The Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua (USMA) represented Panama at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition 2025, one of the most significant academic competitions worldwide in the field of public international law.
The Jessup Competition annually brings together university teams from more than one hundred jurisdictions, which assume the representation of States before a hypothetical tribunal inspired by the International Court of Justice. Through this process, participants develop advanced skills in legal research, memorial drafting, and oral advocacy in English.
Following the national selection process, the USMA team earned the right to represent Panama at the international rounds, competing against universities from different legal systems and traditions, and participating in hearings evaluated by judges, academics, and practitioners with extensive experience in international law.
Members of the USMA Team – Jessup 2025
The team representing the Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua was composed of the following students from the Faculty of Law and Political Science:
- Rodrigo López
- Wilfredo Eskildsen
- Oscar Prado
- Daniela Serrano
- Marifé Millard
During the competition, the students assumed the roles of applicant and respondent, presenting written and oral arguments on a fictional case addressing complex issues of public international law, thereby strengthening their analytical skills, legal reasoning, and performance in high-level academic settings.
Institutional Role of Lovill
In its capacity as National Administrator of the Philip C. Jessup Competition in Panama, Lovill accompanied and supported the development 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 academic initiatives that contribute to the advancement of public international law in the country.
