each Party bears its own costs.
Dr Pablo Friulano
12 December 2021
EXHIBIT C 9
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MEDITERRANEO

IN THE CAPITAL CITY JUDICIAL DIVISION
FILE NO: DCCV/M/14/2022
BETWEEN
VINO VERITAS LTD PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT
AND
KAIHARI WAINA LTD DEFENDANT
DECLARATION
UPON THIS MOTION dated 30th day of January 2022, coming before the Court and praying
as follows:
1. A Declaration that the Plaintiff by itself, agents, or representatives is not liable for the
breach of the contract between the parties to this Declaration, namely the non-delivery
of 10.000 bottles of the Plaintiff’s diamond Mata Weltin 2021, due to an Act of God
and a rightful termination of the underlying contract.
2. As an auxiliary declaration that the Plaintiff is not compelled to specific performance
of 10.000 bottles of the Plaintiff’s diamond Mata Weltin 2021.
[…..]
UNDER SECTION 28 OF THE DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACT 2020 IT IS

HEREBY DECLARED AS FOLLOWS:
1. The action initiated by the Plaintiff is hereby dismissed since the court lacks
jurisdiction due to the existence of an arbitration clause.
2. Each Party bears its own costs.
Dr Leila Malbec
23 April 2022
LawFix
EXHIBIT C 10
CONTINGENT FEE AGREEMENT

Date 05/12/2021
The Client Kaihari Waina Ltd, represented by Gustav Friedensreich, 12 Riesling Street,
Oceanside, Equatoriana retains Amadir Xynisteri of LawFix, 64 Petit Verdoe, Capital
City, Mediterraneo to perform the legal servicesset out in paragraph (1) below. The
attorney agrees to perform them faithfully and with
due diligence.
(1) The claim, controversy, and other matters with reference to which the services
are tobe performed in the Courts of Mediterraneo are
the contract between Kaihari Waina Ltd, 12 Riesling Street, Oceanside,
Equatoriana and Vino Veritas Ltd, 56 Merlot Rd, St Fundus, Vuachoua,
Mediterraneo of 22 April 2016
(2) The contingency upon which compensation is to be paid as:

- Winning on procedural matters pertaining to the contract: US $15,000
- Winning on issues pertaining to the merits of the contract: US $30,000
(3) [……]
(4) The client is in any event to be liable to the attorney for an hourly rate of US $ 200 in
regard to any work undertaken in relation to the matter stated in (1) and for his/her
reasonable expenses and disbursements.
(5) [….]
This agreement and its performance are subject to Rule 3.05 of the Supreme Court of
Mediterraneo.
WE EACH HAVE READ THE ABOVE AGREEMENT BEFORE SIGNING IT.

CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT.
Witness to Signature
[signed] [signed]
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------
(to Client) (Client)
[signed] [signed]
-------------------------------- -----------------------------------
(to Attorney) (Attorney)
64 Petit Verdoe, Capital City, Mediterraneo, tel +587 673345, fax +587 673346, lawfix@xyz.com
LawFix
EXHIBIT C 11
INVOICE 1254 25.5.2022
Kaihari Waina Ltd Kaihari Waina Ltd v Vino Veritas Ltd

12 Riesling Street contractual dispute
Oceanside
Equatoriana
DATE DESCRIPTION PRICE RATE TOTAL

Consultation Kaihari v Vino
04.12.2021 2hrs@$ 150 $300
Veritas re strategy (phone)
Follow up meeting to discuss
05.12.2021 1hr @$150 $150
interim injunction (phone)
05.12- Research, drafting of interim
4hrs@$150 $600
08.12.2021 injunction
08.12.2021 Filing of interim injunction 1/2hr@$150 $75
08.12.2021 Court fees $2000 $2000
Consultation in regard to Vino

04.02.2022 Veritas’ declaration sought in 3hrs@$150 $450
High Court (phone)
08.02- Research, drafting of response,
5hrs@$150 $750
13.03.2022 consultation
13.03.2022 Filing of response 1/2hr@$150 $75
SUBTOTAL $4,400
SALES TAX 20% $880
CONTINGENCY $45,000
TOTAL DUE BY 1 JUNE 2022 $50.280,00
Thank you for your

instructions!
EXHIBIT C 12
Witness Statement Mrs. Kim Lee
I was born on 25 August 1990. I am presently the sole inhouse lawyer working for Kaihari Waina
Ltd, the Claimant.
I have been working for Kaihari Waina part time since my second year at law school. I remember
the negotiations leading to the contract with Vino Veritas very well because they were the first
negotiations in which I was involved. Furthermore, I had been told that the negotiations could be
difficult. Apparently contracts are normally concluded orally in the business and the top
vineyards do not want to commit themselves to binding delivery obligations, limiting their
freedom to allocate production the way they like. I had been told that Mr Weinbauer, the then
CEO of Respondent, was personally not easy. He had the reputation in the industry of being very
emotional, easy to annoy and there were rumors in trade circles that he allocated bottles very
much according to his liking of particular customers and that he had been willing to terminate
long standing contracts merely for personal differences with the relevant persons on the
customers’ side.
I received the draft contract from our then COO, Mr. Friedensreich, who was also a lawyer. I had
neither seen an arbitration clause nor an exclusion of discovery clause before, so I asked Mr
Friedensreich particularly about this specific clause. He said that it had been recommended to
him by his brother who is the head of dispute resolution in a multinational company.
The draft contract I received specified the ICC as the institution administering the arbitration. I
recommended to Mr. Friedensreich over the phone that he amend the contract to have the
arbitration administered by the VIAC.
The brother’s company had been involved in a multimillion court case with extensive pre-trial
discovery in the US courts. As a consequence they had inserted this arbitration clause into all
their contracts excluding discovery of documents. At the same time the company had
implemented a document retention policy reducing the number of documents produced and
ordering their systematic destruction after 5 years.
Since Mr. Friedensreich had been very vague about arbitration and discovery I looked up both
terms in Wikipedia to get a better understanding of the clause.
My understanding of the clause was that the parties submit any disputes to arbitration
administered by VIAC and that it was meant to exclude only very broad US-style discovery
including letter interrogatories and requests for broad groups of documents. It was, however,
not intended to restrict any party from asking for documents in line with the principleswhich
are common in arbitration as evidenced by the IBA Rules on Taking of Evidence in International
Arbitration. For me it was clear that we could not restrict the possible evidence in a way which
would affect a party’s right to be heard.
I doubt that Respondent had a very specific view on the clause. During the discussion of our
draft Respondent agreed to the arbitration clause saying that they were interested in arbitration
as a fast and informal dispute resolution process. For them it was important that there should be
no major costs involved in dispute resolution. They had apparently been involved recently in
litigation in which the other party wanted to see large quantities of documents.
Kim Lee
8 July 2022
Horace Fasttrack
Oceanside
Equatoriana
E-mail: fasttrack@host.eq
By e-mail in advance and by letter
Vienna, 15 July 2022

SCH-1975/VM
Re: Case no. SCH-1975 KAIHARI WAINA vs. VINO VERITAS
Dear Mr. Fasttrack,
This is to confirm receipt of your Statement of Claim dated 11 July 2022 on 14 July 2022
and of the registration fee of EUR 1,500 in the above mentioned case. Please be aware
that according to Article 10 para. 3 Vienna Rules the registration fee is non-refundable and
shall not be deducted from the paying party’s advance on costs.
The case is registered under the reference number SCH-1975. We kindly ask you to use this
reference number in your further correspondence and submissions.
We have forwarded the Statement of Claim to the Respondent and have invited the
Respondent to submit the Answer to the Statement of Claim within a period of 30 days
after receipt thereof.
Please note that the arbitration case is administered according to the Vienna Rules 2021
(in force as from 1 July 2021). Article 45 provides for an expedited procedure (fast-track
proceedings), if both parties agree thereto no later than the submission of the Answer to
the Statement of Claim. If you agree to this procedure, please inform us accordingly.
Please find attached a copy of the Rules of Arbitration (Vienna Rules 2021).
With kind regards,
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRAL CENTRE

OF THE AUSTRIAN FEDERAL ECONOMIC CHAMBER
Manfred Heider
Secretary General
Enclosure:
Vienna Rules 2021
© Association for the Organisation and Promotion of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot 21
Vino Veritas Ltd
56 Merlot Rd
St Fundus
Vuachoua
Mediterraneo
By DHL courier services
Vienna, 15 July 2022

SCH-1975/VM
Dear Sirs,
Please find enclosed a copy of the Statement of Claim which we received from Kaihari
Waina Ltd, 12 Riesling Street, Oceanside, Equatoriana, on 14 July 2022. The case is
registered under the reference number SCH-1975. We kindly ask you to use this reference
number in your further correspondence and submissions.
In accordance with Article 8 of the Vienna Rules, we invite you to submit 5 copies of your
Answer to the Statement of Claim within a period of thirty days after receipt of this letter.
The Parties have agreed that the case shall be decided by a Tribunal composed of three
arbitrators. The Claimant has nominated Ms Maria Gomes, 14 Heurigen Lane, Oceanside,
Equatoriana, as arbitrator.
We therefore ask the Respondent to nominate an arbitrator in the Answer to the

Statement of Claim and to state his/her contact details. In case of default, we will
proceed according to Article 17 para. 4 Vienna Rules and the Board of VIAC shall appoint
an arbitrator for the Respondent.
A non-binding List of Practitioners in International Arbitration can be downloaded from our

website: https://www.viac.eu/en/arbitration/list-of-practitioners .
The Claimant proposes in its Statement of Claim that VIAC should appoint the Chairman of
the Arbitral Tribunal directly, if Respondent is in agreement with such a facilitated
procedure. Please comment on this proposal in your Answer to the Statement of Claim
within the same time-limit.
Please note that the arbitration case is administered according to the Vienna Rules 2021
(enclosure). Article 45 provides for an expedited procedure (fast-track proceedings), if
both parties agree thereto no later than the submission of the Answer to the Statement of
Claim. If you agree to this procedure, please inform us accordingly.
Please find enclosed a copy of the Rules of Arbitration (Vienna Rules 2021).
Kind regards,

Manfred Heider
Secretary General
Enclosures:
Statement of Claim
Vienna Rules 2021.
Joseph Langweiler
75 Court Street
Capital City
Mediterraneo
Tel. (0) 146-9845 Telefax (0) 146-9850
Langweiler@lawyer.me
16. August 2022
By courier
1045 Vienna
Austria
Kaihari Waina v. Vino Veritas
Answer to Statement of Claim
Kaihari Waina Ltd.

