The Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua (USMA) represented Panama at the White & Case International Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition 2023, held in Washington, D.C., United States.

The Philip C. Jessup Competition is widely recognized as the largest and most prestigious moot court competition in public international law worldwide. Each year, it brings together universities from more than one hundred jurisdictions, whose teams assume the roles of States before a tribunal modeled on the International Court of Justice.

The selection of the Panamanian team took place during the national rounds held in February 2023, with the participation of students from the University of Panama and USMA. These rounds marked the return of the national competitive process after several years without being held, once again positioning Panama within the international academic circuit of the Jessup Competition.

The case for the year addressed a fictional dispute in the field of public international law, requiring participants to analyze complex issues related to jurisdiction, State responsibility, and customary international law. The USMA team emerged as the winner of the national rounds, thereby earning the right to represent the country at the international stage.

During their participation in Washington, D.C., the students submitted written memorials and presented oral arguments in English before panels composed of judges, academics, and international law practitioners, strengthening their skills in litigation, legal analysis, and oral advocacy.

Panama’s participation in the Jessup Competition reflects the country’s continued commitment to excellence in academic training in international law and to the international projection of future generations of legal professionals.

Institutional Role of Lovill

In its capacity as National Administrator of the Philip C. Jessup Competition in Panama, Lovill accompanied and supported the organization of the national process and the participation of the Panamanian team in the international rounds. This involvement forms part of the firm’s institutional commitment to legal education, the development of young talent, and the promotion of high-level academic spaces related to public international law.

This article is based on information originally published in national media:
https://www.panama24horas.com.pa/panama/equipo-de-la-usma-representara-a-panama-en-la-competencia-internacional-de-tribunales-simulados-de-derecho-jessup-2023/