NUS Law First Runners-Up at Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot

A team from the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law team has emerged as first runners up at the Third Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot Competition. The team comprised final year students Mok Ho Fai, Gan Wei Rong, Arjuna Segathesan and Jessica Mau, and was coached by Associate Professor Burton Ong. 

This year's moot centered around a fictitious internet search engine client faced with allegations of anti-competitive conduct arising from its refusal to license its search data to a rival, while simultaneously challenging a tying arrangement made by that rival as anti-competitive. The problem question also involved other topical issues such as the intersection between data privacy and competition law in a big data era. 

The oral rounds of the competition were held at King’s College London from 22 to 24 June 2017. The team faced competing teams from universities across four continents, including competitors from law schools in Moscow, Paris, Spain and Amsterdam. The team made it past three preliminary rounds and two quarter final rounds to make it to the final rounds. 

The final round, which was held in the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London, was heard by a distinguished panel of five judges that included not only competition law specialists but also economists. In a closely-fought final, Hong Kong University won by a 3-2 majority. The team won the Best Memorial award for their written submissions. Ho Fai was named Best Oralist in the entire competition, while Arjuna and Wei Rong received honorable mentions for their advocacy skills.

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) is a corporate sponsor of the team. In addition, the CCS was involved in practice rounds which helped the students prepare for the oral rounds of the competition.