Oxford students compete at the 2026 Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
The University of Oxford placed in the top 6% of teams at the 2026 Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. The Jessup Moot is the world’s largest moot court competition, and this year, it has seen a record 806 universities across 99 jurisdictions participate. The 67th iteration of the competition (‘the Case Concerning the Gordian Gorge’) featured issues of ICJ procedure, indigenous rights, general principles of law, and state immunity.
This year’s team was comprised of five undergraduates: Cathal Uttley (Magdalen College), Sangeun Noh (Magdalen College), Ben Clarke (St Edmund Hall), Philip Kimber (St John’s College), and Marie Lapuridi (Keble College). They were coached by Ömer Çelik (DPhil Candidate, Exeter College).
The team represented the University in the National Rounds at Lincoln’s Inn. They progressed through the preliminary rounds (where they faced The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, the University of Aberdeen, the University of Sheffield, and the University of Edinburgh). All four oralists ranked in the top 20 oralists in the preliminary rounds (out of 81), with Ben Clarke ranking 3rd, Philip Kimber ranking 5th, Cathal Uttley ranking 6th, and Sanguen Noh ranking 20th. The applicants (Sanguen Noh and Cathal Uttley) beat the University of Bristol in the quarter-final to secure their place in the International Rounds. The respondents (Ben Clarke and Philip Kimber) then beat the University of Glasgow to secure their place in the national final. The final was judged by Sir Michael Wood KC, Samuel Wordsworth KC, and Dr Michael Engel and the team (represented by the applicants) came up against the London School of Economics, who ultimately won.
The team improved upon the previous year’s progress, making it through the preliminary rounds (where they faced Wayne State University (USA), Università degli Studi di Milano (Italy), College of Law at American University of Iraq Baghdad (Iraq), and Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (Chile)). They were ultimately defeated in the runoff round by Wayne State University (USA) following a close split-bench decision.
The team would like to thank the Faculty and everyone who supported and helped them in their preparations as well as the International Law Students Association and its sponsors for organising and running the competition.
