FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
1. DEFINITIONS
2. GENERAL PROVISIONS
2.1. Organization
2.2. Administration
2.3. Subject Matter
2.4. Structure
2.5. Venue of Oral Hearing
2.6. Language
2.7. Copyright
3. PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY
3.1. Team Composition
3.2. Participation
3.3. Outside Assistance
3.4. Respect for International Law and Special Conditions for the Participation of Teams
in Exceptional Situations
4. REGISTRATION
4.1. Registration Form
4.2. Registration Fee
4.3. Official Registration
5. CASE
5.1. Dispute
5.2. Drafting the Case
5.3. Case Delivery
5.4. Requests for Clarifications
5.5. Bench Brief
6. WRITTEN MEMORIALS
6.1. Submission of Memorials
6.2. Content
6.3. Length
6.4. Style Requirements
6.5. List of Authorities and Citations
6.6. Quotations
6.7. Cover Page
6.8. Review and Scoring of Memorials
6.9. Receipt of Memorials of Other Teams
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
6.10. Regional Round Skeleton Briefs
7. ORAL HEARING
7.1. General Procedure
7.2. Oral Arguments
7.3. Oral Rounds
7.4. Arbitrators
7.5. Communication and Use of Electronic Devices During Oral Rounds
7.6. Publicity
7.7. Evidence
7.8. Scouting
7.9. Ex Parte Oral Rounds
7.10. Scoring
7.11. Preliminary Rounds
7.12. Elimination Rounds
8. PRIZES
8.1. Winner of the Oral Competition
8.2. Best Advocate
8.3. Best Memorial for Claimant
8.4. Best Memorial for Respondent
8.5. Highest-Ranked Team
9. PENALTIES
9.1. Penalties for Written and Oral Performances
9.2. Disqualification
10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1. Communication
10.2. Interpretation of Rules
10.3. Observance of Rules
10.4. Decisions of Organizer
1. DEFINITIONS
"Registration Fee": An official fee transferred by each Team to cover administrative
expenses for the competition (moot). The 2019 fee is EUR750 (EUR450 and EUR 250
respectively for teams from institutions in countries with a "Medium" HDI or "Low"
HDI - see http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/).
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
2. GENERAL PROVISIONS
2.1. Organization
The Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot ("the FDI Moot", "The
Skadden, Arps FDI Moot", or "the Moot") is an annual competition organized by the
Center for International Legal Studies ("the Organizer") in cooperation with the
following founding institutions:
Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts (Prof. Christopher Gibson)
Pepperdine University Law School, Malibu, California (Prof. Jack Coe)
Centre of European Law, King's College London (Dr Federico Ortino)
German Institution of Arbitration (DIS), Frankfurt/Cologne, Germany (Prof Stefan Kröll)
Together, these Founders have signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the
Establishment of Foreign Direct Investment International Moot Competition.
2.2. Administration
1. The Organizer is responsible for the organization and execution of the Moot.
2. All requests regarding the administration of the Moot, implementation and
interpretation of its Rules will be directed to the Organizer.
3. The Organizer is located at Matzenkopfgasse 19, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria; Tel. +43
(662) 835399; Fax +43 (662) 835399-09, or the Moot Website at www.fdimoot.org. All
communications with the Organizer must be via e-mail using
http://www.fdimoot.org/fdimootcontact.php or the administrative email address
disclosed to registered teams.
4. The Organizer may designate one or more Directors of the FDI Moot.
2.3. Subject Matter
1. The Moot involves a hypothetical dispute in connection with an investment by a
foreign investor in a host state.
2. Relevant institutional (e.g., the Rules of Procedure for Arbitration Proceedings or the
Additional Facility Rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment
Disputes, Arbitration Rules of the London Court of International Arbitration) or ad hoc
rules (e.g., UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules) will apply to the proceedings.
2.4. Structure
The Moot consists of two stages: preparation and submission of written Memorials for
each of Claimant and Respondent, and presentation of oral arguments at the Oral
Hearings.
The Organizer may authorize Regional and National Rounds for the purposes of
qualifying and/or financing for the Global Rounds.
2.5. Venue of Oral Hearing
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
Each year the Oral Hearings are held at venues determined by the Organiser and
founders two years in advance.
2.6. Language
The Moot will be conducted in English.
2.7. Copyright
1. All materials prepared by or for the Organizer for the Moot, including without
limitation, the case, any bench brief, the procedural orders, clarifications, the Rules,
the Schedule etc. are the exclusive property of the Organizer and may not be used for
any purpose other than administration of the Moot and/or participation therein,
without prior express written consent by the Organizer.
