Lachs Space Moot

Last updated
Lachs Space Moot
Established1993
VenueVaries
Subject matter Space law
ClassGrand Slam [1] [2] [3]
Record participation92 teams (2021)
QualificationMemorials; national and regional rounds
Most championships George Washington University (3)
National Law School of India University (3)
Website Official website OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition or Lachs Space Moot is a space law moot competition organised by the International Institute of Space Law. The competition is named after Manfred Lachs, a former judge of the International Court of Justice. It is not only the oldest international student competition on space law (with the first edition of the moot taking place in 1993), but also one of the oldest international moots. As the class-leading moot in its field and given its scale, the Lachs Moot is considered one of the major or grand slam moots. [3] [4] In 2011, another space law moot came about, organised by the International Air & Space Law Academy. [5] It is a different moot that is much smaller in scale, and has since become defunct. [6]

In addition to national rounds for certain countries, five regional competitions have been held for the Lachs Moot to date—Africa (introduced in 2012), Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America (introduced in 2021), and North America—with the winners of each region proceeding to the world or international rounds at a venue that changes every year (depending on where the International Astronautical Congress is held). At the international rounds, a preliminary round and two semi-finals are held before the world championship round, which is typically judged by three sitting ICJ judges. [7] [8] For a period of time, the regional and world rounds were held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In each oral round of the moot there is an applicant and a respondent, and each side is represented by two counsel (any of counsel cannot be seated together with them). Each team also has to submit written memorials for both sides. These memorials are re-evaluated during the world rounds.

Competition records (world rounds)

YearNumber of teams (excluding national rounds)World champion (win number)Runner-up (win number)Semi-finalist(s)Best Oralist (win number)Best Memorials (win number)
2025*
*
2024 [9] 90Asia Pacific: Singapore Management University (1)Europe: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (3)* North America: McGill University
* Latin America: National Autonomous University of Mexico
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (3)Singapore Management University (1)
2023 [10] 73Asia Pacific: China University of Political Science and Law (1)Europe: University of Cologne (1)* Africa: University of Calabar
* Latin America: National Autonomous University of Mexico
University of Cologne (1)China University of Political Science and Law (1)
2022 (online) [11] 81Europe: Leiden University (3)North America: George Washington University (2)* Africa: Midlands State University
* Asia Pacific: West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences
George Washington University (1)Leiden University (2)
2021 (online) [12] 92Europe: The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple (1)Asia Pacific: National Law School of India University (1)* Africa: University of Pretoria
* North America:
National Law School of India University (3)National Law School of India University (3)
2020 (online) [13] Asia Pacific: National Law University, Delhi (2)Europe: University of Vienna (1)* Africa: University of Pretoria
* North America: Georgetown University
University of Vienna (1)University of Vienna (1)
2019 [12] [14] 69Europe: University of Ljubljana (1)Africa: University of Calabar (1)* Asia Pacific: National University of Singapore
* North America: McGill University
University of Calabar (1)McGill University (3)
2018 [15] 77Africa: University of Pretoria (1)Asia Pacific: Symbiosis Law School (1)* North America: Louisiana State University
* Europe: Belarusian State University
University of Pretoria (1)Belarusian State University (1)
2017 [16] 74Asia: National Law School of India University (3)North America: University of Mississippi (1)* Africa: University of Pretoria
* Europe: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
University of Mississippi (1)National Law School of India University (2)
2016 [17] 66Europe: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1)Africa: Obafemi Awolowo University (1)* Asia: Curtin University
* North America: McGill University
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2)McGill University (2)
2015 [18] 58North America: University of Mississippi (1)Europe: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2)* Asia: NALSAR University of Law
* Africa: Obafemi Awolowo University
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1)University of Mississippi (1)
2014 [19] 61Asia: National Law University, Delhi (1)North America: Florida State University (1)* Africa: Obafemi Awolowo University
* Europe: Paris-Sud University
National Law University, Delhi (1)Florida State University (1)
2013 [20] 60North America: Georgetown University (2)Europe: Leiden University (2)* Africa: University of Pretoria
* Asia: National Law University, Delhi
Georgetown University (4)Georgetown University (2)
2012 [21] 54Asia: National Law School of India University (2)Europe: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1)* Africa: Obafemi Awolowo University
* North America: University of California at Davis
National Law School of India University (2)National Law School of India University (1)
201144North America: Florida State University (1)Asia: National University of Singapore (3)Europe: Saint Petersburg State University National University of Singapore (3)Obafemi Awolowo University (1)
201048North America: George Washington University (3)Asia Pacific: National University of Singapore (2)Europe: University of CologneNational University of Singapore (2)National University of Singapore (2)
2009 [22] 48Asia: National Law School of India University (1)North America: Georgetown University (3)Europe: University of Strathclyde National Law School of India University (1)Georgetown University (1)
2008 [23] 53Asia: University of New South Wales (1)Europe: University of Augsburg (1)North America: Georgetown UniversityUniversity of New South Wales (1)University of Augsburg (1)
2007 [24] 54North America: George Washington University (2)Asia: University of Queensland (1)Europe: Leiden UniversityUniversity of Queensland (1)University of Queensland (1)
2006 [25] 56Asia: University of Auckland (2)North America: McGill UniversityEurope: KU LeuvenMcGill University (1)McGill University (1)
200547North America: George Washington University (1)Asia: National University of Singapore (1)Europe: University of Cambridge National University of Singapore (1)National University of Singapore (1)
200439Europe: Leiden University (2)North America: Georgetown University (2)Asia: National Law School of India UniversityGeorgetown University (3)Leiden University (1)
200325Asia: University of Auckland (1)North America: Georgetown University (1)Europe: University of Bremen Georgetown University (2)University of Bremen (1)
200223North America: Georgetown University (1)Asia: University of New South Wales (1)Europe: University of Warwick Georgetown University (1)University of New South Wales (1)
2001Asia: National University of Singapore (1)North America: University of North Carolina (2)Europe: Dijon University University of North Carolina (3)University of North Carolina (1)
2000Europe: University of Paris XI (2)North America: Hamline University (1)Asia: National University of SingaporeHamline University (1)University of Paris XI (3)
1999North America: Vanderbilt University (1)Europe: University of Paris XI (1)Vanderbilt University (1)University of Paris XI (2)
1998North America: University of North Carolina (2)Europe: University of Helsinki (2)University of North Carolina (2)University of Helsinki (1)
1997Europe: University of Paris XI (1)North America: University of North Carolina (1)University of North Carolina (1)University of Paris XI (1)
1996Europe: University of Helsinki (1)North America: University of Wyoming (1)
1995North America: University of North Carolina (1)Europe: Leiden University (1)
1994North America: John Marshall University (1)Europe: University of Helsinki (1)
1993Europe: Leiden University (1)Europe: George Washington University (1)

