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Virtual Moots Spotlight (May to September 2020)
One of the valuable educational experiences an NUS Law student can have is to represent the university in mooting competitions. These are some of our students’ achievements in competitions from May to September 2020.
Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition 2020
From left: Shilpa Krishnan ’22, Wesley Chai ’22 and Jiang Zhifeng ’23
NUS Law emerged as the Asia-Pacific Regional Runners-up in the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition 2020. The team members were Wesley Chai ’22, Shilpa Krishnan ’22, and Jiang Zhifeng ’23.
This year’s competition 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. Due to COVID-19, this year’s competition 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 extended their heartfelt gratitude to Kiu Yan Yu ’18 and Ong Kye Jing ’21 for their guidance and friendship over the 5 months of preparation. The team would also like to extend their appreciation to Associate Professor Lim Lei Theng ’92, Associate Professor Robert Beckman, and Chin Jin Cheng ’13 for their support.
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 expressed 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.
The team also acknowledged 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.
NUS Law wins at the inaugural ADR ODR International Online Mediation Competition 2020
The inaugural 3-day International Online Mediation Competition, organised by the ADR ODR International, was held from 24 to 26 July 2020, delivered in partnership with and the European Institute for Conflict Resolution (EICR). Of the 34 teams from 17 countries who participated, 12 teams were students from NUS Law, and congratulations on the exceptional results!
NEGOTIATION CATEGORY
Champions
• Keith Kaixian Wong ’21
• Ong Kye Jing ’21
• Rochelle Lim ’21
First Runners-Up
• Ryan Jay Naidu ’23
• Tristan Tan ’23
• Vishnu Menon ’23
• Coach: Louis Chew ’21
• Coach: Audity Binte Tareq ’22
MEDIATION CATEGORY
First Runners-Up
• Esther Lee ’22
• Johanna Lim ’23
• Nichelle Chee ’23
• Coach: Tay Hui Lyi ’21
• Coach: Tan Pei Han ’22
Top Four (Mediation)
• Cheyenne Lim ’23
• Jolene Gina Abelarde ’23
• Nicole Marie Christopher ’23
• Coach: Tay Hui Lyi ’21
• Coach: Tan Pei Han ’22
Of the top four NUS teams, three were coached directly by the Collaborative Dispute Resolution Club (CDRC).
The teams extended their appreciation to the contributions of other alumni coaches Arjit Pandey ’22, Darren Chen ’22, Lau Ai Xuan ’22 and Yeo Jing Wen ’22, who helped the teams practice and prepare.
This competition was the first time CDRC trialed a new competition training programme whose focus was on helping alumni coaches take on a bigger role, rather than adopting a centralised training by the CDRC faculty advisors. This was led by CDRC Exco members Samuel Teo ’21, Nikhil Angappan ’21 and Joel See ’23.
NUS Law wins at the inaugural SCCA Legal Eagle Challenge 2020
The SCCA Legal Eagle Challenge 2020 Winning Team (image credit: SCCA)
The inaugural Legal Eagle Challenge 2020, organised by the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (“SCCA”), concluded on 8 August. This was Singapore’s first in-house competition for law students, and this year’s Challenge invited law students to step into the shoes of a fictional charity’s General Counsel and advise its board of directors on issues facing the charity due to COVID-19.
Two teams from NUS Law made it to the Finals. The winning team comprising Bodi Siddartha ’22, Seah Ding Hang ’22, Wee Min ’22, and Yang Siqi ’22, impressed the judges with an excellent presentation that seamlessly slipped between providing legal advice and weighing the pros and cons for each legal option.
The Most Business Savvy Team
The second NUS Law team in the finals was awarded the Most Business Savvy Team award. The team members Alison Ng ’23, Johanna Lim Ziyun ’23, Lai Sin Yee ’23, and Nichelle Chee Sijie ’23, overcame technical issues and put up a strong performance with a presentation that included a cost benefit analysis that accurately addressed the commercial concerns of the board.
NUS Law wins at the Maritime Law Association of Singapore Moot Finals 2020
Clockwise from top: Honourable Justice Pang Khang Chau (Supreme Court of Singapore), Ms Sitpah Selvaratnam (Tommy Thomas, Malaysia), Alfred Li ’20,
Mr Stephen Kenny QC (7KBW, UK), Timothy Chong ’21, Mr Leong Kah Wah (MLAS), Ms Corinna Song (MLAS)
NUS Law congratulates Alfred Li ’20 and Timothy Chong ’21 who emerged as the champion and first runner-up respectively in the 4th Maritime Law Association of Singapore (MLAS) Maritime Mooting Competition!
The 4th MLAS Maritime Mooting Competition attracted a wide range of participants ranging from law undergraduates to newly qualified practitioners. Participants were exposed to common legal issues arising out of a commercial maritime dispute that is somewhat simplified to make the competition more accessible to those without prior knowledge of maritime law. This was the first time the finals of the competition was conducted virtually.