12 Riesling Street
Oceanside
Equatoriana
- CLAIMANT–
Represented in this arbitration by Horace Fasttrack,
Vino Veritas Ltd.

56 Merlot Rd
St Fundus
Vuachoua
Mediterraneo
- RESPONDENT –
Represented in this arbitration by Joseph Langweiler
Introduction
1. In its Statement of Claim, CLAIMANT engaged in broad speculations and wild legal
reasoning in an effort to present Vino Veritas Ltd (“RESPONDENT”) in a bad light and to
justify untenable claims. From the beginning CLAIMANT was very uncooperative in trying
to solve the problems created by the extremely bad harvest in 2021 in accordance with the
wine industry practice and its obligation to settle disputes in an amicable way. Instead of
looking for a workable solution in regard to those problems. CLAIMANT tried to force
RESPONDENT to breach its contracts with other customers. In a clear violation of the duty
to solve upcoming problems in good faith CLAIMANT created unnecessary costs by, first,
immediately initiating court proceedings for interim relief, then, second, not cooperating in
finding a solution to the unclear arbitration clause so that RESPONDENT was forced to
commence court proceedings and, third, by not agreeing on expedited proceedings before a
sole arbitrator. Last but not least CLAIMANT is now trying to obtain business secrets from
RESPONDENT by it request for discovery of documents completely ignoring that the parties
explicitly excluded discovery in their arbitration agreement.
2. The first time CLAIMANT showed any willingness to cooperate was by purporting to accept
in its Statement of Claim the offer to deliver 4.500 bottles of Mata Weltin 2021 which
RESPONDENT made in May 2022. However, the offer was originally made in an effort to
deal with the entire dispute and was only open for acceptance for two weeks. Irrespective of
that and without recognizing any legal obligation to do so, and none exists, RESPONDENT
will deliver 4.500 bottles of Mata Weltin 2021 to CLAIMANT. That is intended to constitute
no more than a gesture of good will and should not be interpreted as recognition of any
legal duty of delivery under the parties’ agreement.
3. RESPONDENT hopes that in return CLAIMANT will reconsider its decision to reject our offer
to have the dispute resolved by a sole arbitrator in expedited proceedings pursuant to
Article 45 VIAC Rules.
Jurisdiction of Arbitral Tribunal
4. RESPONDENT does not recognize the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal.
5. The parties did not submit their disputes to an arbitration administered by an institution
with enought clarity. The clause mentions the International Chamber of Commerce and then
makes reference to VIAC. The arbitration clause is unclear and unworkable.
Nomination of Arbitrator and
6. Should CLAIMANT not indicate within the next week that it is willing to agree on fast-track
proceedings before a sole arbitrator, RESPONDENT nominates as its arbitrator in this case
Mr Oleg Graševina, Grapes Road 5, St Fundus, Vuachoua, Mediterraneo. For that case, we
also accept direct appointment of the Chairman of the Tribunal by VIAC.
Statement of Facts
7. RESPONDENT is a medium size high quality wine producer in Mediterraneo. It has an

