The West and South Asia Regional Rounds of the 23rd John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition (Regional Rounds) at NLU Jodhpur commenced with a distinguished opening ceremony, setting the stage for an intellectually stimulating and globally significant competition. This year, the event welcomes 19 teams from across India and beyond borders all brought together by their shared commitment to excellence in international trade law and dispute resolution.
To ceremony kick started with the opening note by the convenors of Research and Advisory Centre for International Economic Law, Srividya M S and Vipashyana Hilsayan. Dr. Bipin Kumar opened the event with insightful remarks, highlighting the importance of fostering advocacy skills and deepening legal knowledge in international trade law. Following him, Prof. (Dr.) Harpreet Kaur, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of NLU Jodhpur, addressed the gathering, emphasizing how platforms like these not only refine legal acumen but also prepare students for the evolving challenges of global trade governance. The Chief Guest, Prof. Murali Kallummal, delivered an engaging speech, drawing attention to the growing relevance of international trade law in shaping economic policies and resolving cross-border disputes.
The event also had the privilege of hosting representatives from ELSA International, our key collaborators in making this competition a success. Among them were Aliena Trefny and Ms. Gia, the Vice President in charge of Competitions at ELSA and Director of Competitions, who brought the perspective of ELSA’s global mission. Aliena Trefny addressed the audience, speaking on the transformative role of the Regional Rounds in shaping the next generation of international trade law practitioners. The ceremony concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr.Manoj Singh, who expressed gratitude to all the dignitaries, participants, and organizers for their contributions in making this event a remarkable success.
This competition would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, whose contributions were vital to the success of the event. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our Platinum Sponsor, Centre for Trade and Investment Law and Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan attorneys (LKS); our Gold Sponsors, Sarvada Legal and the Centre for WTO Studies ; our Knowledge Partners, SCC Online & SCC Times; our Global Sponsors, Van Bael & Bellis, Steptoe LLP, and Baker McKenzie; in association with World Trade Organization, for their invaluable support.
With the competition now in full swing, we look forward to witnessing thought-provoking legal arguments, strategic advocacy, and the spirit of excellence that defines the Regional Rounds at NLU Jodhpur. As participants engage in high-level legal discourse, we are confident that this platform will continue to shape future leaders in international trade law
