WELCOME TO THE 4TH NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY LAW MOOT COURT COMPETITION | MNLU-N | LIVE BLOG & UPDATES | 2025
“You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win and expect to win”
-Zig Ziglar
Established under the Maharashtra National Law University Act (Maharashtra Act No. VI of 2014), the Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, has swiftly risen as a vanguard of legal education and progressive legal thought. Deeply committed to nurturing a milieu of academic brilliance and well-rounded development, MNLU Nagpur is proud to announce the 4th edition of the National Technology Law Moot Court Competition, 2025. This prestigious event promises to convene the brightest legal minds from law schools across the nation for an intellectually stimulating competition on a moot proposition revolving around the intersection of technology law and insolvency law.
The competition promises a rigorous testing ground for aspiring legal minds. A meticulous selection process begins with a memorial qualification round, where written submissions will be judged to select the top 20 teams. These finalists will then have the opportunity to showcase their courtroom skills in the oral rounds, presenting their arguments before a distinguished panel of judges– renowned experts in the field of technology law. This edition’s sponsors include Trilegal as Title Sponsor, Fox Mandal & Associates as Internship Partner, Legal Lock as Knowledge Partner and SCC Times as Media Partner.
WELCOME TO DAY 1 OF THE 4TH NTLM 25’
MEMORIAL SUBMISSION ROUNDS (March 11)
The memorial submission rounds for this edition of the competition were completed on 11th March, 2025. With close to 40 teams submitting their memorials, the evaluation process was anything but simple. The judging panel was faced with the difficult task of selecting the top 20 from a pool of exceptionally well-researched and analytically sound submissions. The intricate policy problem meticulously crafted by our esteemed legal partners at Trilegal required a nuanced understanding of how emerging technologies interact with financial distress and regulatory frameworks. After a thorough and rigorous assessment process, 20 exceptional teams emerged as the frontrunners, securing their place in the preliminary oral rounds.
REGISTRATION DESK (March 28 | 12:30 pm )
The event commenced with the arrival of teams at 11:30 AM, followed by the registration desk opening at 12:30 PM. The Moot Court Committee and volunteers facilitated a smooth registration process, assisting the 20 teams in verifying documents and providing them with welcome kits and schedules. This phase ensured a warm welcome and efficient coordination, setting a professional tone for the competition.
INAUGURAL CEREMONY (March 28 | 3 pm)
The Inaugural Ceremony began at 3:00 PM, graced by distinguished dignitaries, including Chief Guest Hon’ble Mr. Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari (Retd.), Former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, along with Guests-of-honour Mr. Parth Jain & Mr. Varun Agarwal, founding partners at Legal Lock.
The session began with the anchors welcoming the participants and setting the tone for the competition. They sincerely thanked all the sponsors for the event including, Trilegal, Fox Mandal & Associates, Legal Lock and SCC Times. This was followed by the Welcome Address delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Vijender Kumar, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, who cordially welcomed all the participants, dignitaries, faculty members, and guests, and expressed his immense pleasure at witnessing the convergence of some of the most promising legal minds from across the country. He underscored the university’s unwavering commitment to fostering legal scholarship, and highlighted how moot court competitions serve as vital platforms for nurturing critical thinking, advocacy, and practical legal acumen among students.
Mr. Varun Aggarwal, representing Legal Lock, emphasized that success in mooting stems not from ornamental language but from clarity of thought and effective communication with the bench. Mr. Parth Jain, Director at Legal Lock, motivated the participants to persevere despite setbacks, stating that moots allow students to learn how to interpret, define, and apply law. He quoted:
“Moots are not black and white, You never lose—you either win or you learn.”
The highlight of the ceremony was the enriching speech of Hon’ble Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari, who stressed the integration of theoretical learning with practical legal insight. Drawing from his own journey in the High Court, he inspired students to learn through observation, urging them to understand both the visible and invisible aspects of legal practice.
In this context, he referred to the timeless wisdom of Sant Dnyaneshwar, quoting the phrase: “Drishya, Drishya, Adrishya, Vijay” a reflection on the seen, the unseen, and the ultimate triumph.
Justice Dharmadhikari explained that in the practice of law—and especially in mooting—what is visible on the surface, such as confident articulation and courtroom etiquette (drishya), must be supported by rigorous unseen preparation, ethical grounding, and clarity of thought (adrishya). When both align, vijay (victory) follows, not merely in terms of winning a case or a round, but in achieving true legal understanding and professional growth.
