Organized by: YourLegalAid.online
Theme: Business Law, International Arbitration & Competition Law
Mode: Hybrid (Written Rounds Online, Final at Partner Law School)
Eligibility: Open to all students pursuing 3-year or 5-year law degrees
āļø About the Moot
The second edition of the prestigious Vox Legal Moot Court Competition, titled Commerce & Conflict, explores the evolving world of cross-border business disputes, arbitration enforcement, and regulatory tension between free markets and fair markets.
This edition challenges students to simulate real-world corporate litigation and arbitration issues involving foreign investment, digital monopoly, and competition law. Participants will draft memorials and present oral arguments before panels consisting of legal professionals and academicians in the fields of commercial and international law.
š Moot Proposition
In the International Commercial Arbitration Tribunal, Veritas Chapter
Case No. ICA/24/2025
IN THE MATTER OF
Altavia Enterprises Ltd. v. Republic of Arnika & VMark Inc.
- Altavia Enterprises Ltd., a technology conglomerate headquartered in the Republic of Calidora, entered into a joint venture in 2021 with VMark Inc., a social commerce company based in Arnika ā a fast-developing economy. The JV agreement included a governing law clause under Calidoran law and a dispute resolution clause referring all conflicts to arbitration under the International Arbitration Rules of Veritas, seated in Veritas City.
- In late 2024, Altavia discovered that VMark had been integrating a data-mining algorithm that allegedly diverted traffic and consumer data to its exclusive products, violating the JVās neutrality clauses. Simultaneously, the Arnika Competition Commission (ACC) opened an investigation into Altavia, alleging abuse of dominant position and algorithmic price manipulation in its ad-serving platform.
- In response, Altavia filed for emergency arbitration in Veritas, seeking specific performance of the JV contract and an injunction against regulatory action by the Arnikan government, claiming that the investigation was politically motivated and a breach of international investment obligations under the Calidora-Arnika Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).
- The Republic of Arnika raised objections to the maintainability of the arbitration, arguing that:
- The subject matter of competition regulation falls outside the scope of the arbitration clause.
- Sovereign regulatory actions are protected under the State Exception Clause of the BIT.
- Emergency arbitrators have no jurisdiction to interfere with domestic enforcement actions.
- VMark Inc., while distancing itself from the ACC investigation, asserted that Altavia had materially breached data protection commitments under domestic law, and any arbitration must be limited to contractual disputes, not regulatory challenges.
- The arbitral tribunal is now called upon to adjudicate the following issues:
- Whether the arbitration clause extends to disputes involving sovereign regulatory action and BIT claims.
- Whether the Emergency Arbitrator has jurisdiction to grant interim measures restraining a State.
- Whether Altavia’s conduct constitutes a violation of competition law and contractual obligations under the JV.
š Awards & Recognition
- Winning Team: ā¹15,000 + Trophy + Internship Opportunity
- Best Memorial: ā¹7,500 + Digital Publication
- Best Speaker (Final Round): ā¹5,000
- Top 8 teams receive special participation certificates
š Key Dates
- Registration Deadline: September 15, 2024
- Clarifications Release: September 22, 2024
- Memorial Submission: October 6, 2024
- Preliminary Rounds: October 18ā19, 2024
- Final Oral Rounds (Offline): October 25, 2024
š Registration & Queries
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