Asters Supports Ukrainian National Round of Telders International Moot Court Competition

25-26 February 2011 in Odesa Asters, in partnership with the Ukrainian Bar Association, provided a sponsorship and expert support to the national round of the Telders International Moot Court Competition. The event was organized by the Center of International Law and Justice at the Odesa Economic Court of Appeal.

Six teams of leading higher education institutions of Ukraine took part in this year's competition whose main goal is to develop and enhance legal education. In particular, the Bar Academy of Ukraine, Kyiv International University, International Humanitarian University, National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, National University of Odesa Law Academy, and Ostroh Academy National University were represented at the contest. According to its rules, each team participated in a fictitious international dispute between fictitious countries called Marosland and Larmastan. Having studied the case, each team presented two memorials: one on behalf of the applicant and the other on behalf of the respondent, and held two court sessions. Over the course of the contest the students had an opportunity to demonstrate their analytical skills and command of legal English, as well as advance their skills and abilities in public speaking and conducting moot debates.

The students' memorials and pleadings were evaluated by a judge panel consisting of experienced Ukrainian lawyers. Asters associate Yaroslav Petrov, who specializes in litigation and arbitration and was among the contest's judges, marked a positive mood, persistence and professional ambitiousness of the contestants and also commented: "Participation in this competition is extremely important for legal students since with its help they gain those skills vital in their future career, especially in dealing with foreign clients."

Based on the results of evaluation of the written memorials and oral pleadings, the competition's winners were selected among the teams of the National University of Odesa Law Academy, Kyiv International University, and National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy who took the first, second and third places respectively.

Kateryna Gaidey, a student of the National University of Odesa Law Academy, was named The Best Orator of the Ukrainian national round. The Kyiv International University's team prepared The Best Applicant's Memorial, and The Best Respondent's Memorial was submitted by the team of the National University of Odesa Law Academy. The winner of the national round, the Odesa Law Academy's team, will go further competing at the final international round which will take place on 27-29 April at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands.

It has already become Asters' good tradition to support the national round of the Telders International Moot Court Competition. The support is one of the firm's initiatives aimed at establishment, steady professional development, and encouragement of aspirations of future legal professionals in Ukraine.

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Telders International Moot Court Competition is the most prestigious moot court competition in Europe founded in 1977. Teams from over 25 European countries compete in the contest annually. The Competition's tasks are aimed at enhancement of student's skills and abilities to participate in moot debates following such principles as the rule of law, civil society, and fair play. The Competition also stimulates team-work and European integration.