The competition was held OPEN by hon’ble justice which was followed by the Vote of Thanks given by MCC’s faculty advisor Dr. Divita Kothekar who expressed her heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in the competition.
RESEARCHER’S TEST (March 28 | 4:30 pm)
Held in Seminar Hall B, the Researchers’ Test assessed the participants’ legal knowledge, analytical abilities, and understanding of the moot proposition. It was designed to evaluate the behind-the-scenes intellect and hard work of the researchers who form the backbone of every moot team. Following the Researcher’s Test, a seminar on moot court methodology was conducted for the participants by the representatives from Legal Lock.
RELEASE OF FIXTURES & MEMO EXCHANGE ( March 28 | 5:30 pm)
The drawing of lots was conducted under the guidance of two MCC members. The team witnessed the draws which were arranged in a randomized fashion with different opponents and different benches for the upcoming 2 preliminaries. Along with this, the teams were also allotted the side on which they would be submitting to the bench.
WELCOME TO DAY 2 OF THE 4TH NTLM 25’
JUDGE’S BRIEFING (March 29 | 9:30 am)
Following a delightful breakfast, the esteemed panel of judges was cordially welcomed by members of the Moot Court Committee amidst the energetic atmosphere of the competition. They were then guided to Conference Hall B, where they were received by Dr. Divita Kothekar, Faculty Advisor and Convenor of the Moot Court Committee. In this session, the judges were thoroughly briefed on the moot proposition, the evaluation parameters, and the functionality of the online scoring system by senior members of the Committee. The orientation ensured that all adjudicators were aligned with the structure and expectations of the rounds.
PRELIMINARY ROUND 1 (March 29 | 11:00 am)
The second day of the 4th NTLM Moot Court Competition began with much anticipation as the preliminary rounds took center stage across 10 benches simultaneously. The day saw an impressive display of advocacy, legal reasoning, and strategic rebuttals across ten benches, each assisted by a Courtroom Manager, Timekeeper, and Volunteers. Preliminary Round 1 began at 11:00 a.m., with Bench 10 presided over by Mr. Ayush Dangre and Ms. Trisha Jain. Participating teams arrived promptly, and the CRM provided procedural briefings before the rounds began. Over at Bench 9, Mr. Arun Agarwal and Mr. Sushrut Kaplay engaged participants in discussions surrounding comparative framework of the Insolvency Law. Simultaneously, Bench 8, led by Mr. Rishav Ray and Mr. Yash Kullawar, witnessed dynamic advocacy as respondents offered compelling prayers by 12:15 p.m.
This round was marked by sharp, well-researched rebuttals — a testament to the participants’ preparedness. Legal arguments were dissected with logical agility and reconstructed with compelling articulation, providing the judges with rich ground for feedback. The sessions concluded by 12:30 p.m., after which participants were given constructive critiques and scoring was completed.
PRELIMINARY ROUND 2 ( March 29 | 2:00 pm)
After a brief recess, the second preliminary round commenced at 2:00 p.m. Teams continued to demonstrate their mastery over legal nuances, particularly through the lens of insolvency law intersecting with technological frameworks—this year’s core moot theme.
This round emphasized foundation-based argumentation, where participants not only expanded on previously discussed issues but strategically countered opposing views with precision and depth. Rebuttals stood out once again, highlighting the participants’ grasp on both statutory interpretation and jurisprudential reasoning. The session concluded with a feedback round, followed by the completion of scoring protocols and lunch for all participants and judges.
RELEASE OF PRELIMINARY ROUND RESULTS ( March 29 | 4:00 pm)
The declaration of preliminary round results was met with both excitement and intensity. From a highly competitive pool of 20 teams, only eight secured their positions in the Quarter Finals. The universities that broke into the quarter-finals included:
SLS, Hyderabad
NLSIU, bangalore
NFSU, Gandhinagar
NLU, Mumbai
NIRMA University
NMIMS Mumbai
GLC Mumbai
SLS Pune
The announcement marked the culmination of weeks of preparation, where only the most resilient and well-prepared teams advanced. This round served as a strong filter, separating the competent from the exceptional and setting the stage for fiercer competition ahead.
