Apr 2012

UCL Advances to Telders International Moot Competition Final for Third Consecutive Year

On 28 April, the UCL Telders moot team advanced to the final of the Telders International Law Moot Competition for the third consecutive year at the International Court of Justice in the Hague. Competing as the Respondent, the team pleaded in the fictional Case Concerning North Manconia (Republic of North Manconia v United States of Merseystan) before Judges Christopher Greenwood (UK), Kenneth Keith (New Zealand) and Leonid Skotnikov (Russian Federation) of the ICJ. To reach the final, the team competed in four moots during the international semi-final round held on 26-27 April against teams drawn from across Europe. They lost narrowly to Oslo University in the final round.

UCL was the first-time winner of the Carnegie Foundation Award for the Best Applicant's Memorial as well as attaining the second-highest overall score (by just one point). The Telders team consisted of four LLM students: Sam Hawke, Abla O'Callaghan (as the Applicant), Iqra Musaddaq and Stuart Bruce (as the Respondent). The team was coached by previous participants in the competition, Joseph Markus and Sam Bright.

The Telders Moot is the most prestigious moot competition in Europe with teams competing from over 40 universities in national rounds, with the successful teams going on to represent their countries in the international rounds. The Moot has been organised annually since 1977. In order to qualify for the international round, the UCL team won the England national round in March 2011.

UCL Team Reaches Final of Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot

On 5 April 2012, for the first time in the Faculty’s history, the UCL Vis Moot team advanced to the final of the prestigious Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna. Our team prevailed over teams from Helsinki University, London School of Economics, Pace University, University of Ottawa and Harvard Law School but lost narrowly to NALSAR University in the final round. In addition to achieving overall 2nd place in the competition, the UCL team received an award for its Respondent memorandum and team members Sui Hang Hui and Jennifer Pei Ru Sia received awards for individual performance.

Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot is the largest and oldest moot court competition in commercial arbitration and international trade law organised annually since 1993. This year the Vis moot gathered teams representing 285 universities from around the world. The competition involved six days of preliminary and elimination rounds, which saw UCL students argue a total of 10 rounds representing both Claimant and Respondent. The Vis moot problem involved an interesting dispute over the late delivery of a sophisticated control system that also raised complex issues of conflict of interest and corruption.

This year’s team consisted of LLB students Sui Hang Hui, Tian Sun and Martin Wong and LLM. students Jennifer Pei Ru Sia, Herong Wang, Lucia D. Williams, Vilian Zhekov and Adil Khan. The oral team representing UCL in Vienna consisted of Sui Hang Hui, Jennifer Pei Ru Sia, Herong Wang, Lucia D. Williams and Vilian Zhekov. Head coach Sergey Usoskin was assisted by M. Bob Kao, Fernando Porto Filho, Eduardo Ono Terashima, and Bo Yang (all LLM). The team is also grateful to Professor Elizabeth Snodgrass and Baker Botts, Demarest & Almeida, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Norton Rose, No. 5 Chambers, WilmerHale and Volterra Fietta for the assistance with preparation to the moot.

All LLB and incoming LLM students interested in participating in next year’s Vis mooting team should email their contact details to uclvis2012@gmail.com so they can be informed of the 2012/13 try-outs.

Mar 2012

Ben De Feu of UCL Wins UKELA Student Moot

UKELA, the UK Environmental Laws Association, holds two mooting competitions each year for university students, people on vocational courses, pupil barristers and trainee solicitors are held each year. The winners of the 2012 UKELA Student Prize Moot on 29 March were Ben du Feu of UCL and Nicola Peart of the College of Law (pictured holding the shield). The student team winners received a £150 prize and a one week mini-pupillage from No 5 Chambers.

Atkins Chambers Commerical Law Mooting Competition

UCL Laws students top LUMS 2011-12 League Table but Lose Out at the Grand Final

UCL Telders Moot Team Win National Rounds for the Third Year Running

On 9 March, the UCL moot team won the Telders England National Rounds for the third consecutive year. The team comprises LLM students Abla O'Callaghan, Iqra Musaddaq, Sam Hawke and Stuart Bruce and is coached by ex-UCL students Joe Markus and Sam Bright.