2. All Memorials submitted in the Moot become the sole property of the Organizer and
may be copyrighted as such, while respecting the authors’ moral rights.
3. The Organizer reserves all the rights to the audio and videotaping of any Oral Round,
or part thereof, subject to the privacy rights of the participants.
3. PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY
3.1. Team Composition
Each team should have two “student-members” to plead in each hearing; they need
not be the same student members in each match.
A student-member (i) is currently or (ii) has been within six months of the deadline for
memorial submission enrolled in a course of study leading to a law qualification (e.g.,
LLB, LLM, M.iur, JD, diploma in professional practice or equivalent). Students enrolled
in non-law programs may participate on prior written consent of the Organiser.
The Organiser may exceptionally permit a person with more than six months’ PQE to
participate as a student-member of a team.
Previous participation in the FDI Moot does not exclude a student-member.
The number of each team’s student members is unlimited, provided they all are (or
have been recently) enrolled at the same institution (even if in different courses or
degree programs).
A team with student-members from more than one institution is limited to 5 team
members, whether students or coaches. The registration fee for the institution from
the highest HDI country shall apply.1
A team may have non-student-members, i.e., coaches and academic supervisors.
1
Consequently, where such teams involve institutions from different Regions, they must elect - from the
outset - the Regional or Global format to which they will adhere by selecting the team’s “country” when
registering.
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
All research, writing and pleading must be exclusively the work product of student-
members. Non-student-members must limit themselves to giving the team
organisational (and financial) support, general guidance and feedback.
The registration fee covers the participation at the Oral Rounds of 5 team members,
whether students or coaches. The Organisers and Hosts of the Globals, Regionals and
Nationals may impose a surcharge for additional team members attending.
A list of each team’s member must be finalised and submitted online by the deadline
for the submission of the Claimant memorial (or sooner as maybe required for a
national or regional round).
A visiting student, a student enrolled as an extern or apprentice may also become a
team member.
3.2. Participation
1. In each match of the Oral Rounds, each Team is represented by exactly two student-
member advocates. The same or different student members may participate in
different matches.
Where a Team becomes unable to field two advocates for the oral hearings, the
Organizer may in its discretion permit the Team to participate with its sole remaining
student member pleading (i) only half the issues/allotted time or (ii) all the
issues/allotted time. In the case of (i), the Team will not be able to win matches or
advance to the elimination rounds, but the sole advocate will remain individually
eligible for ranking; in the case of (ii), the Team may also win matches and advance to
the elimination rounds, though in its discretion the Organizer may impose a penalty for
the Team only having one advocate.
2. Teams may not reveal their institutional affiliation(s) to the Arbitrators or Memorial
Judges at any time during the Competition. Every Team will be referred to by its
competition alias assigned by the Organizer.
3. Team members are responsible for their own travel to, visas for, and
accommodations at the venue of the Oral Hearings.
3.3. Outside Assistance
1. All research, writing and editing, especially of memorials, must be the exclusive
product of student Team members.
Teams may seek and receive outside assistance, which must be limited to a general
discussion of the issues, suggestions as to research sources, general comments on
arguments, organization and structure, and practice for the Oral Hearings. Teams may
also receive financial and logistical support.
2. Teams must indicate any person attending the oral rounds who has assisted the
Team, either by registering such persons as a coach member of the Teams, or making
the Organiser aware that such person, having been invited by the Organizer to act as
an Arbitrator at the orals, could give rise to an appearance of partiality if assigned to
one of the Team’s hearings.
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
Arbitrators and memorial judges should independently indicate a “conflict” with any
Team they have assisted within the meaning of this rule. See also Rule 7.4. Any
arbitrator who holds more than two practice matches (excluding official pre-moots)
with a team will be deemed a coach of that team and should instruct such team to
indicate that arbitrator as a team member (coach) in the team’s profile.
3. Pre-mooting among participating teams is permitted so long as pre-moot organizers
notify the Organizer. Pre-mooting may not involve exchange of memorials or other
materials. Pre-moot teams must accept that the Organizer cannot take account of the
pre-moot in its conduct of the Global FDI Moot orals rounds.
3.4. Respect for International Law and Special Conditions for the Participation of
Teams in Exceptional Situations
1. The FDI Moot will:
(a) Not exclude any individual or a group of individuals merely based on their
nationality or institutional affiliation.
