Oxford places seventh at the European Rounds of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot 2021

Oxford’s team comprising of Ayban Elliot-Renhard (MPhil in Law, St Antony’s) and David Horvath-Franco (BCL, Linacre) finished seventh in Europe in the 2021 Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition. The team was coached by Christos Kypraios (Research Manager, Bonavero Institute of Human Rights; Mansfield) and Gayathree Kalliyat Thazhathuveetil (DPhil in Law, Brasenose). The moot simulates the experience of pleading a case before the International Court of Justice in the Hague and is organised by the International Institute of Space Law. Oxford competed in the moot for the first time this year. 

The problem case concerned an orbital collision between satellites of the fictitious States of Asteria and Proclivia. The claims and counter-claims, based on the Outer Space Treaty 1967, the Liability Convention 1972, the Antarctic Treaty 1959 and customary international law, were for failure to authorise and supervise private space activities, failure to cooperate and exchange information, liability for damage to the satellites, and impeding the exercise of the freedom of scientific investigation.

After two preliminary rounds, for which the team prepared written memorials and delivered oral pleadings as both applicant and respondent, they achieved the 7th place out of 23 teams from across Europe. 

The Mooting Programme congratulates Ayban and David on their performance in the moot!