The competition was hosted at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law and administered by Rumiana Yotova of the University of Cambridge. The team will compete at the International Rounds to be staged at the International Court of Justice in the Hague between 26 and 28 April this year.

UCL Laws students win annual UCL v King's College Debate

Winners Declared at LLM Final Moot Competition

The final of the LLM moot competition was held on 8 March at Francis Taylor Buildings, the set of chambers which sponsors the competition. The finalists were Sarah Docherty, Luke Bowyer, Stephen Knight and Siobhan Rampersad, who argued a problem question on environmental pollution set by Professor Joanne Scott. The judges, Robert McCracken QC and Meyrick Lewis, awarded the first prize to Sarah Docherty, and second prize to Luke Bowyer. Congratulations to all the finalists on their excellent performances.

Oct 2011

UCL Laws hosts inaugural moot before International Court for the Environment

On 19 October the Faculty of Laws hosted an inaugural moot before an International Court for the Environment (ICE). The Case Concerning Pollution of the River Claro (Community Action Group of Sylvania v. Republic of Ruritania) was argued before Professor Catherine Redgwell (UCL) with Stephen Hockman QC leading the team for the defendants and two current UCL LLM students, James Nierinck and Stuart Bruce, participating in the team for the claimants. Enjoying a lively and intensive 90 minutes was an audience comprising current UCL LLM students studying international environmental law and international energy law, and members of the ICE coalition (for further details of which see www.environmentcourt.com).

Junior Moot Final held at Bentham House

The Junior Moot Final at UCL Laws took place on Tuesday 18 October in the Moot Court Room, Bentham House. Anushi Amin, Jenn Chan, Antonia Tjong and Martin Wong skilfully argued a fascinating problem about discrimination on the ground of religion before Lord Hope of Craighead (JSC) and a large audience. The winner of a very close contest was Anushi Amin.

May 2011

UCL Win Telders International Law Mooting Competition for the Second Year

Congratulations to the UCL Laws mooting team who, on 30 April, won the International Round of the Telders International Law Mooting Competition for the second year at the International Court of Justice in the Hague. Competing as the Respondent against the University of Leiden, the team pleaded in the fictional Case Concerning the Urmaghela River (Marosland v. Larmastan) before Judges Abdul Koroma (Sierra Leone) and Abdulaqwi Ahmed Yusuf (Somalia) of the International Court of Justice as well as Judge Bengt Broms (Finland) of the Iran-US Claims Tribunal. To reach the final round, the team competed in four moots (twice as the Applicant and twice as the Respondent) during the International Semifinal Round held on 28-29 April.

UCL was also the first-time winner of the Max Huber Award for Best Overall Score. The Telders team consisted of four LLM students: Sam Bright and Kirill Albrecht (competing as the Applicant) and Kathryn Heslop and Joseph Markus (competing as the Respondent). The team was coached by PhD student Arman Sarvarian and LLM student Irina Sergeeva.

The team's success was the result of continuous work from November 2010 that began with the writing of two ‘memorials’ or comprehensive written pleadings. Following the submission of the memorials, the team prepared its oral pleadings consisting of approximately eighteen minutes of submissions per oralist with three minutes per team for rebuttal. Teams are judged both on their written and oral pleadings and are awarded a combined overall score. In order to qualify for the International Round, the team won the England National Round in February 2011.

For more information:
Telders competition website

Apr 2011

UCL Laws students plead before the European Court of Human Rights

The final round of the third UCL European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Moot was held on 8 April in the Grand Chamber of the Court in Strasbourg presided over by Judges Rozakis, Spielmann and Jebbens.

The 2011 ECHR Moot was organised for the third year by the UCL Students Human Rights Programme in collaboration with the UCL Institute for Human Rights. After two phases of elimination rounds, held at UCL and judged by such distinguished personalities as Lord Kerr, the finals were conducted at the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg.

Participants (l-r): Markus Joseph, Sarah Walker, Artemisia Papadaki (Moot Coordinator), Judge Jebbens, Judge Rozakis, Judge Spielmann, Azusa Kikuma, Martin Reynolds, Dr. Tobias Lock, Brian Leung (UCL SHRP).

