WELCOME TO THE 3rd NATIONAL COMMERCIAL MEDIATION COMPETITION, 2025 | MNLU-N | LIVE BLOG & UPDATES |
“Winning isn’t about finishing in first place. It’s about overcoming the obstacles and getting to the finish line.”
–Derek Redmond
Established under the Maharashtra National Law University Act (Maharashtra Act No. VI of 2014), Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, has been at the forefront of legal education and innovation. Committed to fostering a culture of academic excellence and holistic development, MNLU, Nagpur, is pleased to host the 3rd Edition of the MNLU-N National Commercial Mediation Competition, 2025, bringing together 36 teams nationwide to tackle the evolving challenges of dispute resolution in the digital age.
The Preliminary Rounds for the Competition, held virtually on 8th- 9th February, 2025, featured two thought-provoking problem statements. The first-round focused on the protection of intellectual property rights, with a primary focus on geographical indications while the second problem explored the intersection of artificial intelligence and dispute resolution. The mediation sessions conducted simultaneously across 18 benches, featured insightful deliberations on key issues such as proprietary technology rights, future collaborations, public acknowledgment, and compensation structures.
As NCMC 3.0 progresses into its advanced rounds in March 2025, the competition continues to challenge participants to develop their mediation expertise in a rapidly evolving legal and commercial landscape.
REGISTRATION PROCESS (March 22nd | 9 am)
As the 3rd Edition of the MNLU-N National Commercial Mediation Competition, 2025, unfolded, a wave of anticipation filled the air. The registration process saw an enthusiastic gathering of participants, each eager to showcase their mediation and negotiation skills. The Organizing Committee warmly welcomed each arrival, ensuring a smooth registration. Despite the initial nervous energy, the participants quickly settled into the atmosphere of intellectual exchange and collaboration.
OPENING CEREMONY (March 22nd | 9:30 am)
The ADR Society successfully commenced its flagship 3rd National Commercial Mediation Competition, 2025. A total of 16 teams from reputed institutions across the country made it to the advanced rounds held offline at the MNLU-N campus in Nagpur.
The opening ceremony commenced with a warm welcome extended to the participants by an ADR Society representative, who briefly highlighted the vision of the event and the enthusiasm of participating institutions. He also extended gratitude to the sponsors for the event including Wadia Gandhy & Co. and Fox Mandal & Associates LLP as the Associate Partners, Asian School of Cyber Laws and The Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution Team(PACT) as Mediation Advocacy Partners, SCC Online as Knowledge Partner and SCC Times as Media Partner. The society expressed its appreciation to all collaborators for their support in organizing the event.
The ceremony was graced by Prof. Dr. Vijendra Kumar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, who delivered the Welcome Address, emphasizing the growing significance of ADR mechanisms in the modern legal framework. He encouraged students to actively engage with mediation, arbitration, and client counseling as practical tools for peaceful dispute resolution.
Following this, Mr. Nisshant Larohia, Co-founder of The PACT, conducted a training-session for the participants to familiarise them with the fundamentals of mediation. The session focused on crucial elements such as team-keeping, conflict resolution, and mediation strategy, thereby providing participants with a solid foundation for the upcoming rounds. During the session, Mr. Larohia insightfully remarked:
“The next big thing in mediation are the mediation lawyers. Mediation lawyers are just as essential as mediators in facilitating effective dispute resolution in contemporary times.”
He also humorously noted the niche nature of the mediation field, sharing:
“Sometimes, when I judge mediation competitions, students address me as ‘lordship’. But I always say—I’m neither a Lord, nor am I gonna sail your ship!”
His wit and experience brought a relatable and refreshing perspective to the session, further illustrating the evolving role of lawyers within the ADR ecosystem. The Opening Ceremony concluded with a Vote-of-Thanks delivered by Dr. Divita Pagey, who acknowledged the contributions of all guests, partners, and participants.
DISTRIBUTION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION (March 22nd | 10: 30 am)
After the Opening Ceremony, the negotiating pairs received their Confidential Information (CI) Documents. Given 30 minutes to discuss and analyze the CI, teams engaged in focused discussions, ensuring their revised positions aligned with the evolving complexities of the case. This step marked a crucial stage in the competition, testing the adaptability and problem-solving abilities of participants as they prepared for the Octa-Final Rounds.
OCTA-FINALS (March 22nd | 11:00 am)
The Octa-Final Rounds of the 3rd MNLU-N National Commercial Mediation Competition, 2025, featured the top 16 negotiating pairs and mediators competing in structured mediation sessions. With 60 minutes for each round, participants engaged in thoughtful discussions, demonstrating their ability to navigate complex commercial disputes. The judges emphasized the importance of maintaining a clear agenda, balancing responsibilities between the client and counsel, and ensuring consistency in negotiation strategies.