annual production of around 100.000 bottles per year which it sells to a number of selected
customers including most of the leading restaurants in Mediterraneo. Some of them have
been buying our wines for 40 years and numerous personal friendships have developed.
Nearly all of them have maintained their relationship even during the times when the
reputation of the wine from Mediterraneo had been seriously affected by a scandal created
by some of the mass producers in other regions. Each of these restaurants only buys
between 200 and 500 bottles a year. Irrespective of these small quantities they are crucial
for the reputation of RESPONDENT’s wines and therefore for the price RESPONDENT can
obtain on the market.
8. The remaining 60 per cent of RESPONDENT’s wine production is sold to major foreign wine
merchants for high end wines which distribute the wines to customers all over the world.
Five years ago, RESPONDENT’s biggest customer was bought by a major conglomerate and
shortly thereafter went insolvent due to an exodus of its best people. Consequently,
RESPONDENT had to replace that customer at very short notice and selected CLAIMANT
who had already tried to get into business with RESPONDENT for several years.
9. CLAIMANT insisted on entering into a framework contract, deviating from the ordinary
industry practice. Due to the special situation at the time and believing that any problems
that might eventually arise would be resolved amicably RESPONDENT was willing to enter
into such a contract giving CLAIMANT the option to purchase up to around 10% of
RESPONDENT’s annual production [Exhibit R 1]. That made CLAIMANT the RESPONDENT’s
second biggest customer. The framework contract provided for a range within which
CLAIMANT could annually order bottles from the new vintage. Claimant originally wanted
the option to order a larger quantity but RESPONDENT resisted that request. It wanted to
ensure that even in bad years CLAIMANT’s demands could be met by the bottles
RESPONDENT normally reserved for itself without affecting the delivery to other customers
too much. Given the amicable relationship with all its customers and industry practice there
was, however, an expectation that in bad years, the parties would jointly find a solution
which allowed RESPONDENT to keep a certain minimum of bottles.
10. In recent years, CLAIMANT has ordered at the lower end of the agreed quantity range. 2020
for example it ordered only 8.000 bottles. At the beginning of 2021, however, several of
RESPONDENT’s products won prizes at major trade fairs. Furthermore, a leading wine critic
enthusiastically described RESPONDENT’s top wine Diamond-Gold Selection 2017 as “one
of the best white wines worldwide, with an enormous potential to age and probably one of
the best investments in wine presently available: 98 points.”
11. It seems that in light of that positive press CLAIMANT entered into several contracts with
leading restaurants in the summer of 2021. Until early August, it seemed that the 2021
vintage would be excellent. During the last two weeks of August and in September it rained
so much that nearly half of the grapes rotted on the vine. As a consequence, the amount of
grapes available to RESPONDENT for wine production dropped to an all-time low, leaving
only a production of about 65.000 bottles in 2021. Quality-wise the remaining grapes were
excellent and promised an absolutely extraordinary year.
12. On 3 November 2021, a few days after the vintage had been brought in, RESPONDENT
immediately informed its customers by fax about that extraordinary drop in quantity. It
announced that one would try to negotiate with the customers quantities available for each
of them within the next weeks.
13. All other customers showed understanding our difficult situation and entered into
negotiations resulting in reduced quantities all round. Only CLAIMANT proved completely
uncooperative. The day after the fax was sent notifying RESPONDENT’s customers of the
reduced quantity available CLAIMANT made, for the first time, an order at the top end of the
agreed range and ordered 10.000 bottles [Exhibit C 2].
14. At that time RESPONDENT was already considering terminating the contract because
CLAIMANT’s offensive behavior in ignoring the reduced harvest had led to a complete
destruction of trust, trust being one of the crucial elements in the high end wine trade. As a
consequence, RESPONDENT intensified its discussion with SuperWines which had already
been going on since the beginning of the year, when Mr Barolo had become CEO of
SuperWines. He is one of the most reputable wine critics and previously had regular
connections with RESPONDENT.
15. On 25 November 2021, CLAIMANT’s development manager, Ms Buharit, came to visit
RESPONDENT to discuss further business opportunities, including using RESPONDENT’s
facilities for major promotional events. She asserted that CLAIMANT had never received
RESPONDENT’s fax of 3 November 2021 which could have explained CLAIMANT’s behavior.
She informed Mr Weinbauer about the urgent need for 10.000 bottles but no firm
commitment to supply that quantity was ever given. Mr Weinbauer merely said that with
that explanation of CLAIMANT’s order of 4 November 2021 the immediate termination of
the contract was no longer an issue and that he would give CLAIMANT’s order “a favorable
consideration”. We cannot see how Ms Buharit could interpret that as a promise to deliver
the whole quantity ordered in 2021 which even exceeded the amounts delivered in
previous years when there was no problem with the harvest.
16. With its letter of 1 December 2021, RESPONDENT informed CLAIMANT that it was willing
to deliver 4.500 – 5000 bottles to CLAIMANT [Exhibit C 3]. That is more than 50% of the
bottles delivered in previous years and one of the best quotas RESPONDENT gave to its
existing larger customers.
17. SuperWines, which was a new customer, was only promised 30% of the 15.000 bottles they
wanted to order, even though they had from the beginning of the negotiations in early
summer 2021 been willing to pay a premium to become our biggest customer. Thus, instead
of making profits to the detriment of its existing customers, as alleged by CLAIMANT,
RESPONDENT was in fact willing to forego profits out of loyalty to its existing customers.
One always has to keep in mind that there was never any exclusivity agreement or any other
provision which could have prevented RESPONDENT from enlarging its potential customer
base. There had been reports about financial difficulties at the end of 2020 with
RESPONDENT’s then biggest customer, which made it commercially necessary for
RESPONDENT to develop a fall back plan should that customer become insolvent, as it
fortunately did not. That and the appointment of Mr Barolo as the CEO of SuperWines led to
the discussions with SuperWines in summer 2021.
18. CLAIMANT’s reaction to RESPONDENT’s generous offer was a slap in the face to Mr
Weinbauer. Instead of cooperating in resolving the difficulties created by the extremely low
harvest CLAIMANT not only insisted on full delivery of a number of bottles it never
previously ordered but also – at least implicitly – accused Mr Weinbauer of lying about the
real reasons for the reduction in delivery.
19. This personal attack in combination with CLAIMANT’s uncooperative behavior led Mr
Weinbauer to conclude that CLAIMANT would not be a suitable distributor for such high
end and unique products as RESPONDENT’s wines. Good personal relationships and trust
are part of the DNA of the trade in top class wines. Written contracts are rare and parties
hardly ever go to court or arbitration given their long time relationships. Top class wines
are not a product like any other but a personal statement. Consequently, false allegations
and uncooperative behavior violate fundamental principles of the business and entitle the
other side to terminate an existing contract.
20. Mr Weinbauer terminated the contract in his letter of 4 December 2021 [Exhibit C 7]. The
wording clearly evidenced how personally hurt and disappointed he was. His sarcastic
reaction may also have been influenced by the news he had received the day before that he
urgently needed heart surgery, which in turn resulted in him turning over the family run
business to his son in law on the 1 January 2022, two years before originally planned.
21. CLAIMANT, instead of trying to clarify misunderstandings or to seek a solution, as would
have been normal industry practice, turned around and immediately started court
proceedings to obtain an interim injunction against RESPONDENT. Due to Mr Weinbauer’s
the health problems and in order not to escalate the dispute any further RESPONDENT did
not participate in the proceedings for interim relief. In particular, it did not subsequently
challenge the injunction granted by the judge on the basis of the CLAIMANT’s distorted
description of the facts.
22. Instead, RESPONDENT’s new management approached CLAIMANT in the first week of
January 2022 as one of its first steps and tried to resolve the dispute. However, no
agreement was possible with CLAIMANT who unequivocally demanded the delivery of
10.000 bottles of diamond Mata Weltin 2021. RESPONDENT, however, needed certainty as
to the legal situation and as to the number of bottles available for the contracts with other
customers. Given CLAIMANT’s behavior the only option for Respondent to clarify the legal
situation was to start an action for a declaration of non-liability, i.e. that the contract had
been validly terminated or RESPONDENT would at least be excused from having to deliver
more than 4.500 bottles.
23. In its letter of 14 January 2022 [Exhibit R 2] RESPONDENT made another approach to
resolve the dispute or at least clarify the forum in which an action had to be brought, as the
arbitration clause – provided by CLAIMANT – was everything but clear. Again CLAIMANT
did not cooperate even though the clause itself explicitly states that disputes should be
resolved in good faith.
24. When RESPONDENT finally started the action in the state courts of Mediterraneo on
30 January 2022, CLAIMANT immediately invoked the arbitration clause which in its view
provided for VIAC arbitration. The Court rejected the action as inadmissible.
25. After that decision RESPONDENT made another effort to resolve the dispute and offered to
deliver to CLAIMANT 4.500 bottles, although in RESPONDENT’s view the contract had been
rightfully terminated by Mr Weinbauer.
26. Again CLAIMANT stayed silent concerning that offer but instead started this arbitration
where it finally came back to the offer which had long expired.
27. To show its commitment to amicable dispute resolution RESPONDENT is still willing to
deliver 4.500 bottles of Mata Weltin 2021 and will deliver them at market price to
CLAIMANT before 1 December 2023.
28. All other claims by CLAIMANT are, however, devoid of any legal substance and contrary to
the express contractual stipulations between the parties. In particular the procedural
motion is primarily intended to obtain confidential business information from
RESPONDENT and to create sufficient nuisance for my client so that it agrees to pay the
damages created solely by CLAIMANT’s uncooperative behavior.
Legal Evaluation
Lack of jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal
29. The arbitration clause in question purports to submit disputes to arbitration administered
by the "International Court of Arbitration", but then confusingly makes reference to "VIAC"
(Vienna International Arbitration Centre). These are two distinct arbitration institutions
with separate rules, administrative procedures, and logistical considerations. Such a
conflicting reference within the clause creates a pathological situation where it is unclear
which institution the parties intended to govern the arbitration process. As a result, the
clause is not only unclear but renders the intended dispute resolution mechanism
unworkable.
30. Given this ambiguity, it is challenging, if not impossible, to determine the true intent of the
parties when they included the clause in the agreement.
31. In light of the aforementioned contradictions, the clause lacks the clarity necessary to oust
the jurisdiction of national courts. A foundational principle of arbitration is the mutual
agreement of parties to a clear and enforceable mechanism for resolving disputes. Without
such clarity and the mutual intent, it would be inappropriate to enforce the clause and
deprive the parties of their right to seek redress before a competent national court.
Request for Document Production
32. The Tribunal has no power to grant CLAIMANT’s request for document production.
Pursuant to Article 28 Vienna Rules, the Tribunal has to “conduct the arbitration in
accordance with the Vienna Rules and the agreement of the Parties”. Not only do the Vienna
Rules not mention document production but, to the contrary, in their arbitration agreement
the Parties explicitly excluded any type of discovery, which is merely another word for
document production.
33. The fact that Claimant now contends that it only wanted to exclude broad discovery in the
American style is merely a defensive lie or at best a purposeful reading of the clause in an
effort to support the unsupportable. In an international arbitration with no connection to
the USA the American rules on discovery would anyway not be applicable, so that there was
no need to exclude them or any other discovery rules of a comparable reach. The parties
were intending to exclude the type of document production one often finds in practice
under the IBA Rules, which have anyhow not been selected in this arbitration.
34. CLAIMANT can also not rely on an alleged violation of the right to be heard. The type of
document production requested by CLAIMANT is by no means a necessary requirement for
the right to be heard. The law of Mediterraneo, for example, in its procedural code does not
provide for any document disclosure beyond the possibility to request the production of
one or several sufficiently specified documents. A request to produce classes of documents
is not foreseen.
35. To the contrary, the granting of CLAIMANT’s request would unduly favor CLAIMANT and
thereby violate RESPONDENT’s right to equal treatment. CLAIMANT seems to have
implemented a certain policy to prevent it being obliged to disclose certain documents.
Furthermore, CLAIMANT comes from a jurisdiction which has, in its Code of Procedure, a
provision dealing with the disclosure of documents containing identical wording to Article 3
IBA Rules upon which CLAIMANT relies. Consequently, the local law has developed a
number of exceptions and privileges which free CLAIMANT from any obligation to present
documents which could be relevant in this arbitration. In particular, the exception for
documents involving business secrets has been interpreted so broadly that CLAIMANT
would not be obliged to disclose the RESPONDENT contracts and pre-contractual
communications with its final customers. By contrast, the law in Mediterraneo has not
developed such a sophisticated scheme of privileges and exception, since its Code of
Procedure only allows for disclosure requests directed to one or several particular
documents.
36. Last but not least, document production is not necessary. The CISG contains an elaborate set
of rules on the burden of proof allocating it according to the availability of proof. The
balance developed in these rules would be disturbed if a party could additionally request
the other party to produce documents.
Request for damages: Cost for interim relief
37. CLAIMANT has no claim for damages for either the legal costs it incurred or the costs for its
application for interim relief. In general, procedural costs are not recoverable as damages
under the CISG. The recoverability of legal fees is regulated in the procedural laws. The
drafters of the CISG and the States signing the CISG did not want to undo the local rules on
the recovery of costs in legal proceedings through the CISG. The decision of the High Court
of Capital City is a final and binding decision as to the costs recoverable for that action. The
decision of the legislature as to which costs are recoverable in civil proceedings is a matter
of procedural law. It should not be circumvented by reliance on claims for damages
allegedly foreseen under substantive laws.
38. Even if legal costs were in principle recoverable as damages under the CISG, which they are
not, CLAIMANT is not entitled to reimbursement for the amount claimed. Neither were the
damages foreseeable nor were the fees reasonable.
39. There was no need for CLAIMANT to have asked for interim relief. The wine had not yet
been bottled and, contrary to the decision of the Court, there was no imminent threat that
the wine would be distributed to any other customer within the next six months.
Consequently, neither RESPONDENT nor any other reasonable third party could foresee
that CLAIMANT would immediately start proceedings for interim relief once RESPONDENT
had terminated the contract.
40. Furthermore, it was neither foreseeable nor reasonable that CLAIMANT would enter into
the type of contingency fee agreement it did. To allow the reimbursement of such
contingency fees would amount to endorsing the contract to the detriment of third parties.
CLAIMANT promised its lawyers a higher fee than normal and now wants to be paid by
RESPONDENT.
41. The costs incurred in defending the action in the state courts are entirely due to
CLAIMANT’s behavior. CLAIMANT had an obligation to clarify the uncertainty created by
the pathological arbitration clause contained in the contract. It clearly breached that
obligation and at least violated its obligation to mitigate damages under the CISG.
Furthermore, damages are not available as a remedy for the breach of an arbitration
agreement.
Request for damages: Cost for declaratory relief
42. The costs allegedly incurred by CLAIMANT in defending RESPONDENT’s application in the
High Court of Capital City, Mediterraneo, for declaratory relief are not recoverable either for
the same reasons. They even apply here a fortiori as the claims concern an alleged breach of
the arbitration agreement. The arbitration agreement is a separate agreement to which t the
CISG does not apply but instead the UNCITRAL Model Law does. The Model Law does not
contain any provision providing for damages for breach of an arbitration agreement.
43. Even if the CISG or the substantive law of any of Danubia, Equatoriana or Mediterraneo (in
relation to damages all three jurisdictions having adopted the relevant UNIDROIT-
Principles on International Commercial Contracts) were applicable, CLAIMANT would have
been primarily responsible for the cost incurred. Following CLAIMANT’s request for interim
relief, RESPONDENT informed CLAIMANT by letter of 14 January 2022 [Exhibit R 2] that it
intended to initiate proceedings for a declaration of non-liability. At the same time,
RESPONDENT told CLAIMANT that it considered the arbitration clause to be unclear and
unworkable. RESPONDENT offered to rectify the unclear clause and warned that CLAIMANT
that would otherwise start court proceedings. CLAIMANT did not react to this request. Had
it reacted, as would have been required by the clause and good faith, RESPONDENT would
not have initiated the court proceedings.
Request for damages: 5.500 bottles
44. CLAIMANT has not proven any damages it incurred due to the non-delivery of the 5.500
bottles.
Statement of Relief Sought
In light of this RESPONDENT requests the Arbitral Tribunal
1. to dismiss the case due to the Arbitral Tribunal lack of jurisdiction.
In eventu:
2. to reject CLAIMANT’s request for document production;
3. to reject all claims raised by CLAIMANT;
4. to order CLAIMANT to pay RESPONDENT’s costs incurred in this arbitration.
Joseph Langweiler
Annexes
Exhibit R 1: Witness Statement of Mr Weinbauer
Exhibit R 2: Letter of 14 January 2022 by Mr Langweiler
EXHIBIT R 1
Witness Statement
Mr. Werner Weinbauer
I was born on 1. December 1946. Until 31 December 2021 I was the Managing Director and
main shareholder of Vino Veritas Ltd., one of the leading quality wine producers in
Mediterraneo.
I had negotiated the Framework Agreement for Respondent’s side. Normally, we conclude all
our contracts orally and personal relationships play an important role for us. Claimant,
however, insisted on a written contract guaranteeing it a steady supply. In return, Claimant
was willing to commit to a minimum purchase and pay in the first year for a certain number
of the bottles upfront.
At the time, we had been short of cash due to other investments we had made the year before.
Furthermore, we had just lost one of our major customers due to its insolvency and the
insolvency administrator even started litigation against us since we stopped the delivery of
bottles which had not been paid for. The need to improve cash flow and to allocate the bottles
at short notice led us to agree to a written contract. It is customary practice in the wine
industry that seller freely determines every year the number of bottles it can allocate to a
particular buyer. Consequently, buyers are normally interested in a good relationship with the
wineries which made the minimum delivery obligation in our view acceptable. In light of the
termination right we were convinced that Claimant would also sit down with us and find an
acceptable solution for problems created by low quantities.
We had received a draft of the contract from Mr Friedensreich the week before and had gone
through the draft with our local lawyer. Since we are not a major company and had had a
recent bad experience with the insolvency administrator of our former customer it was crucial
for us to keep the costs of any dispute resolution low.
In that law suit which the insolvency administrator of our former customer had started before
the courts in Mediterraneo, she had asked to see all our correspondence with the producer of
the wine capsules we had used for the last six years. In that case the request had finally been
defeated as the law of Mediterraneo in principle requires each party to prove its case with the
evidence it has available. Only in very limited circumstances can a party ask a court to order
the other party to produce a specific document.
Our lawyer told us, however, that in other jurisdictions, in particular those from the common
law world, such requests are common and are often granted. Any such request would be
seriously disruptive to our business and could require us to disclose business secrets to the
market. Consequently, we wanted to avoid having to face such requests again.
In light of that, I was very happy when I saw the clause excluding such request in the draft
contract received from Mr Friedensreich. I even explicitly mentioned that during the meeting
in which the contract was finalized.
I understood the clause to exclude all types of requests for documents which go beyond
requests for particular documents in very specific circumstances. Given that the law of
Mediterraneo allows only requests for particular documents I had no doubts that such a
provision would also be possible.
Our lawyer had no other concerns about the draft version of the arbitration clause.
At the end of 2021, I had to step down as the managing director of Vino Veritas due to
health problems. The position has then been taken over by my son in law. He has
studied law but hasnever practiced as a lawyer.
St Fundus, 2.8.2022
Werner Weinbauer
EXHIBIT R 2
Joseph Langweiler
75 Court Street Capital City
Mediterraneo
Tel. (0) 146-9845 Telefax (0) 146-9850,
Langweiler@lawyer.me
Horace Fasttrack
Oceanside
Equatoriana
14 January 2022
Re: Kaihari Waina v Vino Veritas
Dear Mr. Fasttrack,
As already expressed at our last meeting my client has been very disappointed by the behaviour
of Kaihari Waina and its application for interim relief to the High Court of Capital City. As you
know Mr Weinbauer had to undergo open heart surgery the day after the application had been
filed so that Vino Veritas did not pay much attention to the action. Otherwise the injunction
would probably not have been granted as it lacks any justification. There is no imminent danger
of disposal of the wine (diamond Mata Weltins 2021) to other customers as the wine will only be
bottled in May or June.
Nevertheless, the new management of Vino Veritas has decided that it will, at present, refrain
from challenging the decision to avoid further unnecessary costs.
We are still interested in an amicable solution. As we and our other customers need certainty in
the matter the window for negotiations is fairly short. If no settlement can be reached within the
next two weeks, we will initiate proceedings applying for a declaration of non-liability. You will
find the draft application attached.
In our view the arbitration clause is void for uncertainty as the clause mentions two
institutions, in a clear contradiction.
We would be willing to agree on the VIAC standard clause, with one arbitrator and
expedited proceedings with the addition that document disclosure is excluded. Otherwise
we will start court proceedings before the High Court in Capital City, which has already been
selected by you for your application for interimrelief for the lifting of which we will also
apply.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience but not later than 28 January
2022.
Yours sincerely
Joseph Langweiler
To:
Mr. Horace Fasttrack
Oceanside
Equatoriana
Mr. Joseph Langweiler

