International Competitions

SULS and the Sydney Law School enter several teams into international competitions. Applications normally open during the summer holidays and most teams have been finalised. If you are an experienced competitor looking to compete at the next level make sure you keep an eye out for applications for 2025 that will open towards the end of Semester 2.

Opportunities in 2024

International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot

The International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot (IMLAM) is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious international arbitration competitions. Sydney University has entered a team into the competition every year since 2015, except for 2021 as the competition did not run.

IMLAM remains an invaluable opportunity for students as the competition has nurtured many successful Jessup and Vis mooters due to its rigour and the extended preparation it requires. Its focus on international commercial law makes it the subject of much academic interest and, unlike most moots, it simulates a matter at first instance rather than at appeal, providing a unique opportunity to competitors.

2023

• Runners Up: Christin Ji, Mikayla Perry, Swapnik Sanagavarapu, Yijun Cui (coached by Brendan Ofner and Edward Wu) 

• Runner Up Best Overall Written Memoranda

2022

• Winners: Freya Appleford, Dane Luo, Sofia Mendes, Peter Taurian, Kathy Zhang (coached by Brendan Ofner and Edward Wu) 

• Professor Paul Myburgh Runner Up Best Speaker in the Final rounds: Kathy Zhang

2020

• Jake Jerogin, Brendan Ofner, Madeleine Bosler, Vanessa Li, Rachael Li

• Best Overall Written Memoranda

• Oral rounds cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

2019

• Runners Up: Georgia Reid, Kaity Crowe, Alex Kiefer, May Yang and Joy Chen

• Best Overall Written Memoranda

• Best Claimant Memomoranda

2018

• Quarterfinalists

• Best Overall Written Memoranda

• Best Respondent Memoranda

2017

• Quarterfinalists: Margery Ai, Harry Godber, Haiqiu Zhu and Declan Noble

• 2nd place Best Speaker in the General Rounds: Harry Godber

• Runner Up Best Speaker in the Finals: Harry Godber

• Best Overall Written Memoranda

2016

• Winners: Rahul Arora, Maria Mellos, Eric Shi and Harry Stratton

• Best Overall Written Memoranda

• Best Speaker in the Finals: Harry Stratton

• Runner Up Best Speaker in the Finals: Eric Shi

2015

• Semi-finalists: Henry Cooper, Winnie Liu, Timothy Smartt and Bradley Smith

• Best Overall Written Memoranda

• Best Speaker in the General Rounds: Bradley Smith

• Runner Up Best Speaker in the Finals: Henry Cooper

Nuremberg Moot Court Competition

The Nuremberg Moot Court invites teams from across the world to argue a question of international criminal law before the ‘International Criminal Court’. The competition consists of two phases. During the Written Phase, teams submit two memoranda (for the Prosecution and the Defence). Teams with the best results will be invited to the Oral Round.

2022

• Round of 16: Arasa Hardie, Ben Hines, Mikayla Perry and Netra Hankins (coached by Jules van Ratingen)

2021

• Round of 16: Eden McSheffrey, Grace Wong and Juliette van Ratingen (coached by Eric Shi)

• Overall Second Best Speaker: Juliette van Ratingen

• 5th Best Prosecution Memorial, 7th Best Defence Memorial

IBA-VIAC Consensual Dispute Resolution Competition (CDRC) Vienna

The IBA-VIAC Consensual Dispute Resolution Competition (CDRC) is an international mediation and negotiation competition where competitors are asked to resolve an international business dispute. The CDRC provides a vital opportunity for students to develop their skills in alternative dispute resolution, a skill that is increasingly important in the legal profession.

2023

• Negotiation Runners Up: Erika Blendell and Damian Young

2022

• Mediation team: Harriet Walker, Coco Luo (also awarded CAM-CCBC Special Award for Best Mediation Management)

• Negotiator team: Ben Hines, Irene Ma, Christian Holman, Michelle Chen

2021

• Negotiation Runners Up: Aoife Hogan and Timothy Berney Gibson

Asia-Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition

The APCMC is a competition that facilitates students’ learning and their application of negotiation skills in a commercial mediation setting. Student negotiators seek to resolve moot problems involving international commercial law. They are mediated in the competition by professional mediators, and are adjudicated by a senior panel of ADR practitioners. The APCMC draws significant endorsement and support from world-leading ADR practitioners, jurists and academics.

2023 - Amy Duong, Ben Hines, Brandon Velleley, Priya Mehra

2022 - Christian Holman, Grace Wallman, Arasa Hardie, Maja Vasic, Michelle Chen, Erika Blendell, Kira Trahana

2020 - Best Mediation Advocacy Skill: Sarah Tang, Vanessa Li, Edna Ng and Gregory Loukaitis

Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition

The Jessup Moot is widely recognised as the most prestigious international mooting competition. The Jessup Moot provides competitors with an unparalleled opportunity to work closely in a team to represent fictional States in a hypothetical (but always topical) case before the International Court of Justice on cutting-edge areas of international law.

