Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot
The FDI Moot, an initiative of the Centre for International Legal Studies, is about international investments and issues such as licensing agreements, environmental law, expropriation, corporate structures, and damages are recurring themes. Due to travel restrictions brought about by COVID-19, the 2019/20 and 2020/21 editions were held online. The 2022/23 edition saw a return to in-person format, though some teams were able to participate remotely.
The FDI Moot problem is also used in a separate competition, the FDI Mediation Moot.
Established: 2008
Venue (international rounds): Varies
Record number of participants: 120 teams (2019)
Subject matter: Investment arbitration
Qualification process: National and regional rounds for select jurisdictions, with pre-moots available, such as Budapest
Prep window: January to October
Comp duration (international rounds): 6 days, with socio-academic events included
Maximum team size: No limit (5 if team comprises members from different universities)
Team anonymity: Yes
Format (international rounds): Sit-down, 4 issues, 2 speakers, 40 minutes (including 1-speaker rebuttal); 4 prelim rounds, knockouts from 32 with power seeding; 16,000-word (all incl) pleadings for each side
Memorial weightage: Varies
Advanced round qualification priority: Varies
Registration fee: 225 to 750 euros per team
Repeat participation: Allowed
Multiple teams from same institution: Allowed
Most championships: Two-way tie (2)
Official website | facebook
Past winners
Final four (no of teams)
2023: NALSAR University; University of Delhi
2022 (72): University of Warsaw; Saint Petersburg State University; University of San Andres; University of Buenos Aires
2021 (online): Symbiosis Law School, Pune; University of Miami; Kabarak University; National University of Singapore
2020 (online): University of Sao Paulo; Paris Bar School; Jagiellonian University; Universitas Airlangga
2019 (120): Saint Petersburg State University; MGIMO University; Singapore Management University; National and Kapodistrian University
2018 (110): Lomonosov Moscow State University; University of Montevideo; University of Ottawa
2017 (100): National Law School of India University; Charles University; Lomonosov Moscow State University
2016 (109): Paris Bar School; Harvard University; Universiti Teknologi Mara
2015 (82): National and Kapodistrian University; Universitas Pelita Harapan; National Law School of India University
2014 (86): University of Warsaw; New York University; National and Kapodistrian University; Jagiellonian University
2013 (72): Harvard University; Monash University; New York University; University of Warsaw
2012 (36): University of Ottawa; King's College London; Harvard University
2011 (35): King's College London; Georgetown University; City University of Hong Kong
2010 (32): Murdoch University; New York University; University of Dusseldorf
2009 (19): Pepperdine University; St Petersburg State University; University of Belgrade; King's College London
2008 (21): Murdoch University; Pepperdine University; New York University; University of Belgrade
Best advocate
2023:
2022: University of Warsaw
2021 (online): Ateneo Law School
2020 (online): Saarland University
2019: University of Ottawa
2018: University of International Business and Economics
2017: University of Ottawa
2016: Mosler Kenya School of Law and NALSAR University
2015: National and Kapodistrian University
2014: University of Warsaw
2013: St Petersburg State University
2012: University of Hong Kong
2011: Federal University of Minas Gerais
2010: New York University
2009: Pepperdine University and Suffolk University
2008: New York University
Best advocate (final)
2023:
2022: University of Warsaw
2021 (online): University of Miami
2020 (online): University of Sao Paulo
2019: St Petersburg State University
2018: Lomonosov Moscow State University
2017: National Law School of India University
2016: Paris Bar School
2015: National and Kapodistrian University
2014: New York University
Best memorial (C)
2022: Saarland University
2021: University of Malaya
2020: National and Kapodistrian University
2019: University of Ottawa
2018: National Law University, Jodhpur
2017: Paris Bar School
2016: St Petersburg State University
2015: National and Kapodistrian University
2014: University of Ottawa
2013: National Law University, Delhi
2012: NALSAR University
2011: University of Barcelona
2010: Russian Academy of Justice
2009: King's College London
2008: New York University
Best memorial (R)
2022: Paris Bar School
2021: Symbiosis Law School, Pune
2020: University of Malaya
2019: National Research University HSE
2018: West Bengal National University
2017: National University of Advanced Legal Studies
2016: National and Kapodistrian University
2015: Harvard University
2014: Harvard University
2013: University of Bueno Aires
2012: St Petersburg State University
2011: King's College London
2010: New York University
2009: Murdoch University
2008: University of Wisconsin