75 Court Street
Capital City
Mediterraneo
E-mail: Langweiler@lawyer.me
By e-mail in advance and by DHL courier services
Vienna, 19 August 2022

SCH-1975/VM
Dear Sirs,
We confirm receipt of the Answer to the Statement of Claim dated 16 August 2022 on
18 August 2022 (copy enclosed for the Claimant) in which the Respondent proposes to
have the proceedings conducted as fast-track proceedings according to Article 45 Vienna
Rules with a sole arbitrator.
We kindly request Claimant to comment on this proposal until 26 August 2022 and
advise whether an agreement on fast-track proceedings and a sole arbitrator was
already reached between the parties. Thereafter, we will calculate the advance on costs.
Kind regards,

Alice Fremuth-Wolf
Deputy-Secretary General
Enclosure for the Claimant: Answer to the Statement of Claim
Horace Fasttrack
Oceanside
Equatoriana
Tel. (0) 214 77 32 Telefax (0) 214 77 33
fasttrack@host.eq
21 August 2022
By courier
1045 Vienna
Austria
Dear Ms Fremuth-Wolf,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Respondent’s “proposal” for fast-track
proceedings before a Sole Arbitrator.
We had already explained in our telephone conversation of 1 August 2022 with Mr Langweiler
that CLAIMANT would in principle be willing to agree on fast-track proceedings before a sole
arbitrator pursuant to Article 45 Vienna Rules. Its only condition was that this should not affect
CLAIMANT’s right to properly present its case. We made clear that this would either require that
RESPONDENT delivered the documents requested by CLAIMANT voluntarily or agreed on a sole
arbitrator who is familiar with the handling of document production requests, i.e. probably
someone from Equatoriana.
During the call of 1 August 2022 Mr Langweiler clearly stated that neither of the two options is
acceptable to RESPONDENT and we abandoned the idea. Consequently, I can only characterize
Respondent’s renewed reference in its Statement of Defense to the possibility of fast-track
proceedings before a sole arbitrator as just another unsuccessful effort to present CLAIMANT in
an unfavorable light as a litigious and uncooperative party.
The offer to hold this arbitration as fast-track proceedings before a sole arbitrator is nothing but
another attempt to try to deprive CLAIMANT of the opportunity to get access to documents
which are crucial for its case.
Therefore, VIAC is kindly requested to continue with the confirmation of the arbitrators
nominated by the Parties and to appoint the Chairman.
Sincerely yours,
Horace Fasttrack
Based on the problem of the Twenty Third Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
To:

Oceanside
Equatoriana

75 Court Street
Capital City
Mediterraneo

SCH-1975/VM
Dear Sirs,
We confirm receipt of Claimant’s letter dated 21 August 2022 and take note of the
parties’ lack of agreement upon conducting the proceedings as fast-track proceedings.
We refer to Respondent’s Answer to the Statement of Claim in which the Respondent

nominated Mr. Oleg Graševina, Grapes Road 5, St Fundus, Vuachoua, Mediterraneo as
co-arbitrator should an agreement on fast-track proceedings not be reached.
Respondent has in its Answer agreed with Claimant’s proposal that VIAC should appoint
the Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal directly. Therefore, the Board of VIAC will appoint
the Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal.
For the time being, the amount in dispute is fixed with EUR 154,788.90 and the advance
on costs has been calculated on that basis for a panel of three arbitrators (Article 42
para. 1 Vienna Rules). Should the damage claim be extended in the course of the arbitral
proceedings, the Secretary General will alter the amount in dispute and determine an
additional advance on costs (Article 42 para 5 and Art 44 para. 3 Vienna Rules).
2
The advance on costs amounts to EUR 40,000.00 that is EUR 20,000.00 for each party. It
has been calculated for a panel of three arbitrators.
We therefore ask
a) the Claimant to pay the amount of EUR 20,000.00 and

b) the Respondent to pay the amount of EUR 20,000.00
into our bank account free of charge within thirty days after service of this request.
Our bank information is as follows:

Account no. 123456789 of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
(“Wirtschaftskammer Österreich”), at Bank XYZ AG, Vienna, bank identification
no. 77777, IBAN-Code AT12 3456 7890 0000, BIC-Code VWXXYYZZ. Please quote
"Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC)" and the above reference number SCH-
1975 under the heading “purpose of payment”. As bank transfers are sometimes slow,
we kindly ask you to send us a copy of your payment order by fax or e-mail.
Kind regards,

Alice Fremuth-Wolf
Deputy Secretary General
To:

Oceanside
Equatoriana

75 Court Street
Capital City
Mediterraneo

SCH-1975/VM
Dear Sirs,
Enclosed please find a copy of the completed co-arbitrator’s declaration of acceptance of

Ms. Maria Gomes, 14 Heurigen Lane, Oceanside, Equatoriana, who was nominated by the
Claimant, and of Mr. Oleg Graševina, Grapes Road 5, St Fundus, Vuachoua, Mediterraneo,
who was nominated by the Respondent. You have the possibility to comment on these
statements within a period of 15 days.
The Secretary General will then decide on the confirmation of the nominated arbitrators
(Article 19 Vienna Rules) and inform you upon the appointment of the chairman by the
Board.
You will be notified in a separate letter of the actual commencement of the proceedings.
Kind regards,

Manfred Heider
Secretary General
Enclosures:
Co-arbitrator’s declarations of acceptance of Ms. Gomes and Mr. Graševina
ARBITRATOR’S DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE
Name: Ms. Maria Gomes Case No: SCH-1975
Claimant: Kaihari Waina Ltd, Oceanside, Equatoriana
Respondent: Vino Veritas Ltd, Vuachoua, Mediterraneo
1. ACCEPTANCE / REJECTION
x I accept the appointment to act as arbitrator in these proceedings pursuant to the Rules of
Arbitration of the International Arbitral Centre of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in
Vienna dated 1 July 2021 (the "Vienna Rules") and I submit to the provisions of the Vienna
Rules, in particular the schedule of fees (Annex 3). I take note of the “Guidelines for
Arbitrators” dated September 2022.
I decline to act as arbitrator in these proceedings.