The finalists of this year’s MLAS moot faced stiff competition in the rounds leading up to the finals. They competed against other full-time undergraduates from the law schools of Singapore, practice trainees, Justices’ law clerks, and newly qualified practitioners. The General Rounds were held at Allen & Gledhill LLP on 5 February 2020, while the Quarter & Semi-Finals were held at Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP on 7 February 2020. The earlier rounds were judged by maritime practitioners via in-person hearings.
The finals was held on 19 August 2020. Alfred and Timothy faced questions from an experienced panel of judges – Honourable Justice Pang Khang Chau (Supreme Court of Singapore), Mr Stephen Kenny QC (7KBW, UK), and Ms Sitpah Selvaratnam (Tommy Thomas, Malaysia) – but they impressed the judges with their strong background in maritime law. Alfred will receive a cash prize of S$2,500 and an all expenses paid 2-week internship with 7KBW in London, while Timothy will receive a cash prize of S$1,500.
Alfred and Timothy expressed their gratitude to Professor Stephen Girvin, Associate Professor Paul Myburgh, Dedi Affendi Ahmad ’10, Nikhil Angappan ’21, Chen Zhida ’13, Goh Qi Qing ’20, Malcolm He ’20, Leung Liwen ’17, Rebecca Loo ’21, Sarah Lu ’21, Jonathan Tan ’20, Wang Yufei ’17 and Darren Yip ’20 for their help and support.
NUS Law wins at the 4th ADC-ICC Asia-Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition 2020
The Collaborative Dispute Resolution Club (CDRC) sent two teams to participate in the 4th ADC-ICC Asia-Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition that took place virtually from 30 August – 1 September 2020. We are very proud that the teams made 1st and 3rd places. Jointly organised by the Australian Disputes Centre and the International Chamber of Commerce, the competition is closely associated with the ICC Mediation Competition in Paris, and the winning team of the competition secures a reserved spot in the ICC Paris Mediation Competition.
This year, a record number of teams took part in the competition, and the two NUS teams faced stiff competition from institutions such as Macquarie University, University of Queensland, and University of Newcastle during the Preliminary Rounds.
Champions
Special Award for Best Interaction with the Mediator
Eugene Lau ’21
Jonathan Lee ’21
Kim Haeyoung ’21
Chan You Quan ’22
3rd place
Best Dance Video Award
Jaypy Pillay ’22
Lee Yee Teng ’22
Joel See ’23
Both teams expressed their deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to their coaches, as well as the ICC Australia and Paris alumni who took time off their busy schedules to mentor them. This includes Isabella Tan ’21, Nikhil Angappan ’21, Samuel Teo ’21, Darren Wong ’21, Darryl Lau ’21, Mark Lim ’19, Tan Su ’20, Joelle Loy ’20, Levin Lin ’20, Utsav Rakshit ’21, Samuel Wittberger ’21, and Tan Pei Han ’22. The teams also thanked everyone who helped out during the preparation for the competition in one way or another, including the teams which participated in the ADR-ODR Online Mediation Competition who were excellent sparring partners.
In addition, the teams gave special thanks to Marcus Lim ’12 and Joel Lee, for their invaluable guidance and advice.
NUS Law emerged as Runners-up at the Linklaters-Denis Chang’s Law Moot Competition 2020
Congratulations to Abigail Wong ’20 and Choo Qian Ke ’21, and Lee Hyun Jo ’21 and Lim Jia Ren ’21, for emerging as First and Second Runners-up respectively in the Linklaters-Denis Chang’s Chambers Law Moot Competition 2020.
Jointly organised by Linklaters and Denis Chang’s Chambers, the Hong Kong Competition Law Moot drew the participation of more than 20 teams. NUS Law sent 5 teams for the Competition, and we are delighted to announce that 4 NUS Law teams were placed in the Top 8 based on the quality of written submissions, and selected to proceed to the oral rounds. The students in the Top 8 are: Abigail Wong ’20 and Choo Qian Ke ’21; Lee Hyun Jo ’21 and Lim Jia Ren ’21; Dinesh Kumar ’21 and Faye Ng ’21; Shaun Cheng ’21 and Zhao Junning ’21.
Regrettably, the oral rounds were adjourned due to the Hong Kong protests and subsequently, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, before being cancelled entirely in August 2020. The final results of the Competition were based on the quality of the written submissions filed by the teams.
The teams expressed their appreciation to Lim Lei Theng ’92 for providing them with the opportunity to participate in the Competition as well as Burton Ong ’99, Sheridian Fellow Jeremiah Lau ’15 and Sheridian Fellow Benjamin Wong ’15 for their invaluable guidance during the preparations for the Competition.