2nd Gibson Dunn-OSCOLA Commercial Law Moot

The second edition of the Gibson Dunn-OSCOLA Commercial Law Moot took place in Trinity Term 2021, with the public final round being held on 21 May. The Mooting Championship was inaugurated earlier this academic year and was once again co-organised by the Oxford Society for Commercial Law (OSCOLA) and Gibson Dunn. Gibson Dunn is a leading international law firm whose London office has kindly supported the moot.

The competition was open to all undergraduates and postgraduates. It saw eight teams competing in a total of 4 stages following a Championship format. The moot problem invoked a dispute between two rival universities over retention and subsequent liquidation of a suspicious gift donated by an administrator of an estate. The scenario invited participants to explore a number of nuanced and highly dynamic questions in the law of knowing receipt and unjust enrichment. The main issues were the requirements of a knowing receipt claim, its legal categorisation and the availability of a change of position defence.  

The final was judged by Penny Madden QC, Co-Partner-in-Charge of the London office and Co-Chair of the International Arbitration Practice Group at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and Moeiz Farhan who was formerly with Gibson Dunn and has recently set up at 36 Stone Chambers. The appellants were Kacper Kryk (BA Law, Corpus Christi) and Henry Fahrenkamp (BA Law, Magdalen) and the respondents were Jahnavi Bhatia and Felix Waldmann (both Law (Senior Status), Harris Manchester). After a closely-fought final, the appellants came victorious and Henry Fahrenkamp was commended as the best advocate.