(If ticked here please just date and sign the form without considering P.2.-5.).
2. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
x I am impartial and independent and will remain impartial and independent for the duration
of the proceedings. There are no circumstances known to me which would justify a
challenge to my arbitrator’s mandate in these proceedings pursuant to Article 16 para. 4
and Article 20 of the Vienna Rules.
However, I disclose the following circumstances, which, from the perspective of the parties,
could possibly call my independence into question (add an additional sheet if necessary):
3. TRANSMISSION OF SUBMISSIONS TO THE VIAC

I undertake to submit a complete set of all written submissions and decisions to the
Secretariat of the VIAC.
4. DECLARATION OF AVAILABILITY
Based on current information, I confirm that I will have the necessary time to administer the
case and act as an arbitrator in a way that is diligent, efficient and in compliance with the
deadlines in the Vienna Rules, which can be extended by the Secretary General or the
Board.
For information of the VIAC and the parties my current job related duties are as follows:
Full-time occupation (i.e. Lawyer, Arbitrator, Scholar)

arbitrator
5. UNDERTAKING TO OBSERVE RULES ON COSTS
I acknowledge that determinations as to cost advances, arbitrators’ fees and administrative

costs in these proceedings shall be made exclusively by the Secretary General of the Vienna
International Arbitral Centre of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber pursuant to Articles
42 and 44 Vienna Rules and I recognize that such determinations shall be binding.
I acknowledge that as arbitrator in these proceedings, I may not take any action entailing
costs, such as the appointment of experts or court reporters, before I make arrangements to
cover the expected costs (Article 43 Vienna Rules).
Oceanside 1 August 2022

Place and Date Signature
Name: Mr. Oleg Graševina Case No: SCH-1975


Board.

Lawyer

Vuachoua, 24 August 2022

To:

Oceanside
Equatoriana

75 Court Street
Capital City
Mediterraneo
Vienna, 15 September 2022

SCH-1975/VM
Dear Sirs,
This is to confirm receipt of the advance on costs paid by the parties in equal shares.
The Secretary General of the VIAC has confirmed the nomination of the co-arbitrators
Ms. Gomes and Mr. Graševina for the case SCH-1975 (Article 19 para. 3 Vienna Rules).
The Board of VIAC has appointed Mr. Falco Amadeus, 40 Klimmt Road, Vindobona, Danubia,
as Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal for the above mentioned case. Please find enclosed a
copy of the completed arbitrator’s declaration of acceptance of Mr. Amadeus (Article 19
Vienna Rules).
The file has been transmitted to the arbitral tribunal and the chairman was requested to
commence the proceedings.
We kindly ask you to correspond exclusively with the chairman and to send copies of all
your submissions to the arbitrators, the opposing party and the Secretariat of the VIAC.
Kind regards,
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRAL CENTRE OF THE

AUSTRIAN FEDERAL ECONOMIC CHAMBER
Manfred Heider
Secretary General
Enclosures:
Chairman’s declaration of acceptance
Copy to the arbitral tribunal.
Name: Mr. Falco Amadeus Case No: SCH-1975


Board.

University Professor

Vindobona, 27 August 2022

To:
Ms. Maria Gomes

14 Heurigen Lane
Oceanside
Equatoriana
Mr. Oleg Graševina

Grapes Road 5, St Fundus
Vuachoua
Mediterraneo
Mr. Falco Amadeus

40 Klimmt Road
Vindobona
Danubia
By DHL courier services
Vienna, 15 September 2022

SCH-1975/VM
Dear Madam and Sirs,
The Secretary General of the VIAC hereby confirms the nomination of the co-arbitrators
Ms. Gomes and Mr. Graševina in the case SCH-1975 (Article 19 para. 3 Vienna Rules).
The Board of VIAC has appointed Mr. Falco Amadeus, 40 Klimmt Road, Vindobona, Danubia,
as Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal for the above mentioned case.
Since the Statement of Claim fulfils all criteria set forth by Article 7 Vienna Rules, the
advance on costs has been paid in full, and all members of the arbitral tribunal have been
appointed, we transmit the file with all enclosures to the arbitral tribunal (Article 11
Vienna Rules). We kindly ask the chairman to commence the proceedings and to send
copies of all procedural orders to the Secretariat of the VIAC.
We have informed the parties of the commencement of the proceedings by today's date
and have asked them to subsequently correspond exclusively with the chairman and to
send copies of all their submissions to the opposing party, the arbitrators, and the
Secretariat of the VIAC (Article 12 para. 5 Vienna Rules).
Kind regards,
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRAL CENTRE OF THE

AUSTRIAN FEDERAL ECONOMIC CHAMBER
Manfred Heider
Secretary General
Enclosures:
Statement of Claim.
Answer to the Request for Arbitration.
From Mr. Falco Amadeus
Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal
In the case VIAC (SCH-1975)
40 Klimmt Road, Vindobona, Danubia
To: Horace Fasttrack

Oceanside, Equatoriana
Joseph Langweiler
75 Court Street
Capital City, Mediterraneo
Vindobona, 2 October 2022
VIAC SCH-1975
Kaihari Waina . /. Vino Veritas
Dear Colleagues,
Please find enclosed Procedural Order No 1 in the above referenced arbitration proceedings.
Both Parties are requested to comply with the orders made and the Arbitral Tribunal reserves
the right to draw negative inferences from any non-compliance with Procedural Order No 1.
Yours sincerely,
Falco Amadeus
Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal
Encl.: Procedural Order No 1
VIAC Arbitration
Procedural Order No 1
2 October 2022
1. After its constitution and receipt of the file from the VIAC the Arbitral Tribunal invited the
Parties to participate in a telephone conference on 1 October 2022. At that meeting the
Arbitral Tribunal and the Parties discussed the various options in structuring the arbitral
proceedings in a cost and time-efficient manner, taking into account the undertaking by
RESPONDENT’s new management to deliver 4.500 bottles of Mata Weltin 2021 by 1
November 2022. The Arbitral Tribunal wants to thank both parties for their very
cooperative approach and their willingness to resort to unusual undertakings to potentially
reduce costs.
2. The Parties agreed to bifurcate the proceedings and leave all discussion relating to the
termination of the contract, liability and damages for a second stage of the arbitration
proceedings (as the case may be).
3. The Arbitral Tribunal takes note of the facts that RESPONDENT

• challenges the jurisdiction of this Arbitral Tribunal but that RESPONDENT
explicitly consented at the Telephone Conference that this Arbitral Tribunal
established on the basis of the VIAC Rules has jurisdiction to hear the dispute under
the VIAC-Rules in line with the other provisions of the arbitration agreement
limited to CLAIMANT’s claim for the litigation costs of US$ 50.280.
• will deliver 4.500 bottles of Mata Weltin 2021 without prejudice and without
admitting or recognizing any legal obligation under the contract to do so.
4. Both parties are reminded that the above undertakings were given by RESPONDENT’s new
management solely as an effort to facilitate the proceedings and to allow for cost efficient
dispute resolution. They may merely be used to prove such a commitment of RESPONDENT
to efficient dispute resolution. In no way should they be understood as the admitting of a
particular view or understanding at the time the contract was entered into.
(1) In the light of these undertakings, the particularities of the case, the Parties’ discussions
and in agreement with the Parties the Arbitral Tribunal has decided to address only the
following issues:
a. Does the tribunal hold jurisdiction on this case?
b. Does the tribunal have the power and, if so, should it order RESPONDENT to
produce the documents requested by CLAIMANT?
c. Is CLAIMANT entitled to the damages claimed for the litigation costs of US$
50.280 incurred partly
i. in its application for interim relief?
ii. in its successful defence against the proceedings in the High Court of
Capital City
The Parties are free to decide in which order they address the various issues. No
further questions going to the merits of the claims should be addressed.
(2)Danubia has adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration
with the 2006-amendments.
(3)It is undisputed between the Parties that Equatoriana, Mediterraneo and Danubia are
Contracting States of the CISG. The general contract law of all three states is a verbatim
adoption of the UNIDROIT Principles on International Commercial Contracts.
6. Both Parties are invited to attend the Oral Hearing scheduled for 15/16 November 2023.
The details concerning the timing and the venue will be provided in due course.
For the Arbitral Tribunal
Falco Amadeus
Chairman of the Tribunal
SCH-1975/VM
Procedural Order No 2
October 2022
1. Following its Procedural Order No 1, the Arbitral Tribunal received numerous requests
for clarifications.
2. Allegations of facts made by the Parties in their submissions can be considered to be