(b) Exclude any individual who has been shown to have committed or endorsed a clear
and grave violation of international law.
(c) The FDI Moot may decide each year, at its discretion and based on the available
evidence concerning the situation, that for that year, students from an institution may
participate only as an ad hoc team 2 in order to maintain the integrity of the
competition and honour the values shared by the international legal community.
(d) Not acknowledge any team’s or team member’s affiliation to an institution falling
under (c) above.
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, the Directors may make preliminary and final
determinations. Before making a final determination, the Directors will invite the
views of the person affected by the determination or their representative. Such a
determination may be revoked or amended based on clear and convincing evidence to
the contrary.
4. REGISTRATION
4.1. Registration Form
Every team must submit to the Organizer before 1 June the Registration Form
available on-line at www.fdimoot.org, designating a Team contact, communication
with whom constitutes communication with the Team. Communication by any other
team-member is at the risk of the Team.
4.2. Registration Fee
2
In practice and to varying degrees, teams and their members represent one or more institutions.
Students affiliated with an institution referred to in 1 (c) above may participate only as an ad hoc team.
Such team will be identified only by its alias throughout the competition including in any awards. The
members of such teams may not refer to their institutional affiliation in the competition or in the media.
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
The Registration Fee must be paid by 1 June.
If a Team withdraws from the Moot before the first deadline for submitting requests
for clarification, its Registration Fee may be refunded in full, less bank charges or any
other related expenses.
4.3. Official Registration
Only upon the receipt of both the Registration Form and the Registration Fee, will the
Organizer officially confirm the registration of each Team, assigning an alias for use in
the Moot (on memorials and during the oral hearings) and enabling the team to
manage its profile, clarification requests, etc.
5. CASE
5.1. Dispute
A dispute arises between a foreign investor and a host State. An (arguably) applicable
investment agreement, treaty, or national legislation provides for dispute resolution
before an arbitral tribunal consisting of three arbitrators in accordance with the
chosen arbitration rules.
The dispute involves a set of theoretical and practical procedural and substantive legal
issues both in the sphere of arbitration adjudication and foreign investment regulation
and protection. Any existing or fictitious legal provisions may be used.
The dispute itself and the names of all the parties mentioned therein are fictitious. Any
resemblance to an actual dispute or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
5.2. Drafting the Case
The Case is drafted each year by a Case Committee selected by the Organiser. See
Drafting Guidance.
5.3. Case Delivery
The Organizer posts the Case on www.fdimoot.org as stipulated in the Schedule.
5.4. Requests for Clarifications
1. The Organizer may provide all teams an equal, limited (timing and volume)
opportunity to request clarifications of the case. Details on requesting clarifications
will be disclosed to each Team when its registration is complete.
2. Any clarification responses are prepared by the Organizer and Case Committee and
posted on www.fdimoot.org in accordance with the Schedule.
3. The Organizer and Case Committee may in their absolute discretion clarify only
legally significant matters or those matters that may affect the understanding of facts
of the dispute.
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
5.5. Bench Brief
1. The Organizer may distribute a Bench Brief outlining the major issues and indicating
some possible arguments on the issues raised in the Case only to the Memorial Judges
and the Arbitrators in accordance with the Schedule.
2. The Bench Brief is strictly confidential. Authorized readers of the Bench Brief may
not disclose its contents to Teams or their coaches. The Organizer may disqualify any
arbitrator or memorial judge sharing and any Team receiving the Bench Brief.
6. WRITTEN MEMORIALS
6.1. Submission of Memorials
1. Each Team must submit a Memorial for Claimant and a Memorial for Respondent
according to the Organizer's instructions no later than the date specified in the
Schedule.
2. A Memorial must be contained in a single file and submitted in PDF format.
3. Equipment or software failure is not considered as an excuse for improper
formatting or late submission of Memorials.
4. No Team may revise, substitute, add, delete, or in any other manner alter its
Memorials once submitted.
6.2. Content
1. Each Memorial must contain the following parts:
a. Cover page;
b. Table of Contents;
c. List of Authorities;
d. Statement of Facts;
e. Arguments.
2. A Memorial may contain additional parts or exhibits as necessary.
3. The institution(s) or place(s) represented by a Team must not appear in any way on
the Memorial. A Team may be identified only by its alias assigned by the Organiser.
