Contact
Email the IISL Asia Pacific Representative: lachsmoot-asiapacific@iisl.space
Chief Director: Prof. (Dr.) S. Shanthakumar, (Director, GNLU), (India)
General Advisor: Prof. (Dr.) Girish R. (India)
General Advisor: Dr. Jagadeesh Chandra T. G. (India)
Regional Organizer: Dr. Divya Tyagi (India)
Associate Regional Organizer: Mr. Gopalakrishnan V. (India)
Assistant Regional Organizer: Dr. Heena Goswami (India)
Assistant Regional Organizer: Ms. Pavithra R
Assistant Regional Organizer: Mr. Mr. Abhilash Arun Sapre
Memorials Coordinator: Mr. Bryant Mishima-BAKER (USA)
Chief Clerk: Mr. Kedarnath Brahmbhatt (India)
Register
About the Asia Pacific Regional Round
The IISL introduced the Asia Pacific Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition in 1999. The winner of this round represents the Asia-Pacific region at the World Finals, to be held in conjunction with the International Astronautical Congress.
The Asia Pacific Regional Round is governed by the Asia-Pacific Regional Rules of the Manfred Lachs Moot Court Competition.
About the IISL Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition
Background:
• Held yearly since 1992 by the International Institute of Space Law (IISL)
• Involves about 80-100 law schools from around the world every year
• Prior space law course NOT a prerequisite. Many schools that have no space law course have won Regional Rounds and World Finals
• Largest round in the five Regional Rounds: Africa, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe
World Finals:
• Traditionally judged by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Judges
• Held in October along with the International Astronautical Congress, which provides opportunities to meet space lawyers and space industry representatives from around the world
• The 2026 World Finals will take place in Antalya, Türkiye.
Information on this year’s MLSLMCC Case
For general information on this year’s Moot Court Case as well as the case documents, please visit: https://iisl.space/mlslmcc-2026/.
This year’s competition
About Gujarat National Law University
Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) is a premier institute of legal education established in 2004, offering LL.B. Honours courses with five different streams (B.A., B.B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., and B.S.W.), LL.M., as well as Ph.D. courses in law and interdisciplinary fields. Since its inception, the university has endeavoured to achieve high standards of legal education and provide students with an opportunity to hone their research and advocacy skills through various academic ventures such as conferences, seminars, and moot court competitions. (https://www.gnlu.ac.in/GNLU/Home ). The 50-acre lush green campus of GNLU is situated at Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
GNLU has got a very active Moot Court Committee (MCC), which is responsible for facilitating and administering moot courts and allied competitions, such as GNLU International Moot Court Competition (GIMC), GNLU Moot on Securities and Investment Law (GMSIL). GNLU is equipped with moot court hall (seating capacity 120) along with 5 moot court rooms.
Moot Court Hall
About VS Mani Centre for Air & Space Law (VSMCASL)
VS Mani Centre for Air & Space Law (VSMCASL) was established in 2019 to engage in various ways in shaping the emerging discourse in the field of Air and Space Law. The vision of the Centre is to engage in improving the existing legal and policy framework for facilitation and regulation of a safe, secure, affordable and sustainable aviation and to contribute in the shaping of legal framework for the future of humanity that lies in space (https://gnlu.ac.in/VSMC-Air-Space-Law/Home).
Calendar for the Asia Pacific Regional Rounds, 2025
| Commencement of Team Registration | 15 November 2025 |
| Last date for seeking Clarifications | 15 December 2025 |
| Last Date of Team Registration | 15 January 2026 |
| Author of the Problem to give Response to Requests for Clarifications | 31 January 2026* * (Subject to IISL Moot Court Committee’s decision on a common date for all Regional Rounds) |
| Last Date for Submission of Written Memorials | 15 February 2026 |
| Announcement of the qualified teams to the Oral Rounds | 25 February 2026 |
| Oral Rounds | 02-04 April 2026 |
| International Conference on Space Law | 05 April 2026 |
Official Rules
MLSLMCC Official Rules
The Asia Pacific Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition is governed by the Offical Rules of the Manfred Lachs Moot Court Competition. The Official Rules were last updated in 2022 and are available below.
More information can be found here: https://iisl.space/index.php/mlmc-official-rules/.
Regional Rules
The Asian Pacific Regional Round furthermore is governed by a set of Regional Rules, adopted pursuant to Article 2(2) of the Official Rules. The Regional Rules were last updated in 2014.
IISL Licence
Moreover, there is an IISL Licence＆Declaration form for the Asia-Pacific Round, which is available below.
AI Policy
In 2025, IISL adopted an AI Policy. From the 2026 Competition onwards, competing teams are required to submit the AI Use Disclosure Statement (below) with their teams’ memorials.
Archives
- 2026 case for the MLSLMCC released
The case for the 2026 IISL Manfred Lachs Moot Court Competition was released today (15 August 2025). The case entitled Case Concerning Liability and Responsibility for Space Activities of Non-Governmental Corporate Actors (Agreed Statement of Facts) and Summary of the Agreed Statement of Facts can be found below. Note that - Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition Finals successfully held in Milan
The 2024 Finals of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition were successfully held in Milan. The Finals took place at the Palazzo Emilio Turati, the site of the Milan Chamber of Commerce. The Competition was organised by the IISL Moot Court Committee, comprised of Steven Freeland (Chair), Leslie - Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition – Statements of Facts for 2025 releasedIISL has released the Statements of Facts and Summary of Agreed Statements of Facts for the 2025 Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition Case: Admetus v CronusCase Concerning the Legality of Space Activities in Conflicts Find our dedicated page for the 2025 MLSLMCC here:
- 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition 2024 Concluded
24 June 2024 — The Asia-Pacific Regional Round happened at Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan two years in a row and concluded its 2024 round on 9th June 2024. The Regional Round was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Space Policy Secretariat of the Cabinet Office, and Japan Aerospace