correct and precise unless the opposite is proven by the documents submitted as
exhibits. The information contained in these contemporaneous documents prevails in
case of divergence, unless corrected by this order. Speculations as to the motivation for a
certain behavior of the other party should be treated as speculations though the
underlying facts can be assumed to be true.
3. All documents in the file shall be considered to have the necessary signature of a person
which was authorized to act and comply with the applicable form requirements.
How many bottles of Mata Weltin of diamond quality did RESPONDENT produce in
2020 and what was the price charged per bottle to CLAIMANT?
4. RESPONDENT produced 101.500 bottles. CLAIMANT paid EUR 35,40 per bottle but the
vintage 2020 is considered to be one of the weaker ones.
What is the purpose of the pre-orders CLAIMANT had received from its customers?
5. The main purpose of the pre-orders is to allow CLAIMANT to better calculate the needs
of its customers before entering into negotiations with its suppliers. Customers, who are
member of CLAIMANT’s “Collectors Club”, can indicate in their pre-orders how many
bottles of a particular wine they are willing to buy if the price is not 5% higher than in
the previous year. According to the conditions applicable to these pre-orders, a customer
is required to take at least 70% of these bottles if they are offered for the price indicated.
If the wine is offered at a higher price, the customer is free to cancel its pre-orders. In
return, CLAIMANT guarantees delivery of at least 70% of the bottles pre-ordered, subject
only to force majeure conditions, and the requirement that the pre-order is not higher
than the order of the previous year. Alternatively, customers may also indicate that they
are willing to pre-order for a price which is up to 50% higher than the price of last year.
In these cases, CLAIMANT guarantees delivery of 90% of the pre-ordered amount, again
subject to force majeure and with an upper limit of the orders of last year. The customer
is obliged to finally buy at least 80% of the numbers pre-ordered.
How many pre-orders did CLAIMANT have on 8 December 2021 when it filed for
interim relief and how many of them had it accepted?
6. On 8 December 2021, CLAIMANT had pre-orders for 6.500 bottles of RESPONDENT’s
Mata Weltin vintage 2021. Out of those it had already accepted those orders for 800
bottles, where the customer had indicated that they would take the bottles even if the
price would be up to 50% higher than in the previous year.
7. From the end of August onwards, the number of pre-orders had been nearly 20% higher
than in 2020. In CLAIMANT’s view the reason for that was that RESPONDENT’s wines
had won several awards at the beginning of 2021 and that CLAIMANT’s customers were
afraid that due to the bad weather the demand for the 2021 vintage might be much
higher than the number of bottles available.
Did the pre-orders and the contracts concluded refer specifically to Mata Weltin from
RESPONDENT or any brand of Mata Weltin wine of diamond quality?
8. All pre-orders referred to the diamond Mata Weltin of RESPONDENT. At the time it was
the only top quality Mata Weltin which RESPONDENT did offer.
How did CLAIMANT’s customers react when it became clear that not all orders could
be fulfilled with Mata Weltin from RESPONDENT?
9. CLAIMANT informed its customers in December 2021 that it had obtained an interim
injunction against RESPONDENT to ensure delivery of a sufficient number of bottles
from RESPONDENT’s Mata Weltin 2021, diamond quality. CLAIMANT enquired at the
same time whether they would be willing to accept Mata Weltin from any of the other
top producers should RESPONDENT refuse delivery despite the injunction. A
considerable number of CLAIMANT’s customers were willing to do so and in the end
accepted a mixture of Mata Weltin from RESPONDENT and from the other top vineyard
where CLAIMANT had bought 5.500 bottles from.
Where did CLAIMANT get the 5.500 bottles of wine from which RESPONDENT did not
deliver?
10. Due to extraordinary circumstances CLAIMANT had been able to purchase 5.500 bottles
from Vignobilia Ltd., another high end producer of wine from the region. CLAIMANT had
long been trying to get into contact with the three other top end wine producers from
Mediterraneo to enlarge its supplier base and reduce its dependence on RESPONDENT
who had been the only supplier of top quality Malta Weltin from Mediterraneo until
2021. CLAIMANT was afraid that despite the court’s order RESPONDENT would not
deliver the quantities promised and had consequently intensified its efforts to
established a business relationship with the other producers. During CLAIMANT’s visit
to Vignobilia Ltd. on 2 February 2022, one of the latter’s customers called in and
announced that it would file for insolvency the next day. CLAIMANT immediately offered
to take the 5.500 bottles allocated to that customer to ensure that it could deliver at least
some wine from Mediterraneo, should RESPONDENT actually sell the wine without
permission. CLAIMANT paid EUR 42,20 per bottle.
What is the main reason why CLAIMANT is demanding the payment of damages
instead of asking for performance of the 5.500 bottles?
11. There are several reasons leading to CLAIMANT’s decision. First, CLAIMANT’s customers
had been willing to accept in this amount 5.500 bottles from Vignobilia Ltd. Second, in
light of the success with its own customers CLAIMANT did not want to destroy the
relationship with RESPONDENT beyond repair by insisting on delivery of amounts which
could create problems for RESPONDENT.
How much will CLAIMANT profit from the substitute arrangements that it made for
the 5.500 bottles? How much will the contract-cover differential be?
12. There is no data available presently. It would be extremely difficult – though not
impossible – to calculate the actual loss/profit made by CLAIMANT by not having
received the 5.500 bottles of RESPONDENT’s Mata Weltin 2021 but instead having
supplied its customers with the Mata Weltin from Vignobilia. The latter received
resounding reviews in early February 2022. Consequently, it cannot be stated with any
certainty whether some of CLAIMANT’s customers which had made no pre-orders would
have bought the same amount they finally bought if a mixture of both wines had been
available.
How much did CLAIMANT pay for the 4.500 bottles of diamond Mata Weltin 2021 wine
delivered by RESPONDENT in November?
13. The price per bottle was EUR 41,50 which is the price originally offered in the email of 1
December 2021. In the meantime, due to the confirmed extraordinary quality of the
2021 vintage the bottles have been sold by the few specialized retailers to individual
customers at prices between EUR 90–100, but there are very few bottles available on the
market.
Did CLAIMANT and RESPONDENT have an established practice between them that
CLAIMANT would always order first, before negotiations with any other customers
start?
14. Yes. CLAIMANT would make its orders in late November/early December and the
contract would normally be concluded before Christmas. Negotiations with other
customers would normally only start in January. So far that has never created any
problems since RESPONDENT had been able to accommodate the wishes of all
customers in a way that was at least acceptable to everyone.
Does the framework agreement or existing practice between the Parties indicate the
time period until which RESPONDENT was obliged to deliver properly ordered bottles
of its wine?
15. The framework agreement is silent on the issue. The Parties usually agreed upon the
delivery shortly before the wine was bottled. Normally a first installment was delivered
before the end of July, while the remainder was delivered in October or November as
RESPONDENT had much better storage facilities than CLAIMANT.
Would CLAIMANT’s profits from sales to its customers most likely have been higher
than the premium paid by SuperWines as a trader to RESPONDENT?
16. That is very likely. However, in light of SuperWine’s strategic decision to become within
a very short time the main supplier of high end wines from Mediterraneo it cannot be
excluded that they paid a very high premium to immediately get some of the customers
of other companies which in the time of bad harvest had been unable to get the wines
from their traditional sources.
Did CLAIMANT get RESPONDENT’s Fax of 3rd November 2021?

17. Yes, it was received but due to the problem described by Ms Buharit in her witness
statement only reached her after her visit to RESPONDENT.
What percentage of a harvest does RESPONDENT normally keep for itself?

18. Depending on the year RESPONDENT kept between 400–2000 bottles for itself for later
sales or special occasions.
When did negotiations with Mr Barolo and SuperWines begin?

19. Mr Barolo became CEO of SuperWines in January 2021. On 30 January 2021, he met Mr
Weinreich with whom he had been a friend since his time at LiquorLoja at the awards
banquet following the Mediterraneo Wine Day. They talked about Mr Barolo’s plan to use
the market force of SuperWines and its distribution network to make top class wines
from Mediterraneo more popular in emerging markets. At the time Mr Barolo indicated
that he would naturally approach Mr Weinreich once his new strategy had been
approved internally. Given the rumors concerning the financial health of RESPONDENT’s
major customer Vinexzell Mr Weinreich was very pleased about this news and promised
to be open to discussions.
20. In May 2021 after the approval had been obtained Mr Barolo approached Mr Weinreich
and started more specific discussions which lasted during the months of June and July. In
August 2021 it became clear that Vinexzell had overcome its financial problems.
Consequently, SuperWines could not merely take over the 13.000 bottles which had
been delivered to Vinexzell in previous years. Instead, any delivery to SuperWines
required the reduction of the amount available to other customers. In early August the
chances were still fairly good that the harvest in 2021 would be exceptional both in
quantity and quality.
When did Mr Barolo submit his offer and when was it accepted?
21. Mr Barolo submitted his offer to buy 15.000 bottles on the meeting with Mr Weinbauer
on 25 November 2021. He received the notice that 4.500 bottles would be available to
SuperWines at the price discussed at the meeting on 1 December 2021. Mr Barolo
immediately called Mr Weinreich on 2 December 2021 and accepted the offer for the
4.500 bottles, expressing his willingness to buy any other quantity which may become
available later for the same price.
When did RESPONDENT sign the contract with SuperWines? Or had such a contract
been conducted orally by the parties?
22. There was no contract signed by both parties. RESPONDENT and SuperWines had,
however, exchanged several emails summarizing meetings and setting out details of the
parties’ cooperation. Furthermore, RESPONDENT had created several internal
memoranda and minutes discussing the cooperation with SuperWines.
How many bottles were sold to SuperWines and at what price?

