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Achievements in virtual moot competitions
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted events and competitions around the world. With travel restrictions and safety measures in place, many moot competitions were moved online. Embracing the challenge, NUS Law students readily adapted to the virtual forums and have done us proud!
Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition 2020
From left to right: Shilpa Krishnan ’22, Wesley Chai ’22 and Jiang Zhifeng ’23
Congratulations to Shilpa Krishnan ’22, Wesley Chai ’22 and Jiang Zhifeng ’23 for emerging as the Asia-Pacific Regional Runners-up of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition 2020.
Due to COVID-19, this year’s competition, which concerned international space law and public international law issues relating to criminal extradition in space, state responsibility and liability, as well as the conduct of astronauts, saw two rounds of grading in lieu of the oral rounds. Teams had to submit 9,000-word memorials for both Applicant and Respondent. After the first round of assessment by space law experts in Beijing, the team emerged as top 5 among 34 teams. The second round of grading involved 6 professors and experts from the International Institute of Space Law.
The team would like to extend their appreciation to Lim Lei Theng ’92, Robert Beckman, and Chin Jin Cheng ’13 for their support, as well as to Kiu Yan Yu ’18 and Ong Kye Jing ’21 for their guidance and friendship.
NUS Law was awarded first place in the virtual National Round of the International Negotiation Competition 2020
Congratulations to the NUS Law team for being awarded first place in the virtual National Round of the International Negotiation Competition (INC) 2020, between NUS Law and SMU Law. Isabella Tan ’21 and Nikhil Angappan ’21 represented NUS Law in this virtual National Round of INC.
The INC is the oldest and most renowned competition focusing on international legal negotiation for law students from all over the world. The NUS Law team would have been headed to US for the INC 2020 Competition in July, but in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, INC 2020 will be postponed to 2021.
The team would like to express their sincere appreciation to their coach, Professor Joel Lee, for his guidance and support throughout the competition; as well as Marcus Lim ’12, Executive Director of Singapore International Mediation Institute, and the INC alumni Chia Lyn Lynn ’02, Lin Wenrong ’08, Leanne Cheng ’19, Kimberley Pah ’19, Levin Lin ’20, Su Tan ’20 and Natasha Tan ’20.
NUS Law leads in the virtual APAC Friendly of the International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition 2020
The International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition (ICCMCC) brings together students of diverse backgrounds and cultures to challenge their skills as future international lawyers. The international oral rounds of the 2020 ICCMCC, which were to have been held at The Hague, Netherlands in June, were unfortunately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A virtual Asia Pacific Friendly was organised instead. Huang Wan Ting ’20, Choo Qian Ke ’21, Yvette Tay ’20 and Soo Guo Sheng ’20 represented NUS Law and competed in rounds against teams from SMU and universities in India and Australia. The NUS Law team placed first for Best Government Team, Best Prosecution Team and Team with the Highest Average Scores. Wan Ting and Qian Ke were named the Best Oralists.
The team would like to express their sincere appreciation to their coaches, Sumedha Madhusudhanan ’18 and Terence De Silva ’18, for their guidance.
NUS Law emerged as First Runners-up in the virtual 6th Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot Competition
The NUS Law team comprising Ryan Kwan ’20, Rachel Ang ’20, Abigail Wong ’20 and Priscilla Seah ’21 emerged as first runners-up in the 6th Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) Competition Law Moot Competition. Ryan was awarded Best Advocate and Rachel received an Honorable Mention for her advocacy skills. The HSF Competition Law Moot focuses on competition law issues within the European Union (EU) and draws an international field of participants. This year’s problem was centred on a territorial online audio broadcasting license and the novel issues raised in its compatibility with Article 101(1) TFEU, Article 101(3) TFEU as well as the EU Damages Directive.
In light of COVID-19 developments which include lockdowns in some jurisdictions, the oral rounds of the competition were conducted virtually this year. In the preliminary rounds, the team faced formidable opponents from the Utrecht University team (where they were claimants) and the University of Hong Kong team (where they were defendants) and emerged as the top seed. In the closely contested final against the University of Hong Kong, the team was edged out by the narrowest of margins and had to settle for first runners-up.
The team would like to express their immense gratitude to Burton Ong ’99, who was an ever-present mentor and guide over the 6 months of preparation, Eleanor Wong ’85 and Benjamin Wong ’15 who provided invaluable advice and support; and NUS Law alumni Lee Ji En ’16, Jessica Mau ’17, Gan Wei Rong ’17, Chan Jia Sheng ’18, Sharon Lee ’18, Teo Shu Hui ’19, Kim Bumsoo ’19 and all the HSF alumni seniors for their constant encouragement.
Finally, the team would also like to acknowledge Cheah Yew Kuin ’03 (The Walt Disney Company), Veronica Lai ’92 (StarHub), Jeremiah Chew ’10 and Marc Waha (Norton Rose Fulbright), Winnie Ching (Competition Commission of Singapore) and Scott Clements (Allen & Gledhill) for their help.