8 Feb 2017
WTI represented at Gujarat moot court
Faculty member Rodrigo Polanco represented the World Trade Institute at the 9th GNLU International Moot Court Competition (GIMC) held in Gandhinagar on 1-5 February and involving around 50 teams from major law schools in India and abroad.
Dr Polanco served as a panellist in the final round. The panel also included Indu Malhotra (Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India), Seetharaman Sampath (Partner, Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan Attorneys), R.V. Anuradha (Partner, Clarus Law Associates) and Altagracia Cuevas-Arthur (IELPO, University of Barcelona).
The competition was won by National Academy Legal Studies and Research (ALSAR), Hyderabad. The runner-up was George Washington University School of Law, Washington.
In addition to prizes including a trophy, cash and an internship opportunity, the winners are entitled to attend the WTI Summer Academy free of charge.
The WTI is an official partner of the GNLU in organising the competition, of which there have been nine editions.
The only moot court in India on international trade law, the GIMC is a simulation of the dispute settlement process of the World Trade Organisation. This year's problem centred on the export and import of aluminium between three fictitious nations, and the imposition of anti-dumping measures.
While in Gujarat, Dr Polanco took the opportunity to give a presentation of the academic programmes offered by the WTI (MILE, TRAIL, Summer Academy, CAS, DAS, and PhD), and to discuss further collaboration with GNLU Director, Prof. Dr Biman N. Patel, and the guest of honour of the competition, R. Subash Reddy, Chief Justice, Gujarat High Court.
He also gave a lecture to the students of Dr Saira Gori, Assistant Professor of Law and Dean, Training Division at GNLU, on the topic ‘Alternatives to Investor-State Arbitration’, where new developments were discussed, such as the new EU-Canada proposal of a standing investment court and the new Indian Model Bilateral Investment Treaty.