23. RESPONDENT finally sold 5.500 bottles to SuperWines though originally in November
2021 only 4.500 bottles were promised firmly. Subsequently, another 1.000 bottles were
sold to SuperWines. The actual price paid is not known to anyone but the two parties.
From statements made by Mr Barolo at different occasions is has become clear that
SuperWines considered the bad harvest in Mediterraneo to be an excellent opportunity
to establish itself in the market of high end wines as a serious player which is able to
deliver quantities despite a bad harvest. In an interview in May 2022 Mr Barolo stated
that SuperWines paid to RESPONDENT for the “5.500 bottles of the 2021 vintage a
market entry fee” for being “accepted as a new customer and for a promise to receive the
same amount of bottles in the next two years”. While the exact price was kept
confidential, there were – unconfirmed – rumors in the industry that SuperWines paid a
premium of EUR 15-20 per bottle.
Was there a confidentiality agreement between RESPONDENT and SuperWines?

24. There was no express or formal confidentiality agreement. Both Parties assumed,
however, that the other side would not disclose details of their contract.
Was RESPONDENT aware that SuperWines was CLAIMANT’s biggest competitor in the
wine business?
25. Yes. During the discussions with Mr Barolo he stated that one of the new fields
SuperWines wanted to get into was the collectors market with a business model close to
that of CLAIMANT’s Collectors Club.
Would RESPONDENT still have been able to deliver the same quantity of wine to
SuperWines had it fulfilled CLAIMANT's order for 10.000 bottles?
26. In principle, yes. That would have required, however, to either deliver no or a very low
percentage of bottles to other longstanding customers with whom on 1 December 2021
no binding contracts had yet been concluded. Equally, taking into account the contracts
subsequently concluded with the longstanding customers RESPONDENT would have
been able to allocate 10.000 bottles to CLAIMANT in June 2022, had it not concluded the
contract with SuperWines
In CLAIMANT’s Exhibit 3, RESPONDENT mentions a new strategy that will keep it from
guaranteeing more than 8.000 bottles per year. Is this strategy related to SuperWines?
27. Yes. SuperWines has a distribution network in some of the emerging market where
RESPONDENT’s wines had so far not been sold. To use that network Mr Weinbauer
planned to accept SuperWines as a new customer and to deliver up to 15.000 bottles per
year to SuperWines. That naturally required to reduce the amount of bottles available to
existing customers.
Did RESPONDENT have firm orders from other customers, including SuperWines, on 3
November 2021 when RESPONDENT notified its customers of the decrease in quantity
of Mata Weltin 2021 due to bad harvest?
28. No. There had been first contacts but as was normal practice the first firm contracts with
the other customers were concluded in early January. The only exception was
SuperWines as it was a new customer.
How did RESPONDENT calculate the number of bottles it would distribute on a pro-
rata basis?
29. In its “pro-rata” allocation of bottles RESPONDENT started from the purchases in 2020
and then offered between 40–60% of the bottles to each customer, depending on the
orders made in 2021 and on its own rating of the customer.
Is the way RESPONDENT handled this bad harvest consistent with wine industry
practice?
30. Most producers would adopt a comparable approach. RESPONDENT informed its
customers in early November via fax about the bad harvest shortly after the grapes had
been selected and when the first reliable statements about quantity and quality of the
vintage could be made. Equally, a pro-rata allocation of bottles available is prevailing in
the industry. The factors relevant for the pro-rata allocation and the weight given to each
factor vary, however, from producer to producer.
What was the worst harvest of RESPONDENT in the previous 10 years, in relation to
the amount of produced wine bottles, incurred from bad weather? How did
RESPONDENT allocate the bottles then?
31. The vintage 2014 was previously the worst harvest resulting in a production of 82.546
bottles. They were allocated at the time largely on a pro-rata basis as in 2021.
How are disputes in the wine industry typically resolved?

32. In high end wine production most disputes are settled amicably. On the one hand, the
distributors are dependent on the good will of the producers to receive a certain
quantity of bottles. On the other hand, the distribution network of the top distributors
plays an important role for getting the wine to the “right” people to build up the wine’s
reputation. Where no settlement can be reached arbitration is the preferred method.
For how long was LiquorLoja RESPONDENT’s biggest costumer?

33. It has been the biggest customer for 6 years before it was taken over by a bigger
company. At the time it bought between 10.000 and 12.000 bottles per year. After the
departure of Mr Barolo and other leading figures in the company following the
acquisition LiquorLoja went insolvent within a year.
Was there a guaranteed quota for RESPONDENT's largest customer as well?
34. No. CLAIMANT was the only customer with a certain kind of guaranteed minimum
number of bottles. That is due to the fact that the majority of CLAIMANT’s sales go to the
collectors market where reliability of supply is crucial. Thus, CLAIMANT was the only
customer which insisted on a written contract with a guaranteed minimum of supply.
Is RESPONDENT a publicly traded company and are its accounts publicly available?
35. No. It is a family business and all shareholders are members of the family.
Does Mr Weinbauer have any legal expertise or was his son in law involved in
handling the relationship with CLAIMANT?
36. Mr Weinbauer is a wine-maker without any legal training but has been running
RESPONDENT for the last 15 years. His son-in-law, Mr Jack Cautio, joined the company in
2018 and was originally supposed to take over the business upon Mr Weinbauer’s
planned retirement on 31.12.2023. Until he actually retired due to his heart condition at
the end of December 2021, Mr Weinbauer took all decisions concerning the relationship
to CLAIMANT without consultation with Mr Cautio.
What are CLAIMANT’s annual revenues and profits?

37. CLAIMANT has revenues of around EUR 40 million per annum with a profit of EUR 1.2
million. When the dispute arose CLAIMANT was in the early stages of acquiring a small
printing house specialized in printing etiquettes for wine and wine related literature for
EUR 12 million. That investment would have bound all of CLAIMANT liquid financial
resources.
How much is the hourly fee for LawFix and the hourly fee on average in Mediterraneo
if there is no contingency fee? Is the contingency fee agreed with LawFix reasonable?
38. The ordinary hourly rate of LawFix for a partner is USD 450 while the starting rate for a
first year associate is USD 150. LawFix is one of the top firms in Mediterraneo. The
average for a partner hour in other firms in Mediterraneo is USD 350. The two other
firms that CLAIMANT had contacted and which charge the average rate were not willing
to work on a contingency fee basis or to agree to the type of remuneration agreed with
LawFix. As representation by a local lawyer is mandatory in Mediterraneo CLAIMANT
then retained LawFix. The contingency fee is reasonable in ordinary circumstances,
though in the present case less time than anticipated was spent on the case as
RESPONDENT did not challenge the ex parte interim injunction and the High Court
immediately denied jurisdiction once the arbitration agreement was invoked without
any pleading on the merits being necessary.
What is the law in Equatoriana, Mediterraneo and Danubia regarding contingent and
conditional fee agreements?
39. Danubia and Mediterraneo allow conditional and contingency fee arrangements, while
Equatoriana prohibits such agreements. In Mediterraneo lawyers normally bill by the
hour and contingency fees are fairly common. There is even a case where a party which
behaved fraudulently was ordered to reimburse the contingency part of the fee agreed
by the other party with its lawyer.
Was the invoice of LawFix paid by Claimant and was it correct, i.e were taxes and
contingency fees correctly calculated which means that USD 30,000 were requested
for the interim injunction and a USD 15,000 fee for the decision relating to the lack of
jurisdiction of the court?
40. Yes, the invoice was paid and was correct. It includes all litigation costs incurred by
CLAIMANT.
Was RESPONDENT familiar with contingent fee arrangements?
41. RESPONDENT is familiar with these types of fee arrangements. In the proceedings
brought by the insolvency administrator of LiquorLoja, RESPONDENT unsuccessfully
tried to agree upon a contingency fee. It subsequently used its local lawyer which
charged USD 300 per hour.
Is the allocation of costs in litigation in Mediterraneo made ex officio by the courts, or

upon the request of the parties?
42. Allocation of costs is done upon request by the parties. The same applies to Danubia and
Equatoriana. There, however, unlike in Mediterraneo, costs are normally allocated on the
basis of the outcome of the case, i.e. that “costs follow the event”.
Did CLAIMANT ask for costs in the two actions in the Mediterranean High Court?
43. Yes. In both cases no order for costs were granted. According to the relevant rules in the
Mediterranean Code of Procedure each party bears its own costs unless the action is
frivolous or has been brought in bad faith. No such allegation had been made in the court
proceedings by either party.
When does RESPONDENT usually bottle the wines for sale?

