Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot
The Frankfurt Moot is the oldest competition in the field of investment arbitration. It is supported by the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, with pre-moots organised by the likes of the European Court of Arbitration and International Chamber of Commerce and in cities such as Milan and Moscow.
The moot problem is unique in that it is based on various historical documents and disputes but analysed through the lens of modern international law and modern international trade principles. Moreover, the allocation of issues and sides are only done shortly before each oral pleading. Judges in the international rounds include judges of international tribunals, King's Counsel, and prominent investment arbitration practitioners and arbitrators. Due to travel restrictions brought about by COVID-19, the 2019/20 edition was cancelled, and the 2020/21 and 2021/22 editions held online. The 2022/23 edition saw a return to in-person format.
Established: 2008
Venue: Frankfurt
Record number of participants: 105 teams (2022)
Subject matter: Investment arbitration
Qualification process: National rounds for select jurisdictions; pre-moots available, such as Milan and Moscow
Prep window: October to March
Comp duration: 5 days, with socio-academic events included
Maximum team size: 4
Team anonymity: No
Format: Sit-down, 3 to 4 of 9 issues, 2 to 4 speakers, 30 to 45 minutes (including 2 to 4-speaker rebuttal); 3 to 4 prelim rounds, knockouts from 16 with power seeding; 2,500-word skeletals
Memorial weightage: None
Advanced round qualification: Oral scores
Registration fee: free
Repeat participation: Allowed
Multiple teams from same institution: Not allowed
Most championships: Three-way tie
Official website | LinkedIn
Past winners
Final four (no of teams)
2024 (40): Galatasaray University; National Law University, Jodhpur; University of Munich; University of Vienna
2023 (66): Symbiosis Law School, Pune; University of Munich; NALSAR University; National University of Singapore
2022 (online): Singapore Management University; Centre for Modern International Law Studies; City, University of London; Sciences Po
2021 (online): National University of Singapore; Government Law College, Mumbai; National University of Study and Research in Law; University of Amsterdam
2019 (64): Moscow State Institute of International Relations; University of Vienna; Singapore Management University; University of Latvia
2018 (47): National University of Singapore; University of Ljubljana; Universidad de Bueno Aires; University of Novi Sad
2017 (66): Singapore Management University; Gujarat National Law University; George Washington University; Lomonosov State University
2016 (63): Bucerius Law School; National University of Singapore; Aristotle University; Jindal Global Law School
2015 (36): Jindal Global Law School; Singapore Management University; National Law University, Delhi; National University of Singapore
2014 (30): University of Miami and Sciences Po; George Washington University; Norman Manley Law School
2013 (34): Stockholm University; Peking University; American University; Gujarat National Law University
2012 (32): Norman Manley Law School; University of Versailles
2011 (26): University of Miami; Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
2010 (21): Georgetown University; George Washington University
2009 (27): La Trobe University; City University of Hong Kong
2008 (~ 10): Martin Luther Universitat Halle-Wittenberg; St Gallen University
Best speaker
2022: Centre for Modern International Law Studies
2019: Moscow State Institute of International Relations
2018: University of Ljubljana
2017: Singapore Management University
2016: Bucerius Law School
2015: Jindal Global Law School
2014: Sciences Po
2013: Stockholm University
2012: Stockholm University
2011: Norman Manley Law School
2010: Georgetown University
2009: La Trobe University
2008: St Gallen University