Teams must prepare detailed and lengthy written submissions (9,000 word Memorials) and then moot against other teams, from around Australia, at the National Rounds held in Canberra. The two finalist teams will then travel to Washington to compete in the International Rounds against teams from around the world.

The University of Sydney holds the world record for most number of championships, at 6.

Applicants will be invited by the Faculty during Semester 2.

Results

2022-2023

Australia National Round Quarter-Finalists: Tim Berney-Gibson, Eden Blair, Arasa Hardie, Sam McIntyre, Maja Vasic (coached by Jake Jerogin)

Best Speaker (Preliminary Rounds): Sam McIntyre (2nd)

Best Respondent Memorials

2021-2022

Australia National Round Quarter-Finalists: Cora Fabbri, Hannah James, Tate Lindsay, Eden McSheffrey, Nathan Twibill (coached by Charlotte Lewis and Jacqui Krynda)

Best Speaker (Preliminary Rounds): Hannah James (2nd), Nathan Twibill (7th)

2020-2021

• World Champions: Shruti Janakiraman, Sarah Purvis, Robert Clarke, Jake Jerogin, and Hae Soo Park (coached by John-Patrick Asimakis)

• Global Best Overall Respondent Side, Richard R. Baxter Award for Best Respondent Memorial, Global Second Best Respondent Memorial, Australian Best Respondent Memorial, Global Top ranked team in Preliminary and Advanced Rounds

• International Rounds: Best Oralist Preliminary Rounds: Robert Clarke (6th), Jake Jerogin and Sarah Purvis (tied 20th); Best Oralist Advanced Rounds: Sarah Purvis (23rd)

• Australian Rounds: 7th Best Oralist (Preliminary Rounds): Sarah Purvis

2019-2020

• Australian National Rounds Winners: Lachlan Bellach, Alex Touw, Kaity Crowe, Georgia Reid, Giacomo Rotolo-Ross (coached by Rowan O’Donnell)

• Best Speaker (Grand Final): Kaity Crowe

• Best Speaker (Preliminary Rounds): Giacomo Rotolo-Ross (4th), Kaity Crowe (6th), Georgia Reid (10th)

2018-19

• Australian National Rounds Winners: Jacqueline Krynda, Charlotte Lewis, Jane Spencer, Meg Winton, Ruben Robertson (coached by Alyssa Glass)

• Best Speaker (Grand Final): Jacqueline Krynda

• Second Best Speaker (Preliminary Rounds): Ruben Robertson

• Second Best Memorials

2017-18

• Australian National Rounds Winners: John-Patrick Asimakis, Rebecca Brown, Grant Kynaston, Rowan O’Donnell and Yael Sasson (coached by Alice Zhou)

• Second Best Applicant

• Second Best Respondent Memorials

• Best Speaker (Grand Final), Third Best Speaker (Preliminary Rounds): John-Patrick Asimakis

2016-17

• World Champions and Australian National Rounds Winners: Alyssa Glass, Harry Stratton, Eric Shi, Joel Phillips, William Khun (coached by Angus Nicholas)

• Best Speaker: Alyssa Glass

2015-16

• Australian National Rounds Semi-Finalists: Tim Smartt, Winnie Liu, Henry Cooper, Rachael Krust, Bradley Smith

• Inner, Best Speaker: Bradley Smith

• Top Ten Oralist (Fifth): Winnie Liu

2014–15

• World Champions and Australian National Rounds Winners: Sarah Bradbury, Nathan Hauser, Sam Murray, Angus Nicholas and Alice Zhou

• Best Oralist (Preliminary Rounds): Sarah Bradbury

• Stephen M Schwebel Best Oralist Award (Championship Round): Alice Zhou

2013–14

• Australian National Rounds Quarter-Finalists: Nicholas Condylis, Lovelle D’Souza, Thomas Farmakis, Nina Ubaldi and Connie Ye

2012–13

• International Run-Off Rounds and Australian National Rounds Winners: Harrison Grace, Kathleen Heath, Rob Pietriche, Hannah Ryan and Jackson Wherrett

2011–12

• Australian National Rounds Semi-Finalists: Katherine Connolly, Louise Coleman, Giselle Kenny, Alistair Oakes and Daniel Ward

• Best Speaker (Preliminary Rounds): Louise Coleman

2010-11

• World Champions: Patrick Bateman, Chris Beshara, Glenn Kembrey, Chelsea Tabart and Patrick Wall

• Richard R. Baxter Award for Best Respondent Memorial

Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot

The Vis Moot was first held in 1994, and it has quickly become one of the most prestigious international mooting competitions in the world. Around 300 universities compete in the finals in Vienna.

Team members undergo extensive advocacy training, have an opportunity to learn in greater detail about international commercial arbitration and international contract law, and learn great teamwork skills. The work is intense and involves the preparation of two 35-page written submissions over the summer holidays. The entire trip usually includes additional “pre-moot” competitions held in a range of other European countries.