As aptly described during the session,
“Both parties are players, and the mediators are the game masters”, guided the negotiation with structure, neutrality, and clarity.
Further emphasizing the mediator’s crucial role, one of the panelists quoted:
“Mediators are like catalysts in a chemical reaction—they do not become part of the final product but are essential to the process.”
The round highlighted the distinct nature of mediation, reinforcing the need for a collaborative and interest-based approach rather than adversarial legal arguments. The following universities broke into the advanced quarter-final rounds.
NEGOTIATING PAIRS
National Law University, Jodhpur
National Law University, Odisha
Christ University
Jindal Global Law School
Ramaiyah College of Law
National Law University, Delhi
NMIMS Navi Mumbai
MEDIATORS
National Law School of India University, Bangalore
National Law University, Jodhpur
CHRIST (Deemed to be University)
Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University
Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai
Jindal Global Law School
National Law University Odisha (NLUO)
Symbiosis Law School, Pune
QUARTER-FINALS (March 22nd | 3:00 pm)
The Quarter-Final Rounds of the 3rd MNLU-N National Commercial Mediation Competition, 2025, saw the top eight negotiating pairs and mediators competing in high-pressure mediation sessions. The round tested the participants’ ability to balance assertiveness with flexibility, ensuring that negotiations remained collaborative rather than adversarial. With each team displaying impressive mediation skills, the advancing participants geared up for the semi-final rounds, where they would face even more complex challenges in dispute resolution.
SEMI-FINALS (March 23rd | 10:00 am)
The Semi-Final Rounds of the 3rd MNLU-N National Commercial Mediation Competition, 2025, brought together the top four teams who had proved their mettle in the previous rounds. Held in a high-stakes environment, the sessions challenged participants to dive deeper into the nuances of negotiation dynamics, emotional intelligence, and strategic mediation techniques. The teams qualifying for the Final Rounds included:
NEGOTIATING PAIRS
National Law University, Jodhpur
National Law University, Odisha
MEDIATORS
NLSIU, Bangalore
DSNLU, Vishakhapatnam
FINALS (March 23rd | 3 pm)
The Final Round of the 3rd MNLU-N National Commercial Mediation Competition, 2025, marked the grand culmination of an intellectually charged weekend filled with strategic negotiations and meaningful dialogue. The top negotiating pair and mediators, having excelled through successive knockout stages, competed in a challenging commercial mediation problem that demanded a refined blend of legal insight, emotional intelligence, and creative problem-solving.
What made the final round even more special was the presence of an engaged audience comprising students and faculty members of Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, who gathered to witness the collaborative spirit of ADR in action. Their enthusiastic presence added to the charged atmosphere, highlighting the growing interest in mediation as a vital legal skill.
VALECDICTORY CEREMONY (March 23rd | 5pm)
The Valedictory Ceremony of the 3rd MNLU-N National Commercial Mediation Competition, 2025, brought the prestigious event to a close with celebration, gratitude, and reflection. The ceremony commenced with warm opening greetings, expressing appreciation for the remarkable journey that had unfolded over the course of the competition. The ADR Society extended heartfelt thanks to all collaborators for their invaluable support, mentorship, and encouragement were instrumental in shaping the success of NCMC 3.0.
In a moment of appreciation, the final round judges were felicitated with mementos as a token of respect for their time, insight, and contribution to the growth of budding mediators and negotiators. The ceremony featured inspiring addresses by Mr. Saurabh Tiwari, Partner at Luthra & Luthra Law Offices India, and Ms. Geetanjali Sharma, one of the final-round judges and a reputed figure in the ADR space. In a reflective moment, Ms. Geetanjali was asked a thought-provoking question:
“What would be that one thing you would change if you could, in this one hour that you spent judging the finals?”
Her response emphasized the beauty of mediation—that while perfection is rare, the process itself teaches adaptability, presence of mind, and the importance of genuine human connection.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winners:
🏆 Winners (Negotiating Pair) – National Law University Odisha (NLUO)
🏆 Winner (Mediator) – Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU)
🥈 Runners-up (Negotiating Pair) – National Law University Jodhpur (NLUJ)
🥈 Runner-up (Mediator) – National Law School of India University (NLSIU)
Applause echoed across the auditorium as the winners were felicitated with trophies, certificates, and accolades in recognition of their skill, composure, and excellence throughout the competition. The ceremony concluded with a sense of pride and fulfillment, as MNLU, Nagpur, once again reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a culture of collaborative dispute resolution, legal innovation, and academic excellence.
