Special Update on the COVID-19 Situation:
The PAX Organizing Team is aware of the situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and we are closely monitoring all updates on the situation. At present, we are confident that the written rounds of the competition can be completed and we hope that the oral rounds will take place as planned. However, our chief concern is the health and safety of our participants.
We will make a decision on whether to proceed with the oral rounds as envisaged or organize these rounds, including the semi finals and the final, via video link, no later than 4 May 2020.
Given the current uncertainties regarding international travel and academic events in general, we advise, where possible, that you do not make any non-refundable travel or accommodation arrangements before we communicate the decision regarding the schedule, and the format of the oral rounds of the 2020 Pax Moot Competition. We also want to assure all teams that the registration fee will be made fully refundable upon request, as it is important to remain flexible during this time.
We thank you for your understanding and remain at your disposal for any queries you may have.
The registration period will be open until March 31st, however we do advise teams to register as soon as possible. Registration fee is set at 100 Euros per team.
This year, we have invited Alex Layton QC, a leading specialist in private international law, to draft the case and chair the final panel of the oral round. One member of the final winning team will be given the “Best Speaker Award” of the moot, and our partner, Herbert Smith Freehills, has graciously invited the next nominee of that award for an internship in their Paris office!
The moot court competition comprises a written round and oral round. For the written round each team will be required to submit a written assignment as requested by the case (details see Rules and Procedures). The oral round will be scheduled as a 2 full-day event on 28-29 May 2020, preceded by a welcoming event for all teams on 27 May (evening). The first day of the competition (general rounds) will be held at the University of Antwerp. On the second day, the participating teams will be invited to the EU Commission in Brussels, where the semi-finals and final rounds will be held. Detailed schedule will be published in March.
PAX Moot 2020 – Asser Round is a specialized moot court competition focused on Transnational Law and Private International Law issues. In this competition, participants will be able to learn and apply first-hand the complexities and nuances of how international Conventions and Regulations interact in the context of globalization. Without pleading on the merits of the case, PAX Moot participants will be given a case geared towards jurisdictional and choice of law disputes. Clear goals will be given to each team as to which preliminary ruling they will be striving to achieve, which will form the primary contention of the moot.
Private International Law, or Conflict of Laws, is the set of legal principles, devices, modes of reasoning and rules that leads to the application of different national laws in international cases, allocates jurisdiction and regulates the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. This field of law has increasingly come to the foreground of significant multinational legal disputes, where sometimes the entire case hinges on jurisdiction, applicability of certain national regulations or cross-border effects of judgments. It now plays an important role in the area of environmental regulations, labour and human rights protections, digital transactions and other global issues.
Pax Moot 2020 – Asser Round will comprise of a written round and oral round. The oral round will be scheduled as a 2 full-day event at the end of May 2020 (27-29 May 2020). The first day of the competition (general rounds) will be held at the University of Antwerp. On the second day, the participating teams will be invited to the EU Commission in Brussels, where the semi-finals and final rounds will be held. Registration will open on 13 January 2020, and the case will be published at around the same time. The Registration fee is set at 100 Euros per Team.
The organisers, thanks to the JUDGTRUST project co-funded by the European Commission, are able to offer some financial support covering transportation and accommodation costs relating to the oral round for a number of participating teams.
Registration is set to open from January 15th to March 30th. The case for this year’s moot will also be published as registration opens on January 15th. We look forward to welcoming you in Brussels!
Sincerely,
PAX Moot Team
This project is funded by the Justice Programme of the European Union (2014-2020)