Applicants will be invited by the Faculty during Semester 2.

Results

2022-2023

• Top 32 out of 380 teams: Harriet Walker, Maya Eswaran, Sofia Mendes, Kathy Zhang

• First Runner Up for Respondent Memorials

2021-2022

• Top 4 out of 365 teams: Aoife Hogan, Caroline Xu, Nicole Leung, Olivia Maley

• Honourable Mention for the Martin Domke Award for Best Individual Oralist: Aoife Hogan

2020-2021

• Round of 16: Sam Goldberg, Madeleine Bosler, Edward Wu, Emma Tirabosco

• 2nd Best Oralist (Preliminary Rounds): Madeleine Bosler

• Eric E. Bergsten award for Best Team Orals (Honourable Mention); Pieter Sanders Best Written Memorandum for Claimant (Honourable Mention)

• Martin Domke Award for Best Individual Oralist (Honourable Mentions): Edward Wu, Sam Goldberg

2019-2020

• Peter Dougherty, Anuki Suraweera, Calida Tang, Ben John

• Werner Melis Award Best Memorandum for Respondent (Second Runner Up)

2018-19

• Quarter Finalists: Kilian Elkinson, Nina Mao, Lucy Nason and Beata Szabo

• Pieter Sanders Award Best Memorandum for Claimant

• Honourable Mentions (Best Oralist): Beata Szabo, Lucy Nason

2017-18

• Final 16 out of 362 teams: Margery Ai, Rhys Carvosso, Timothy Morgan and Patrick Still

• Best Individual Oralist: Tim Morgan

• Honourable Mentions (Oral rounds): Margery Ai, Rhys Carvosso

• Second Best Memorandum for Respondent

2016-17

• 2nd Place Hague Rounds: Michelle Blore, Ryan Hunter, Maria Mellos, Alexi Polden

• Honourable Mention for Claimant Memorandum

2015–16

• Finished top 8 out of 311 teams: Penina Su, John Tsaousidis, Andrew Bell and Brendan Hord

• 3rd Prize for Claimant Memorandum

• Honourable Mention for Respondent Memorandum

• Honourable Mentions in the Best Oralist Prize: Andrew Bell, John Tsaousidis

2014–15

• Brussels Pre-Moot Winners: Nicola Bevitt, William Hanna, Sarah Ienna and Phoebe Winch

• Second Place for Claimant Memorandum

• Honourable Mention for Respondent Memorandum

2013–14

• Vienna Quarter-Finalists: James Argent, Matthew Barry, Heydon Wardell-Burrus and Dominique Yong

• Honourable Mention for Respondent Memorandum

• Honourable Mention (Individual Oralist): Dominique Yong

2012–13

• Nicholas Boyce, Katia Contos, Sophie Maltabarow and Roisin McCarthy

• Third Place for Claimant Memorandum

• Honourable Mention (Individual Oralist): Roisin McCarthy

2011–12

• Daniel Fletcher, Ramya Krishnan, Sriram Srikumar

• Honourable Mention for Respondent Memorandum

• Honourable Mention (Individual Oralist): Daniel Fletcher, Ramya Krishnan. Sriram Srikumar

2010–11

• Vienna Quarter-Finalists: Patrick Caldwell, Domenico Cucinotta, Reuben Ray and Nadia Yetton-Lim

• Honourable Mention (Individual Oralist): Nadia Yetton-Lim

INC Tokyo Negotiation and Arbitration Moot

The Intercollegiate Negotiation Competition (INC) is Japan’s peak international mooting competition, attracting up to 30 of Japan’s top law schools, as well competing teams from Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, Mongolia, Singapore and Thailand. 

Applicants will be invited by the Faculty during Semester 2.

2023

• Members of Team Australia: Michelle Chen, Daniel Hu, Kim Nguyen, Sean Yalcinkaya

• Runner Up Overall

2022

• Members of Team Australia: Ben Hines, Damian Young, Irene Ma

• Runner Up Overall

• Squire Patton Boggs Award for the Best Negotiation in English

2021

• Members of Team Australia: Sarah Tang, Hasan Mohammed

• Runner Up Overall

• Squire Patton Boggs Award for the Best Negotiation in English

• ANJeL Award for Best Teamwork

Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition

The Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition invites teams of two from across the world to argue a hypothetical human rights case under international law. The competition has attracted prestigious universities from across the world including the University of Oxford, and is one of the largest international gatherings of students, judges and academics, providing competitors with extensive opportunities to engage in advocacy at international law from multiple perspectives.The Competition also features an annual Human Rights Lecture which invites several inspiring figures such as the Retired Justice Albie Sachs to speak on important issues of Human Rights.

2023

• Semi-Finalists: Isabella Greenhalgh and Rowan Silcock (coached by Eden McSheffrey)