References

  1. "The 2017/18 International Moots Season in Review". 8 October 2018.
  2. "A Recap of the 2018/19 International Moots Season". 7 September 2019.
  3. 1 2 "COVID-19 and the 2019/20 International Moots Season". 7 October 2020.
  4. "NLS Bangalore wins Manfred Lachs space moot grand slam after 3 years [Update]".
  5. "Lachs spat split: Is this solar system big enough for two Space Moots?".
  6. "Space Law Moot Court Competition". space-law-centre.
  7. "NLUD team wins Manfred Lachs Space Law International Moot Competition 2020". 28 October 2020.
  8. "NLU Delhi wins Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Competition 2020". 27 October 2020.
  9. "Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition Finals successfully held in Milan - International Institute of Space Law | IISL". Archived from the original on 2024-11-03. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  10. "RESULTS: 32nd Annual Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court World Finals - International Institute of Space Law | IISL". Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  11. "MSU Reach Semis as Leiden University Wins 2022 Manfred Lachs Competition". 21 September 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Archives: Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition – Previous Editions – IISL – International Institute of Space Law".
  13. "NLU Delhi wins Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Competition 2020". 27 October 2020.
  14. "Africa Emerges as Runner-Up at the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot World Finals 2019". 24 October 2019.
  15. "Africa wins the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot World Finals 2018". 5 October 2018.
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  17. "25th Manfred Lachs space law moot court competition - Introduction Case Winning Memorials" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-01-23.
  18. "Ole Miss wins space law contest".
  19. "Results of the 2014 Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition - SpaceNews".
  20. "ISPL Congratulates the Winner of the 2013 Lachs Moot | London Institute of Space Policy and Law ISPL Congratulates the Winner of the 2013 Lachs Moot | London Institute of Space Policy and Law".
  21. "India Wins Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court".
  22. "NLS wins international Space Moot after one-year journey".
  23. "Australian Space Academy Space Law News Notes".
  24. "The 2007 Manfred Lachs space law moot court competition - case concerning international liability" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-01-23.
  25. "World win for Auckland legal debating team".