Arguing the hypothetical case of Mr. Efi Altis against VZN and the Plain of Phlegra, the finalists were to prepare two grounds. The first involved Articles 7 and 14 on facts that resembled those of Scoppola (No.2) and the Damjanovic and Maktouf applications. The second involved Articles 4 and 3 of Protocol No. 1, namely forced labour and the prisoners’ right to vote. Martin Reynolds was awarded Best Oralist, Azusa Kikuma Second Best Oralist, Sarah Walker Third Best Oralist and Joseph Markus received an Honorary Mention for making it to the Finals.

The European Court of Human Rights Moot, which started off as a means to promote awareness of the ECHR, has now turned into an established path of communication between academia and the highest level of judiciary. Not only can UCL Laws students practice their advocacy skills but they are also provided with a chance not afforded in most moots: namely to put their arguments to the test before the actual Court. With even higher aspirations then for the years to come, congratulations to all the participants!

Mar 2011

Mooting and Advocacy Skills, 2nd ed.

This book is a comprehensive guide for those participating in or organising mooting competitions or curricular moots. Co-written by UCL Laws Part-time Teaching Fellow David Pope, it is the second edition of what is probably the UK’s market-leading mooting textbook. Written by two lawyers with extensive experience of mooting and advocacy in professional practice, the book is comprehensive and practical. It covers every aspect of mooting, from constructing persuasive arguments to moot-court etiquette. The skills of mooting are explained step-by-step and illustrated by worked examples. The book also contains 10 original moot problems.

For more information:
Publisher's website

Feb 2011

UCL win the National Round of the Telders Mooting Competition

On 26 February, the UCL mooting team won the Telders England National Round for the second consecutive year. The team comprises LLM students Sam Bright, Kirill Albrecht, Kathryn Heslop and Joseph Markus and is coached by PhD student Arman Sarvarian, assisted by LLM student Irina Sergeeva.

The competition was hosted pro bono by the firm of Shearman & Sterling LLP in London and administered by Miss Rumiana Yetova of Cambridge University. The team will compete at the International Round to be staged at the International Court of Justice in the Hague between 27-30 April. Team coach Arman Sarvarian said: "The team prepared very well for the competition and thoroughly deserved it. They team is looking forward to the international round, where it aims to acquit itself well and perform at its very best." 

Jan 2011

2011 European Court of Human Rights Moot Court Competition

The 2011 European Court of Human Rights Moot Court Competition is the latest edition of the UCL ECHR Moot. Open both to undergraduate as well as graduate UCL students, the ECHR Moot has been organised annually for the past few years by the UCL Student Human Rights Programme in collaboration with the UCL Institute of Human Rights.

Traditionally the preliminary phase, along with the Semi Finals, is conducted at UCL. It is the finalists’ privilege, however, to argue their case before the actual European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and to be judged by their Excellencies ECtHR judges. Merit-wise, oral pleadings are based on a hypothetical case, which is different for each phase and predominantly inspired by contemporary questions posed to the ECtHR. During the 2011 Preliminary Phase on 20 Jan, six oral rounds were successfully held at UCL Laws, Bentham House.

For further information:
UCL ECHR Moot website
Flickr Photo Gallery

Oct 2010

Junior Mooting Competition Results

The 2009-10 Junior Competition finals were held in October 2010 and presided over by Lady Hale. The winners were Hannah Lawrence and Melody Koh. The other finalists were Ola Dziki and Sheryl George. 78 first year students took part in the Junior Moots competition and 93 students in the Mini-Moots.

UCL Success at Lovells Cup

The Lovells Mooting competition between UCL and Kings College London was won by UCL.

(Pictured right, the teams with 09-10 Law Society Moots Officers Lisa Quelch and Laura Thompson and the judges from Lovells).
First year team - Hannah Lawrence and Tian Sun
Second year team - Simon Tysoe and Elizabeth Day
Finalist team - Gina Petrova and Chiraag Patel

Apr 2010

UCL win the International Rounds of the Telders Moot Court Competition

UCL has won the International Rounds of the Telders Moot Court Competition, which took place at the Peace Palace in the Hague. The team members were Dimitrios Katsikis, Saara Idelbi, and Laura Thompson.

