Open Challengers 2025 | By Moot Court Society, NLSIU
July 30, 2025
Over the course of three weeks in July 2025, the Moot Court Society (MCS) at the National Law School of India University successfully conducted four Open Challenger (OC) rounds to select representative teams for some of the most prestigious international moot court competitions. These include The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the International Bar Association International Criminal Court Moot, and The John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition.
Here are the teams that will represent NLSIU at the following competitions:
- IBA ICC Moot Court Competition 2026: Lohith Reddy B (BA LLB IInd year), Ayesha Khan (BA LLB IInd year), Pradnesh Kamat (BA LLB IInd year), Aayushi Yadav (BA LLB IIIrd year)
- John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition 2026: Gurnoor Singh (BA LLB IIIrd year), Chahat Bhambri (BA LLB IIIrd year), Bhumika Bansal (BA LLB IIIrd)
- 33rd Willem C. Vis (Vienna) International Commercial Arbitration Moot 2026: Aumita Mishra ( BA LLB IVth year), Dewanshee Singh (BA LLB IIIrd year), Arushi Singh (BA LLB IVth year), and Abhyudaya Singh (BA LLB IVth year)
- 23rd Vis East (Hong Kong) Moot 2026: Akshat Agarwal (BA LLB IVth year), Namya Gambhir (BA LLB IVth year), Aditya Bhargava (BA LLB IVth year), and Viraj Thakur (BA LLB IIIrd year)
- The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition: Anoushka Kothari (BA LLB Vth year), Anshu Varahagiri (BA LLB Vth year), Kartik Kalra (BA LLB Vth year), Rishab Deviah (BA LLB Vth year)
About the Open Challenger
The Open Challenger format for all four competitions, introduced for the first time this year, was conceived as an intensive, simulation-based selection mechanism conducted at the very beginning of the academic year. With two rounds held on campus and two online, the format was tailored to reflect the procedural structure, complexity, and advocacy standards of the actual competitions. Despite tight schedules, the OCs drew participation from over 80 students across batches and were executed with academic rigour and logistical precision.
The orals rounds for the competitions happened on the following days:
- Jessup OC: July 13, 2025
- Vis (Vienna and Hong Kong) OC: July 19 and 20, 2025
- ELSA: July 12 and 13, 2025
- IBA ICC: July 5 and 6, 2025
Drafting Problems
Each OC problem was meticulously crafted to align with the subject matter and procedural expectations of the respective moot. The drafting team – Ms. Sanya Kishwar, Ms. Ronjini Ray, Dr. Ajar Rab, and Mr. Arnav Sharma, designed problems that challenged participants to engage with complex issues in international law, commercial arbitration, trade, and criminal procedure. These problems served not only as evaluative tools but as pedagogical exercises, exposing participants to realistic case analysis under pressure.
Adjudication
The rounds were adjudicated by a panel of 16 accomplished legal professionals, many of whom are distinguished alumni of NLSIU and veterans of the international mooting circuit. Their assessments combined doctrinal depth with advocacy expertise, offering participants substantive feedback on argument structure, legal reasoning, and courtroom presentation. All the rounds were marked by high-calibre performances, evidencing participants’ intellectual agility, research clarity, and courtroom composure.
The Judging Panel across the challengers comprised Aniruddha Basu, Ashika Jain, Devyani Gupta, Akshay Sapre, Sneha Bhandary, Sapna Khajuria, Dr. Priya Pillai, Mihir Naniwadekar, Rishabha Meena, Dr. Bipin Kumar, Gauri Tyagi, Anand Nandakumar, Harshit Kothari, Dr. Rashmi Salpekar, Sameena Syed, and Rohit Gupta.
A Note from MCS
Beyond the competitive dimension, the Open Challengers served as a vital learning platform. For many participants, these rounds constituted their first significant engagement with international-style mooting. The experience enabled students to develop practical advocacy skills, refine their understanding of comparative legal systems, and receive structured guidance from seasoned professionals. Even the teams that may not have won the challengers emerged with a clearer sense of direction, enhanced skillsets, and a deeper appreciation for the demands of global mooting.
The successful execution of the Open Challengers would not have been possible without the exceptional commitment and coordination of the members of the Moot Court Society and the Convenors. Operating under tight timelines and managing multiple complex moots back-to-back, they ensured that every aspect, from problem-setting and judge coordination to logistics and evaluation, was handled with precision and professionalism. Their ability to deliver high-quality rounds within a compressed schedule is a testament to their dedication, efficiency, and deep understanding of the mooting ecosystem at NLSIU.
This initiative reflects the Moot Court Society’s commitment to evolving mooting pedagogy at NLSIU by bridging doctrinal excellence with realistic simulation, and by cultivating not only competitive strength but also intellectual discipline and collaborative learning. As the selected teams now begin their preparations to represent NLSIU at global forums, they carry forward a legacy grounded in academic integrity, procedural excellence, and institutional pride.
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