JUDGE’S BRIEFING & DRAW OF LOTS ( March 29 | 4:30 pm)
A buzz of coordinated activity swept across the MCC camp as senior members of the Organising Committee managed two pivotal segments in tandem.
On one side, a dedicated briefing session for the esteemed panel of eight Quarter Final judges was conducted. Here, the judges were informed about the scoring methodology, moot problem nuances, and courtroom procedures. This ensured consistency in adjudication and familiarity with the scoring platform.
Concurrently, the Draw of Lots Ceremony for Quarter Final pairings took place. This reshuffling injected a fresh wave of excitement and unpredictability, keeping participants on edge and fully engaged with the competition’s evolving dynamics.
QUARTER FINALS ( March 29 | 5:00 pm)
The competition elevated to its next level with the commencement of the Quarter-Final rounds, where legal brilliance unfolded across specially designated courtrooms. The air was charged with renewed vigor as the top eight teams faced off, armed with refined arguments and unyielding determination. The rounds saw a substantial escalation in the intensity of arguments and judicial interaction. Teams demonstrated exceptional command over facts, precedent, and courtroom demeanor, leaving a strong impression on the benches.
DECLARATION OF BREAKS ( March 29 | 6:30 pm)
The evening concluded with a vibrant Social Night, blending camaraderie with nervous anticipation. Amidst a spirited atmosphere, the much-awaited Semi-Final qualifiers were announced. Only four teams emerged victorious from the intense Quarter-Final battles, securing their spots in the Semi-Finals. These included:
SLS Pune
GLC Mumbai
NMIMS Mumbai
NLU Mumbai
The announcement was met with thunderous applause, setting a thrilling tone for the challenges to follow on Day 3 of the competition.
WELCOME TO DAY 3 OF THE 4TH NTLM 25’
JUDGES BRIEFING
The final day of the 4th NTLM Moot Court Competition commenced with a comprehensive briefing session for the esteemed panel of judges who would be presiding over the Semi-Final Rounds.
The judges for this round included:
Adv. Abhishek Khare
Mr. Dharav Shah
Mr. Uday Gosave
Adv. Apurv De
SEMI-FINAL ROUNDS
The Semi-Finals marked a significant turning point in the competition, as the top four teams engaged in intense legal battles to secure a place in the Grand Finale. The atmosphere in the competition rooms was electrified with anticipation, with teams demonstrating exceptional advocacy, logical reasoning, and persuasive rebuttals.
The two Semi-Final matchups took place in separate courtrooms, each presided over by a distinguished panel of two judges. The judges engaged in rigorous questioning, testing the participants’ ability to think on their feet and defend their positions with statutory and jurisprudential backing.
After a rigorous session, the following universities appeared as finalists:
GLC Mumbai
NMIMS Mumbai
FINAL ROUNDS
The Grand Finale of the 4th NTLM Moot Court Competition was nothing short of extraordinary. The two best teams, having emerged victorious through successive rounds of rigorous debate, prepared to battle for the championship title.
The Final Bench comprised a five-judge bench featuring:
Hon’ble Smt. Justice Mukulika Shrikant Jawalkar
Hon’ble Shri Justice M. W. Chandwani
Adv. Atul Pande
Mr. Gautam Busi
Mr. Saurabh Bindal
The teams delivered powerful oral arguments, weaving together legal principles, landmark precedents, and policy considerations with remarkable precision. The judges posed intricate legal queries, compelling the participants to think beyond the written memorials and argue with nuanced understanding and practical application of the law.
VALEDICTORY CEREMONY
The Valedictory Ceremony marked the culmination of three days of exceptional legal advocacy, intense competition, and intellectual rigor at the 4th NTLM Moot Court Competition.
The ceremony commenced with a welcome address by Prof. (Dr.) Vijender Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, MNLU Nagpur, who congratulated the finalists and commended the Moot Court Committee for successfully organizing the competition. Following this, the winners of the Competition were announced. After 3 rigorous days of continued competition, NMIMS Mumbai emerged as the Winner of the 4th NTLM while the team from GLC Mumbai stood as Runners Up.
Finally, the vote of thanks was given by the registrar, Mr. Vivek B. Gavhane. With a final round of applause and a spirit of celebration, the 4th NTLM Moot Court Competition, 2025 officially drew to a close, leaving participants with unforgettable experiences, invaluable learning, and a deeper passion for the legal profession.