44. RESPONDENT normally bottles its wines for delivery in late April till May of the
following year depending on the vintage. For around 95% of the quantity finally bottled
the contracts are, however, already concluded before the actual bottling, mainly in the
time between January and March.
Why did CLAIMANT seek interim relief in High Court of Capital City in Mediterraneo
and did not request the arbitral tribunal (VIAC) to grant the interim measures in the
first place?
45. CLAIMANT considered interim relief by the courts in the home state of RESPONDENT to
be more effective, in particular as no tribunal had yet been appointed.
When CLAIMANT applied for interim relief did it know that the wine would not be
bottled until May or June?
46. CLAIMANT knew from previous years that the wine would be bottled in late spring,
without being aware of exact dates. CLAIMANT was, however, concerned that
RESPONDENT would enter into contracts with its other customers not taking into
account the 10.000 bottles CLAIMANT considered itself to be entitled to under the
contract.
How did the High Court of Mediterraneo in Capital City justify the granted interim
injunction of 12 December 2021?
47. CLAIMANT had justified its application by the fact that RESPONDENT by terminating the
contract and refusing to deliver the 10.000 bottles ordered had breached the contract
and was presently negotiating contracts with those bottles with other customers.
CLAIMANT was afraid that such other customers would then enforce their contractual
claims against RESPONDENT with the result that CLAIMANT would in the end not
receive the 10.000 bottles ordered. The argument had been taken up by the judge in its
decision. It is in line with the minority view under Mediterranean law. According to the
majority view, the existing risk would not have met the threshold for granting interim
relief as the actual delivery of the bottles preventing fulfilment of the contract with
CLAIMANT was not imminent.
Did RESPONDENT violate the interim injunction by selling any further bottles even
though it only had 10.000 or less left?
48. Mr Weinbauer’s son-in-law, Mr Jack Cautio, had originally preserved 10.000 bottles to be
able to fulfill the interim injunction, though his father-in-law had suggested disregarding
the order. When Mr Cautio heard that CLAIMANT had bought 5.500 bottles from
Vignobilia, he entered into further contracts for the same amount. When the arbitration
proceedings were started, 60.600 bottles of the overall 65.497 bottles of the 2021
vintage had been sold and in part also been delivered to other customers. The remainder
had been kept by RESPONDENT and was used to fulfill its offer to deliver 4.500 bottles to
CLAIMANT.
Does the Framework Agreement and any contract concluded under it cover the 2021
vintage to be delivered in 2022? And what did Mr Weinbauer intend to do with its
“termination”?
49. It can be assumed for the present stage of the arbitration that RESPONDENT was obliged
to sell bottles from the 2021 vintage to CLAIMANT. Mr Weinbauer wanted to avoid that
obligation by its termination.
In previous dealings, has there been an instance where RESPONDENT has provided
less than the amount requested by CLAIMANT but over the minimum amount?
50. No.
Was it usual for CLAIMANT to propose and/or conclude any framework agreements
with its suppliers in the high end wine market?
51. Yes. That has to do with CLAIMANT’s extraordinary business model which is very much
focused on the market for collectors. Some are interested in having a certain amount of
bottles from every vintage of a particular high end producer. Consequently, CLAIMANT
wants to ensure that it gets a minimum of bottles from every year and guarantees to the
members of its collectors club that they will receive at least a minimum amount of
bottles, subject to force majeure. CLAIMANT explained its business model to
RESPONDENT to make clear why CLAIMANT insisted on having the framework
agreement guaranteeing a minimum delivery every year.
Who drafted Article 20 of the contract? Was the wording of this clause negotiated
between the parties?
52. There had been no discussions between Parties, apart from the comments mentioned by
Mr Weinbauer. Both Parties have no experience with arbitration and were not aware of
the IBA-Rules or their content at the time of drafting. Both only had a general perception
that arbitration wouldbe an efficient and less formal mode of dispute resolution.
Did any of the Parties ever contest the validity of the arbitration clause before
RESPONDENT’s letter of 14 January 2022?
53. No.
Are there any other arbitral institutions seated in Vindobona?

54. There are four smaller domestic arbitral institutions. VIAC is, however, the only
international institution which operates in Vindobona.
What is the position of Danubian courts, if any, on awarding damages for the breach of
an arbitration agreement?
55. There is no case law yet. The discussion in the arbitration literature follows the
international discussion.
Why did CLAIMANT not respond to RESPONDENT’s letter of 14 January 2022?
56. At the time CLAIMANT was very busy negotiating with other suppliers and with is
customers to find solutions for the situation created by the bad harvest and
RESPONDENT’s threat to cease delivery. When the letter arrived CLAIMANT was not yet
sure how to position itself to the request and decided to do nothing in order not to forgo
any options. It intended to obtain legal advice on that issue but later simply forgot it.
When the action had been started, the lawyers advised CLAIMANT to avoid the publicity
associated with court proceedings and to insist upon arbitration to make use of the
greater flexibility in relation to document production.
Is the arbitration law of Equatoriana and Mediterraneo based on the Model-Law and
are both states Contracting States to the New York Convention?
57. The arbitration law in both countries is a verbatim adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law
with the 2006-amendments. Both countries as well as Danubia are Contracting States of
the New York Convention.
What are the relevant laws on document production in court proceedings in Danubia
and Equatoriana?
58. In both countries, the Code of Procedure contains provisions which are in relation to
their content – and with the necessary adaptations also in their wording – nearly
identical to Articles 3, 9 of the IBA Rules on Taking Evidence in International Arbitration.
In Equatoriana, these rules entered into force in 2017 replacing rules which allowed for
a much broader right to ask for document production under which broad categories of
documents could be requested, provided they could contain information relevant for the
case.
Is there a duty according to Equatorianian national law to preserve business

documents for a certain time and if so, has CLAIMANT respected that requirement?
59. Under Equatorianian law, business documents have to be preserved for 5 years and
CLAIMANT complies with that requirement. After 5 years documents are automatically
destroyed as part of CLAIMANT’s document retention policy. Furthermore, CLAIMANT’s
employees are requested to produce as little documents as possible, in particular, not to
minute any meeting but to report outcomes orally to others which should be aware of a
meeting’s content.
What business secrets are typical to the wine retail industry which discovery could
threaten to unveil?
60. RESPONDENT is known to engage in an individual pricing for each customer. The prices
offered are not exclusively driven by economic considerations. Instead, factors such as
personal loyalty or long term strategies for positioning on a new market also play an
important role which makes RESPONDENT’s pricing policy very nontransparent. Over
the years, the prices have increased considerably. Given RESPONDENT’s strong
reputation there is normally no reduction granted for higher quantities, as RESPONDENT
has no problems in selling the number of bottles produced.
Upon which version of the UNIDROIT Principles is the national contract law based?
61. The 2017 version.
Have the parties agreed in their telephone conference of 1 October 2022 that in
relation to the arbitration agreement all questions not regulated in the Danubian
Arbitration Law are governed by the CISG?
62. Yes.
What was the substance of the meeting between Mr. Langweiler and Mr. Fasttrack,
referenced in RESPONDENT’s letter of 14 January?
63. On behalf of RESPONDENT Mr. Langweiler had offered to withdraw the
termination/avoidance declared by Mr Weinbauer on 4 December 2021 and to deliver
the 4.500 bottles as originally offered at a reduced price of EUR 41.00 per bottle. Mr
Fasttrack considered the offer to be not sufficient and insisted on delivery of 10.000
bottles.
In dealing with the cost incurred by defending the action for declaratory relief
initiated by RESPONDENT can it be assumed that the arbitration agreement – despite
its defects - is valid so that the discussion can be limited to the questions of whether
RESPONDENT breached the arbitration agreement and whether CLAIMANT can
recover the costs incurred in these proceedings as damages for the breach of the
arbitration agreement?
64. Yes
Do the issues of formation of contract, specific performance or Art 79 (1) CISG have to
be argued at this stage of the proceedings?
65. No.
What are the parties’ legal backgrounds?

66. Equatoriana is a common law jurisdiction, while Mediterraneo and Danubia are civil law
jurisdictions.
Falco Amadeus
President of the Tribunal

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Based on the problem of the Twenty Third Annual Willem C.

Vis International Commercial ArbitrationMoot

Kaihari Waina Ltd (Claimant)

Vino Veritas (Respondent

The CLAIMANT requests the payment of damages for a breach of contract.

The required documents are attached.

Kaihari Waina v. Vino Veritas

Kaihari Waina Ltd

Vino Veritas Ltd

8. The RESPONDENT’s letter received on 1 December 2021 came as an unpleasant surprise to

9. Mr Weinbauer completely overreacted to this reasonable request for contractual

14. As a result of the rejection of RESPONDENT’s application for a declaration of non-liability,

Art 20: Dispute Resolution/Applicable Law

To order RESPONDENT to provide to CLAIMANT all documents from the period of 1

Statement of Relief sought:

Art 1: Contracting Parties

Buyer: Kaihari Waina Ltd, 12 Riesling Street, Oceanside, Equatoriana

Art 2: Obligations of the seller

Art 3: Obligations of the buyer

Art 4: Quantities and Price

Art 19: Duration and termination

Art 20: Dispute Resolution/Applicable Law

Date: 22 April 2016

Mr. Gustav Friedensreich Mr. Werner Weinbauer

Oceanside, 4 November 2021

Order: 10.000 bottles of Diamond Mata Weltin

Ms Buharit, our development manager, would like to visit you on 25 November to

12 Riesling Street, Oceanside, Equatoriana, tel + 214 77 32 45 74, fax + 214 77 32 45 75

St Fundus, 1 December 2021

Kaihari Waina Ltd

SuperWines the New Kid on the Block

SuperWines- A Force to be Reckon With

Witness Statement Isme Buharit

My name is Isme Buharit. I was born on 21 July 1980 in Oceanside, Equatoriana. I am

Oceanside, 2 December 2021

Order: 10.000 bottles of Diamond Mata Weltin

The price of EUR 41,50 per bottle is accepted.

12 Riesling Street, Oceanside, Equatoriana, tel + 214 77 32 45 74, fax + 214 77 32 45 75

St Fundus, 4 December 2021

Kaihari Waina Ltd

I find your behaviour extraordinary!!! Uncooperative and rude!!!

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MEDITERRANEO

FILE NO: IJCV/K/111/2021

KAIHARI WAINA LTD PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT

VINO VERITAS LTD DEFENDANT

An Interim Injunction restraining the Defendant by itself, agents, or representatives from

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 54 OF THE DECLARATORY JUDGMENT

The Defendant by itself, agents, or representatives is hereby restrained from selling or

Each Party bears its own costs.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MEDITERRANEO

FILE NO: DCCV/M/14/2022

VINO VERITAS LTD PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT

KAIHARI WAINA LTD DEFENDANT

UNDER SECTION 28 OF THE DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACT 2020 IT IS

CONTINGENT FEE AGREEMENT

(2) The contingency upon which compensation is to be paid as:

WE EACH HAVE READ THE ABOVE AGREEMENT BEFORE SIGNING IT.

INVOICE 1254 25.5.2022

Kaihari Waina Ltd Kaihari Waina Ltd v Vino Veritas Ltd

DATE DESCRIPTION PRICE RATE TOTAL

Consultation in regard to Vino

Thank you for your