The team gave spectacular performances in the preliminary rounds in order to earn their spot in the coveted final. The Final Round took place in the grand chamber of the ICJ, and the judging panel consisted of Professor John Dugard, and Judges Yusuf and Koroma of the ICJ . The other Finalist team was Cologne, Germany, former Champions of the 2007 Telders Competition. Although it was a closely fought battle, UCL emerged victorious by a vote of 2-1.


l-r: Tamara Jaber (coach), Saara Idelbi, Dimitrios Katsikis, Laura Thompson, and Sahib Singh (coach)

The Respondent team, consisting of Dimitrios Katsikis and Laura Thompson also won the award for the best oral performance in the preliminary rounds. The team was coached by Sahib Singh and Tamara Jaber.

This is the first time the UK has won the International Rounds of the Competition.

Mar 2010

UCL Success at Annual French Law Moot

UCL was victorious at the Annual French Law Moot, held at St Catherine's College, Oxford. Congratulations to the whole team composed of Law with French Law second year students - Alexander Murugasu; Daria Popescu; Yannick Hefti and Boris Sterk and of Affiliate students from France Isabelle Lemoynes de Forges and Anne-Sophie Verd.

Seven Universities took part in the competititon which was divided-up in three rounds, with the final judged by a solicitor from Gide Loyrette, Francois-Xavier Lucas (Professor at Paris II Panthe'on-Assas University) and Mr Alain Lacabarats, President of the Third Civil Chamber of the French Court of Cassation.

All the mooting was undertaken in French, regarding a French Law property case, following French Law procedure. It was a terrific experience for UCL, students and the coaching team, Mme Laure Sauve, Dr Myriam Hunter-Henin and Mr Rodney Austin. Alexander Murugasu and Daria Popescu, our finalists, were amazingly convincing and WON! Our second team of Mooters - Isabelle Lemoynes de Forges and Anne-Sophie Verd reached the semi-finals and Yannick Hefti and Boris Sterk offered their invaluable research efforts and support throughout.Well done to all.

London Universities Mooting Shield (LUMS)

UCL won the LUMS competition after facing Birkbeck in the final in March 2010. The UCL mooting team featured Simon Tysoe, Elizabeth Day, Aathmika Kularatnam and Jason Shardlow-Wrest. UCL’s Aathmika Kularatnam also won Best Mooter. Team photo on left courtesy of London Universities Mooting Shield.

UCL Human Rights Moot Competition

The Institute for Human Rights would like to congratulate the winners of the Human Rights Moot Competition which took place in the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The winners of the Mooting Final were:
1. Samuel Steel
2. Yannick Hefti
3. James Burcher
4. Theresa Glatter

Presiding over the final were Judges Christos Rozakis (President), Dean Spielmann and Sverre Erik Jebens. Afterwards Judge Rozakis praised the students for their impeccable delivery and the quality of their arguments. Judge Dean Spielman also hosted a reception for our group.

This particular mooting competition is unique to UCL and, as the founding organisation, the Institute for Human Rights hopes to develop and expand the programme next year to include other university participants.

Links:
UCL Institute for Human Rights
UCL Student Human Rights Programme

Feb 2010

UCL Wins the UK National Rounds of the Telders International Law Moot Competition

UCL's Jessup Team are UK Champions

The UCL Jessup team beat 19 other teams at the UK Nationals of the competition over the weekend to become the UK Champions. Having beaten Kings College in the Semi-final, UCL went on to face Oxford University in the Grand Final where they appeared before a panel of 6 judges, including Sir Michael Wood and Professor Robert McCorquodale. Jennifer Lim also received an award for the best oralist in the Grand Final.

The team is made up of 5 UCL Laws students: Rayan Imam (LL.M), Jennifer Lim (2rd year LL.B), Hui-min Loh (2rd year LL.B) and A Melina Padron (LL.M) and Shermarke Hussein (LL.M)

UCL will be representing the UK in the International Finals of the Jessup competition in Washington DC at the end of March 2010 . They will be joined by Oxford University and Lincoln's Inn. The team is coached by Claire van Overdijk and Dr. Douglas Guilfoyle, ably assisted by the team advisers Annabel Lee, Mateja Strumelj and Professor Alejandro Escobar.