In a remarkable continuation of its strong performance in international mooting, law undergraduates from Singapore Management University (SMU) Yong Pung How School of Law clinched two prestigious titles at major global competitions held just days apart in Europe in June.
From 10 to 13 June, SMU emerged as World Champions at the 17th Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court in Germany. Hot on its heels, from 11 to 18 June, another SMU team successfully defended the university’s title at the 2025 International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition (ICCMCC) in The Hague, Netherlands. These consecutive victories underscore SMU’s global standing in legal education and advocacy — and the extraordinary dedication of its students, coaches, and community.
Victory in Frankfurt: A third title at the investment arbitration Grand Slam
At the Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot — widely recognised as the world’s leading competition in investment arbitration and one of the seven Grand Slam moots — SMU’s team of Abhishek Behera (LLB, Year 4), Keeron Lee (LLB, Year 4), Natalie Tan (LLB, Year 3), and Abby Pham (LLB, Year 3) triumphed over more than 70 teams to secure SMU’s third championship title, following earlier wins in 2017 and 2022.
The moot problem, set during the 1930s Great Depression and Gold Standard era, challenged participants with complex issues of expropriation, investor-state rights, arbitrator impartiality, and treaty interpretation. SMU showcased intellectual rigour and courtroom agility throughout the preliminary rounds and knockouts, ultimately facing National Law University, Jodhpur (India) in a high-stakes final.
The final was judged by a distinguished tribunal — Ms Andrea Menaker, Mr Nikolaus Pitkowitz, and Mr Eduardo Silva-Romero — who posed probing questions that tested both legal acumen and advocacy under pressure. SMU’s Keeron Lee was named Best Advocate of the competition.
This achievement was made possible through months of preparation, led by coach Daniel Liu (LLB Class of 2013) — a partner at WongPartnership, former Justices’ Law Clerk and former finalist in the Jessup World Championship. Daniel has mentored SMU’s Frankfurt teams since the University’s 2015 debut, guiding them to five podium finishes.
“Our mooting journey has been a transformative experience — one that taught us discipline, resilience, and how to think and speak with clarity and conviction,” shared Abhishek and Keeron, who first mooted together at the 2023 Nuremberg Moot.
Back-to-back champions at The Hague
Just days later, another SMU team took top honours at the International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition (ICCMCC) — held at the seat of the ICC in The Hague. Beating over 100 teams from over 45 countries, the SMU team delivered nine rounds of exceptional advocacy to defend its 2024 title, securing SMU’s sixth ICCMCC championship and its second successful title defence (previously achieved in 2015–2016).
The 2025 team comprised Elsa Shalina Abdullah (JD, Year 3), Timothy Cheng Zhi Wen (LLB, Year 4), Justin Chew Yong Keng (LLB, Year 4), Dewi Sabrina Husnan (LLB, Year 3), Lea Yeo Jen Wen (LLB, Year 3), and Wong Zi Yang (LLB, Year 3). They were led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Andrew Chia, supported by a committed group of alumni coaches, and advised by SMU Assistant Professor Nicholas Liu.
This year’s moot problem explored emerging questions in international criminal law — including whether gender apartheid constitutes a crime against humanity, jurisdiction over dual nationals, and the scope of offences against the administration of justice.
In the finals held in an actual courtroom at the International Criminal Court, SMU’s Lea Yeo and Wong Zi Yang represented the Defence, facing off against Ateneo de Manila University (Victim’s Counsel) and Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn (Prosecution). The round was presided over by ICC Judge Bertram Schmitt.
In addition to the championship, SMU won: Best Overall Asian Team; 2nd Runner-up Best Oralist (Prosecution); and 2nd Runner-up Best Oralist (Victim’s Counsel).
Coach Andrew Chia remarked, with a nod to pop culture, “As held in 3 Idiots (2009): ‘Pursue excellence and success will follow, pants down!’ Defending a championship is never easy, but this team did it through their relentless pursuit of excellence. I’m thrilled success chose to follow.”
A culture of excellence and community
Earlier this year, SMU law undergraduates was also crowned champions at the 66th Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C., and the 22nd Willem C. Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong.
These victories reinforce SMU’s position among the world’s leading law schools in advocacy training. Behind every winning team lies a robust ecosystem — including the Ian R. Taylor International Moots Programme, generous support from Providence Law Asia LLC, and an active network of alumni and legal practitioners who mentor students year after year.
More than trophies and accolades, SMU’s mooting programme continues to instill in students the values of intellectual curiosity, teamwork, and resilience — preparing them to contribute meaningfully to the legal profession and beyond.
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