Team NUS Law Excels in Debut at the 7th Air Law Moot Court Competition

Team NUS Law has emerged as the first runner-up at the 7th International Air Law Moot Court Competition, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 7-10 April 2016. The team comprising Ling Jia Yu ’16, Benjamin Goh ’16 and Louis Lim ’16 (Team Captain), also clinched the Best Respondent’s Memorial award.

Coached by Professor Alan Tan ’93, the team was selected from students who had taken the Aviation Law & Policy course at NUS Law.

This year’s moot problem concerned the use of force against a civil aircraft in disputed airspace. The case involved questions of public international law and international air law.

Two preliminary rounds were conducted over the course of the competition, and NUS Law emerged as the Best Respondent Team out of the 26 participating universities, setting up the final against the Applicant Team from the National Law University, Lucknow.

The final was held in the grand chamber of the Indonesian Mahkamah Konstitusi (Constitutional Court) in central Jakarta. The team put up a sterling performance, with Louis, Benjamin and Jia Yu presenting their case with dexterity and composure and winning the hearts of the audience along the way.

The team would like to thank the following who offered invaluable guidance and support:

• From the NUS Law community: Associate Professor Eleanor Wong ’85, Ms Elaine Chew ’09, Mr
  Lee Jae Woon PhD ’16, and Ms Michelle Dy LLM’ 14
• Representatives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers: Mr Pang Khang Chau, Ms Rena Lee ’92,
  Mr David Low, Ms Jean Kua, Mr Vinesh Winodan ’06 and Mr Ian Ernst Chai
• Ms Tan Siew Huay ’81, Mr Patrick Wong ’10 and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

Team coach Professor Alan Tan said: “Quite apart from the amazing experience competing against the other universities and earning the privilege of appearing at the Indonesian Constitutional Court, the team learned to appreciate the vitality and centrality of our host, Indonesia. The importance of aviation and air law to Singapore cannot be emphasised enough – participating in the moot also allowed us to understand how our neighbours’ policies affect Singapore’s critical air transport interests.”

The International Air Law Moot Court Competition is the leading moot competition on aviation law, and is jointly organised by the Sarin Memorial Legal Aid Foundation and the International Institute of Air and Space Law of Leiden University.