6.3. Length
Each Memorial must be 16,000 words or less, including the cover page, table of
contents, index, list of authorities, footnotes or other material. If 16,000 words are
exceeded3, the Organizer will deduct penalty points: 16001-16100 words: 0; 16101-
16200: -1; 16201-16300: -2; 16301-16400: -3; 16401-16501: -4; 16501-16600: -5 ....
3
https://products.aspose.app/pdf/word-counter/pdf
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
6.4. Style Requirements
1. A Memorial must be drafted in formal English. The use of Latin maxims and foreign
terms (e.g. Kompetenz-Kompetenz) is allowed if they are widely accepted and known.
2. The text including quotations within the text must be between 12 and 14 point, in a
standard, legible font and 1½ line-spacing; footnotes and tables of authorities may be
10 or 11 point and single-spaced. All margins must be at least one inch or 2.5 cm.
3. The text pages must be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals (1, 2, ….). Tables
pages must be numbered consecutively in small Roman numerals (i, ii, …). Each page
must be numbered bottom-centre.
4. The paragraphs of the statements of facts and arguments parts must be numbered
consecutively in Arabic numerals.
6.5. List of Authorities and Citations
1. The List of Authorities may contain only those authorities actually cited in a form
adequate to allow an educated reader to identify and locate the authority.
2. The footnotes must be used to cite the authorities in the arguments. Be wary of
making arguments or including facts in footnotes. The footnotes may contain a short
form of citation (if introduced in the Authorities).
6.6. Quotations
Use direct quotations judiciously. A quotation of more than two lines in length must be
block quoted and single-spaced.
6.7. Cover Page
The cover page must contain the following and only the following information:
a. The Team competition alias in the top right corner;
b. The name of the administering arbitration centre;
c. The names of the parties
d. The title of the document, i.e. Memorial for Claimant, Respondent, Applicant, or the
like, as the case may be.
It must not contain anything identifying the Team's origins (University name, logo,
URL, city, country, etc.).
6.8. Review and Scoring of Memorials
1. All Memorials submitted will be reviewed by at least three Judges.
2. Each Judge will score the Memorials on the quality of analysis of the issues involved,
persuasiveness of the arguments, logic and reasoning, writing, knowledge of the facts,
use of authorities and extent of the research.
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
3. The Organizer may deduct points for non-adherence to specifications of Rule 6.
Judges need not ascertain a memorial's technical compliance with the 16,000 word
limit; this will be monitored by the Organizer. Judges may demote a memorial for
being lengthy, pleonastic or inflated (QED) irrespective of the word count.
6.9. Receipt of Memorials of Other Teams
Three days before the Oral Hearings, each Team will receive access to the Memorials
drafted by other Teams.
6.10. Regional Round Skeleton Briefs
A team taking part in a Regional must submit a "Skeleton Brief" before the Regional
hearings (and not full memorials). The below adaptation of the preceding Rules of
Article 6 applies to Skeleton Briefs:
6.2.1. - Skeleton Briefs only include items 6.2.a. and 6.2.e referred to above.
6.2.2. - Skeleton Briefs may NOT contain additional parts or exhibits.
6.3. - Each Skeleton Brief, including any footnotes, must be 1500 words or less.
6.4. - Skeleton Briefs may be drafted in topic outline style (see example of
alphanumeric or decimal outline).
6.5. - Not applicable (see 6.2.1. above).
6.8. - The review criteria will be adjusted according to the nature of Skeleton Briefs.
6.9. - One day before the Regional Hearings, each Team will receive access to the
Skeleton Briefs drafted by other Teams.
Teams advancing from the Regionals to the Global must then submit full memorials.
7. ORAL HEARING
7.1. General Procedure
1. The Oral Hearings consist of Preliminary, Semi-Final and Final Rounds. If the
Organizer deems it beneficial to the Moot, Quarterfinal Rounds or a Round of 16 may
be conducted prior to the Semi-Final Rounds.
2. The Oral Hearings take place generally at the premises of the Host announced for
each year (see www.fdimoot.org).
7.2. Oral Arguments
Each Team presents in English oral arguments for Claimant/Applicant and for
Respondent. Its oral pleadings are not restricted to the arguments stated in its
Memorials.
7.3. Oral Rounds
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
1. Each Oral match consists of 80 minutes of oral pleading. Claimant and Respondent
are each allotted 40 minutes, including not more than 5 minutes thereof each for any
rebuttal or sur-rebuttal. A Team must allocate at least 15 minutes to each oral
advocate. The time allotted includes the time needed to answer any questions from
the panel.
