Foreign Direct Investment International Moot Competition

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Murdoch School of Law Wins Inaugural FDI Moot Competition  

On 2 November 2008, Murdoch School of Law edged out Pepperdine School of Law to win the Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Trophy in a close final. The final was judged by Prof. Alexander Lorz of Düsseldorf University, Tim Nelson of Skadden and Hew Dundas, Immediate Past President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. The teams from Belgrade University and New York University took 3rd place. The organisers and arbitrators were consistently impressed by the high quality of the participants. Congratulations! All the award winners can be found here. In all 20 teams from around the world competed in the 2008 orals. A full review of the 2008 competition (arbitrators, teams, memorials, audio video resources will be made available here in the next few days. Photo: Kristian Maley, Nick Summers, Professor Tony Brennan, Andrew Kirk

Aims of the FDI Moot

Increasing  international investment, the proliferation of Bi- and Multilateral Investment Treaties, national investment promotion legislation, and "internationalised" investment contracts have contributed to the rapid development of a new field of international law that defines obligations between "host States" and foreign investors and creates procedures for resolving related disputes, e.g. through the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

These investment disputes involve not only vast sums, but also probe the panoply of rights, duties, and shifting objectives at the juncture of national and international law and policy. Through the FDI Moot law students -- future practitioners, academics and policy makers -- may attain a practical understanding of these issues. At the same time, the case and the hearings offer a forum of different dynamics for current academics and practitioners from the around the world to discuss the latest developments - and assess emerging talents - in these fields.

Structure of the Competition

The FDI Moot involves a hypothetical case in connection with an investment by a private investor in a foreign host state. The FDI Moot spans a period of approximately six months each year and has two phases: the writing of memoranda for claimant and respondent and the hearing of oral argument based upon the memoranda.

Support

Several international organisations and institutions and prominent practitioners and scholars in the field who serve on its Advisory Board endorse the FDI Moot's aims. Academics and practitioners who are expert in international investment regulation and/or international arbitration serve as arbitrators and judges. Law publishers, financial institutions, etc are welcome to sponsor social events around the oral hearings, and law firms and investment promotion agencies are invited to support their local teams competing in the FDI Moot (e.g. registration fee, travel, lodging or dining grants) and prizes.

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