A specialised moot court for private international law.
What began in 2012 as an internal activity at Sciences Po Paris is today a European competition that draws teams from across the continent and beyond, dedicated to the questions where transnational disputes are decided.
From a Sciences Po seminar to a European institution.
The PAX Moot Competition started in 2012 as an internal moot court activity at Sciences Po Paris, initiated by Professor Horatia Muir Watt and Hélène van Lith as part of the Sciences Po team. Over the years, the PAX Moot Court grew in size as it attracted more and more teams from across Europe and the world.
This was in large part made possible by the support of the European Commission through successive programmes that funded the moot's organisation, partner network, and case development.
Today the moot is run by a dedicated Organising Committee drawn from seven partner universities and research institutes, with an Executive Team coordinating the annual competition end-to-end.
Where transnational disputes are decided.
The PAX Moot is a specialised competition focused on Transnational Law and Private International Law. Participants learn and apply, first-hand, the complexities and nuances of how international conventions and EU regulations interact in the context of globalisation.
Jurisdiction
Which forum may hear a cross-border dispute, and on what grounds.
Choice of law
Which national law applies when several legal systems claim to govern the same case.
Recognition
When and how a foreign judgment is recognised and enforced.
Merits of the case
Teams plead jurisdictional, conflict-of-laws, and recognition issues — not the merits of the underlying dispute.
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. It increasingly takes centre stage in significant multinational disputes — from environmental regulation and labour and human rights protections, to digital transactions and other global issues.
Funded by the European Union.
Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
- 01 2018 – 2020
JUDGTRUST
First European Commission programme to support the moot's expansion beyond Sciences Po.
- 02 2020 – 2022
PAX Project
Consolidated PAX Moot as a recurring European competition, with a growing partner network.
- 03 2022 – 2024
PAX 2.0
Broadened reach to additional universities and refined the case-development process.
- 04 2024 – 2026
PAX 3.0
Current cycle — funding the Vladimir Koutikov Round and the next generation of the moot.
Run by an Executive Team and seven partner universities.
The PAX Moot is coordinated by an Executive Team of two and an Organising Committee drawn from seven partner institutions across Europe.
Join the 14th edition.
Reserve your university's place in the Vladimir Koutikov Round.