2. Before the hearing begins, teams must submit to the Tribunal in writing an order of
argument, including any time reserved for rebuttal or sur-rebuttal, that is either
(i) agreed between the teams or (ii) each team's proposal (with copy to the opposing
team). If there is no agreed order of argument, the presiding arbitrator's decision is
final as to the proposals. Arbitrators must ensure that both teams are treated fairly.
3. Only students registered as Team members may act as oral advocates. No more
than two Team members may plead during one Oral Round. Other Team members
may be present in the session in which their Team is pleading.
4. The Organizer will supply the Teams with the Schedule of the Oral Rounds one week
before.
7.4. Arbitrators
Three arbitrators preside over each Oral Round. If there is a shortage of arbitrators,
the Organizer may assign two or one arbitrator to preside over the Oral round. The
Organizer appoints the arbitrators from its College of Arbitrators.
An arbitrator conflict exists if the arbitrator (1) is a current employee of an institution
that a team represents,4 (2) has a continuous close relationship with a team member,5
or (3) has been a member of an institution’s FDI Moot team within two years.
“Current” means within the same calendar year as the competition. “Close” means not
a mere acquaintance, but a friend or a relative (within three degrees) or an
intern/employee actually known to and supervised by the arbitrator.6
Rule 3.4 applies mutatis mutandis to arbitrators.
7.5. Communication and Use of Electronic Devices During Oral Rounds
1. During an Oral Round, the Team members pleading may only communicate with
those team members at the counsel's table, the Tribunal, the Secretary and opposing
counsel.
2. Behavior that distracts from the hearing is prohibited. Team members pleading in a
given Oral Round may exchange written notes or assist each other in finding the
necessary documents. No other communication is be allowed.
4
Arbitrators should indicate any conflicts when they indicate their availability for hearings.
5
Arbitrators and team captains should notify the administrator as soon as either becomes aware of any
conflict involving an arbitrator assigned to a hearing and a team member assigned to the same hearing.
If they only become aware when the hearing commences, they should also notify the co-arbitrators and
the opposing team.
6
Conflicts for the purposes of a moot can and need not be as restrictive as, for example, the IBA
Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration or ICSID’s restrictions as to nationality. For
moot arbitrators, any pecuniary prospect in connection with a moot advocate is vanishingly remote.
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
3. Use of any electronic devices (cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) such as for time-
keeping, note-taking, argument outlining or providing information in support of the
pleadings is permitted. Use of these devices to communicate with any person is
prohibited (see 1 above).
7.6. Publicity
1. All Oral Rounds may be open to the public, subject to “scouting” restrictions and the
security requirements of the host venue.
2. The Organizer may provide for the live web cast (and recording) of the Teams
pleading in the final.
By participating, team members and arbitrators consent to the use of their images and
audio-video recordings for the educational and promotional purposes of the FDI Moot.
7.7. Evidence
No documentary evidence (exhibits, handouts, flip-charts, etc.), slideshows, or
examination of witnesses or experts is allowed during the Oral Hearing.
7.8. Scouting
1. Team members or persons directly affiliated with any Team may only attend
matches in which their Team is competing, unless their Team has already been
eliminated from the Moot. This applies mutatis mutandis to Regionals, Nationals and
pre-moots.
2. No audio, video or photographic recording is permitted without prior consent of the
Organizer once the Round has commenced.
7.9. Ex Parte Oral Rounds
1. In case a Team fails to appear for a scheduled Oral Round, the arbitral tribunal after
notifying the Organizer and waiting for 15 minutes will conduct the Oral Round ex
parte. The attending Team may present its arguments and will be scored as if the
absent Team were present.
2. The Team that fails to appear at the scheduled Oral Round forfeits all points for the
round.
7.10. Scoring
1. The Arbitrators score the individual oral advocates' presentations during Preliminary
Rounds. The Organizer will prepare and supply the Arbitrators with official scoring
sheets.
2. In estimating individual oral advocates' presentations, the Arbitrators will take into
account the competence, inclusion of relevant facts, knowledge of legal norms,
structure and logic of the arguments, and responses to questions. The Arbitrators will
also take into account that for some Teams English is not their mother tongue.
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
3. Every Arbitrator may award each oral advocate a maximum of 100 points per round.
The score per Oral Round for the oral arguments of a Team is the total of the points
awarded and may be a maximum of 600 points (300 points for each Team's oral
advocate).
4. Arbitrators must conduct the Oral Hearings in accordance with the Conduct of
Hearing Guidance (http://fdimoot.org/Instructions.doc as updated from time to time).
