Kenya’s Strathmore University wins John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition

The John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition is a simulated hearing under the rules of the WTO dispute settlement system involving exchanges of written submissions and adversarial hearings before panelists on international trade law issues.

This year, 65 universities from around the world participated in the competition. After successfully competing in their regional rounds, the 24 best teams from 15 WTO members convened in Geneva.

After three days of intense competition, four teams qualified for the semi-finals: Strathmore University, Kenya; the University of International Business and Economics, China; West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, India; and Kenyatta University, Kenya. Ultimately, Strathmore University, Kenya, and West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, India, advanced to the Grand Final.

The distinguished panel of trade law experts presiding over the Grand Final was chaired by Gabrielle Marceau, Professor Emerita from the University of Geneva. Other panel members included Professor Geraldo Vidigal of the University of Amsterdam Law School; Dr Gracia Marín Durán, Vice Dean of International Affairs of University College London; Christian Lau, a partner at Dentons; and Marco Molina who has served as a panelist in five WTO disputes. The panel also featured Professor Krista Nadakavukaren from the World Trade Institute, an academic supporter of the competition, and Joanna Redelbach, Counsel in the Brussels office of the platinum sponsor, Van Bael and Bellis.

The winning team from Strathmore University comprised Mr Anthony Kigochu Mburu, Ms Clare Wangeci Kaira, and Mr Javier Delmar Mario. The second-place team from West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences consisted of Ms Pragya Mittal, Ms Nupur Gupta, Ms Rohini Mehta, and Ms Piyush Barshini Mohapatra.

Both teams delivered excellent performances in their regional rounds in Nairobi and Jodhpur and throughout the week of the Final Oral Round showcasing their oral advocacy skills and mastery of WTO law. The WTO warmly congratulates both teams and wishes them success in their future careers in international trade law.

Students and teams were also awarded prizes from the WTO Secretariat and sponsors of the competition based on the excellence of their written submissions and oratorical skills. Winners of individual and team awards received prizes from the WTO Secretariat staff supporting the competition, the Advisory Centre on WTO Law, and Georgetown University as well as scholarships for courses at the World Trade Institute at the University of Bern (Switzerland). In addition, all participants in the Final Oral Round, including coaches, are eligible to apply for a 50% tuition scholarship to study at Georgetown University Law Center (United States). Georgetown will designate two Jackson scholars each year.

Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand, Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body, handed out the prizes to the winners as follows:

• National Law School of India University, India: Best Complainant Written Submission
• University of Münster, Germany: Best Respondent Written Submission
• Maastricht University, Netherlands: Best Overall Written Submissions
• Ms Michelle Hennessey, University of Ottawa, Canada: Best Orator of the Preliminary Rounds
• Ms Clare Kaira, Strathmore University, Kenya, and Ms Tianzi Chang, University of International Business and Economics, China: Best Orator of the Quarterfinal Rounds
• Ms Celine Maina, Kenyatta University, Kenya: Best Orator of the Semifinal Rounds
• Ms Clare Kaira, Strathmore University, Kenya: Best Orator in the Grand Final.

The competition is organized by the European Law Students' Association (ELSA). The WTO has been a technical supporter of the competition since its inception in 2002. The John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition is an example of the WTO's broad support for capacity building.

The recording of the grand final is available here. For more information about the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition, visit its website here.