The Alternative Dispute Resolution Cell (ADRC) of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab in association with the Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution Team (The Pact) organized the first edition of the RGNUL Sports & Entertainment Law National Mediation Competition from 12th to 14th April 2019. The event saw 26 teams from premier legal institutions across the country compete in simulated mediation sessions mirroring real life situations in the industries of sports and entertainment. Mediation competitions have for long focused primarily on traditional themes such as commercial deals and familial matters. The concept of this competition finds its basis in the universal application of the mediation process and its importance in these niche industries. The competition problems were drafted by our Chief Advisory Organisation Krida Legal.
On the first day i.e. 12th April, the competition commenced with the PACT conducting a day long training session for all the participants. Having years of experience in consensual dispute resolution mechanisms, the PACT focused not only on the basics of the mediation process, but also shared pointers on the tricks of the trade that take you the extra mile.
The competition rounds began on the second day i.e. 13 April. Two Preliminary rounds were conducted after which the top 8 negotiation teams and mediators made it to the quarter final rounds. The negotiation teams qualifying for the quarters represented West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, UPES School of Law, Dehradun, National Law Institute University, Bhopal, National Law University Odisha, Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, O.P. Jindal Global University, Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur and Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. The mediators qualifying for the quarters represented Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, National Law University Odisha, Army Institute of Law, Mohali, O.P. Jindal Global University, UPES School of Law, Dehradun and University School of Law and Legal Studies GGSIPU.
After intense mediation rounds in the quarter-finals, the second day of the competition culminated with the top 4 negotiation teams representing NLU Odisha, O.P. Jindal Global University, HNLU, Raipur and RGNUL, Punjab and top 4 mediators representing MNLU Nagpur, NLU Odisha, UPES School of Law, Dehradun and Army Institute of Law, Mohali qualifying to the semi-finals, scheduled for the final day.
By afternoon of the third and the final day of the competition (i.e. 14 April 2019), the top 2 negotiation teams and the top 2 mediators emerged as the finalists. While the negotiation teams were from O.P. Jindal Global University and RGNUL, Punjab, the top 2 mediators were from UPES School of Law, Dehradun and AIL, Mohali.
The competition rounds over the course of the last 2 days have been adjudged by our esteemed panel of assessors comprising of trained mediators and practicing advocates and observed by our distinguished panel of observers comprising of Hon’ble judges and trained mediators.
The Negotiation team comprising of Mr. Divyanshu Sinha and Mr. Adwiteya Grover from Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab was adjudged as the Winning Negotiation Team. Apart from the Winners’ trophy and cash prize, they get an automatic qualification to the International Mediation Competition to be hosted by Singapore International Mediation Institute in August 2019. The Negotiation team comprising of Ms. Hanima Grewal and Ms. Ishita Satyajit from O.P. Jindal Global University was adjudged as the Runners-up Negotiation Team. The team was awarded the Runners-up Trophy, Cash prize as well as an automatic qualification to the International Mediation Competition to be hosted by Singapore International Mediation Institute in August 2019, as selected by The PACT Jury.
Mr. Sahil Bhatia from UPES School of Law, Dehradun was adjudged as the Winning Mediator. He was awarded the Winning Mediator Trophy, cash prize as well as a 6-weeks internship with Pepperdine School of law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Malibu, California. Ms. Anshul Singh from Army Institute of Law, Mohali was adjudged as the Runners-up Mediator and was awarded the Runners-up Mediator trophy and cash prize. The Winning Mediator and the Winning Negotiation Team have also been awarded a fully paid internship in the Delhi office of Legacy Law Offices for the month of January 2020.
Apart from these awards, the following prizes were also awarded:
- The Best Mediation Plan – Army Institute of Law, Mohali (Ms. Aafreen Choudhary, Mr. Omvir Singh and Ms. Anshul Singh)
- The Best Negotiation Team (for the Preliminary rounds) – Ms. Hanima Grewal and Ms. Ishita Satyajit (O.P. Jindal Global University)
- The Best Mediator (for the Preliminary rounds) – Ms. Anshul Singh (Army Institute of Law, Mohali)
With the end of the valedictory ceremony, the first edition of the RGNUL Sports & Entertainment Law National was finally concluded.