7.11. Preliminary Rounds
1. Each Team must present an oral argument in at least four Preliminary Rounds: twice
as Claimant and twice as Respondent.
2. The Organizer may elect to conduct Preliminary Rounds in pools, round-robin or
Swiss-tournaments, and seed teams according to their written submission scores
and/or progressively during the preliminary rounds. The Teams will plead as
Respondent and as Claimant an equal number of times, and any two Teams may not
face each other more than twice.
3. Teams may advance to the elimination rounds on the basis of the aggregate scores
of its oral advocates, the number of matches it has won, or a match ranking system.
The Organizer may also factor written submission scores (on a weighted basis) into a
Team's aggregate scores or into each Team's match scores in order to determine the
winner of each match.
7.12. Elimination Rounds
1. The teams emerging from the preliminary rounds or a preceding elimination round
may be paired strongest v weakest, second strongest v second weakest, etc.
2. If the pairings do not involve each team pleading both as Claimant and Respondent,
the decision as to which Team pleads Claimant or Respondent may be determined by
lot.
8. PRIZES
8.1. Winner of the Oral Competition
The winning Team of the Final Round is the winner of the Moot and receives the
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom Trophy.
8.2. Best Advocate
The best individual oral advocate is determined by the average of the normalized
scores awarded in two or more Preliminary Rounds (irrespective of representing
Claimant or Respondent), and will receive the Thomas Wälde Advocacy Award.
On the same basis, the next 9 highest advocates will be honourably mentioned.
The best advocates arguing two rounds as Claimant or two rounds as Respondent will
be recognised.
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
The best advocate of the Final will also be recognised.
8.3. Best Memorial for Claimant
The Team that receives the greatest number of points from the Memorial Judges for
its Memorial for Claimant receives the Award for the Best Memorial for Claimant.
8.4. Best Memorial for Respondent
The Team that receives the greatest numbers of points from the Memorial Judges for
its Memorial for Respondent receives the Award for the Best Memorial for
Respondent.
8.5. Highest-Ranked Team
The Team with the highest score resulting from the sum of its normalized scores from
the preliminary oral rounds and its Memorial scores receives the Highest Ranked Team
Award.
9. PENALTIES
9.1. Penalties for Written and Oral Performances
1. The Memorial Judges may reduce the number of points awarded to a Team's
Memorial for violations of Rules 6.1-6.7.
2. The Arbitrators scoring the Preliminary Rounds may reduce the number of points
awarded to an advocate for violations of Rules 7.5 and 7.7.
3. The Organizer may reduce the number of points awarded to a Team for violation of
Rules 6.1 (1) or 7.8.
4. The number of points deducted will correspond to the severity of the violation as
adjudged by the Memorial Judges, the Arbitrators, or the Organizer accordingly.
5. The Memorial Judges and the Arbitrators will be provided with the internal
instructions as to the number of points to be deducted for each violation of the
present Rules.
9.2. Disqualification
The Organizer may disqualify a Team for serious violations of the Rules that the
Organizer deems to be dishonest rather than inadvertent. The decision of the
Organizer is final.
10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1. Communication
FDI Moot Rules last revised 5 May 2023
All requests regarding the organization and administration of the Moot must be
directed to the Organizer via e-mail. No Team may seek direct ex parte communication
with any arbitrator or memorial judge (exceptions may apply if the Organizer must use
a coach as a substitute arbitrator).
10.2. Interpretation of Rules
Submit all requests for the interpretation of the present Rules to the Organizer. The
Organizer annually reviews and amends the Rules as necessary.
10.3. Observance of Rules
Any Team submitting the Registration Form agrees to observe the present Rules and
the Organizer’s instructions.
Any complaint relating to a rule violation or similar concerns should be brought to the
attention of the Organizer immediately. Any delay to notify or substantiate a
complaint jeopardizes the ability of the Organizer to investigate and if appropriate
remedy the concern.
10.4. Decisions of Organizer
Any decision of the Organizer in connection with the Moot is final and not subject to
appeal.
The liability of the Organizer, co-founders, hosts, sponsors and arbitrators for errors or
omissions is limited to the full extent legally permissible.
The Organizer does not provide accommodation and transportation arrangements.
Any losses including but not limited to property losses, traffic accidents and other
personal injuries, infections or accidents will be borne by the team members
themselves. The Organizer shall not be liable to any of the possible losses
aforementioned, except for intentional misconduct.
