THE AUTHOR:
Mohammed Boumariam, Attorney at the Rabat Bar
A New Landmark for Investment Arbitration Training
Held in Rabat in June 2026, the first edition of the Moroccan International Arbitration Moot (“MIAMoot”) has established itself as a new flagship event for training in international arbitration in Morocco and across the region. Designed as a specialized university competition, MIAMoot brings students closer to the actual demands of arbitral proceedings, particularly in the field of investment, while supporting Morocco’s emergence as a regional platform for the settlement of international economic disputes.
Opening the competition, Professor Sabrina Darbali, founder of MIAMoot, captured the stakes of investor–State dispute settlement in a striking formula: “BITs, they bite”. Beyond the play on words, the message is clear: bilateral investment treaties are not merely technical instruments, but commitments that can carry major legal and financial consequences for both States and investors when they are poorly understood, badly negotiated, or insufficiently aligned with public policies.
A Competition Grounded in Written Advocacy
Eight teams from public and private universities took part in this inaugural edition, illustrating both the dynamism of Moroccan law faculties and the growing interest in arbitration within academic circles. The competition revolved around a hypothetical investor–State dispute concerning an investment in a sensitive sector, at the intersection of economic imperatives and public interest objectives.
In a first phase, teams were invited to submit detailed written memorials for both the investor and the State, drawing on the applicable treaties, arbitral case law and scholarly writings to build a comprehensive argument and propose a genuine case strategy. This written component, often less visible than oral advocacy, made it possible to assess students’ ability to grasp the full normative framework of investment arbitration and to defend a coherent position on both the merits and procedure.
The Semi‑Final as a Qualitative Filter
On the basis of these memorials, the competition reached a key moment with the semi‑finals held on Monday, 22 June. Four teams distinguished themselves at this stage: Sorbonne Euromed – Fez, the Faculty of Law of Souissi, the Faculty of Law of Agdal, and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Rabat. This phase acted as a decisive qualitative filter, bringing into dialogue teams from long‑established public universities, private institutions and more recent universities with a strong international focus.
The exchanges on 22 June confirmed the high level of preparation of the teams, their command of written submissions and their ability to defend, in a structured manner, the positions developed in their memorials. The semi‑finals thus revealed the students’ potential to move from doctrinal analysis to the contentious defence of an investment case.
A Final Heard by a Distinguished Tribunal
The culmination of this first edition was the final round, argued before a five‑member arbitral tribunal of the highest calibre. The tribunal was chaired by Professor Giorgio Sacerdoti, Emeritus Professor of International Law at Bocconi University (Milan), an experienced arbitrator and former Chair of the WTO Appellate Body. He was joined by:
- Mr. Ivan Urzhumov, partner in the Paris office of Clyde & Co.
- Mrs. Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Emeritus Professor of International Law at the University of Geneva and a leading authority in investment arbitration;
- Mr. Amin Hajji, Professor at Hassan II University in Casablanca and partner at Hajji & Associés;
- Mr. José Ignacio Monedero, Secretary of the Council of the Madrid Bar Association and President of the ICAM Court of Arbitration;
The composition of this tribunal reflected the geographical and professional diversity of today’s arbitration community, bringing together profiles from universities, bar associations and specialized law firms.
In the final, the debates highlighted both classic and emerging issues in investment arbitration: the tribunal’s jurisdiction, the scope of fair and equitable treatment and most‑favored‑nation clauses, the characterization of possible indirect expropriation, and the balance between investor protection and the State’s regulatory space. The finalist teams were required to build on the substantive work carried out in their memorials, to defend a coherent line of argument, to select the most relevant precedents and to integrate public‑policy considerations into a legally structured presentation.
Following deliberations, the Sorbonne Euromed – Fes team took first place, closely followed by the team from the Faculty of Law of Souissi, which finished second with a score of 87 to 85, reflecting the exceptionally high standard of the performances.
A Case Designed to Spark Broader Reflection
Beyond the rankings alone, the case selected for this first edition served as a springboard for wider reflection on reconciling legal certainty for investments with States’ regulatory capacities. By placing students in front of a complex scenario combining treaty‑based obligations, economic constraints and public‑interest objectives, MIAMoot offered a very concrete illustration of the opening formula: when investment treaties are poorly understood, their “bite” can translate into heavy, structuring disputes for the public policies concerned.
An International Conference in Four Panels
The scientific and institutional dimension of MIAMoot was significantly strengthened by an international conference structured around four panels that covered the entire life cycle of investment, from emerging markets to enforcement and ethical issues. Under the overarching theme of contemporary transformations in investment arbitration, speakers addressed in turn African integration and the African Continental Free Trade Area (“AfCFTA”), the reform of bilateral investment treaties and States’ regulatory sovereignty, the impact of technology and legaltech on arbitration, and the concrete role of institutions and practitioners in conducting and enforcing proceedings.
Among the panelists, Mr. Jean Rémi de Maistre, CEO of Jus Mundi, spoke about digital innovation, legal intelligence and open data serving international arbitration, while Mr. Simohamed Damiri, Director of the UM6P Africa Business School Entrepreneurship Centre, highlighted the links between entrepreneurship, support for start‑ups and the regional investment climate. Mr. Hicham Zegrary, Secretary‑General of the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Centre (“CIMAC”), brought the perspective of a leading regional arbitration institution on the role of centers in structuring dispute‑resolution ecosystems and promoting Africa‑focused investment arbitration. Other speakers provided complementary perspectives on economic sanctions, the role of international financial institutions, regulatory sovereignty, professional ethics and the place of arbitration centers, ensuring that the entire investment value chain, from public‑policy design and structuring of capital flows to dispute resolution and enforcement of awards, was examined.
Institutional Anchoring and the Role of CDG
The involvement of the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion(“CDG”) sent another strong signal of MIAMoot’s anchoring in the realities of public investment in Morocco. As a central institution for public investment and sponsor of the competition, CDG, represented at the opening session and within the panels, emphasized the role of sovereign funds and public investment vehicles in shaping attractiveness strategies, negotiating international commitments and managing the litigation risks associated with investment projects.
This dialogue between public decision‑makers, arbitration practitioners, academics and entrepreneurs showcased that investment arbitration is not a merely procedural technique, but lies at the heart of economic policies and development choices.
Prospects for Miamoot’s Future Editions
By combining rigorous work on written memorials, demanding selection of finalists, practical training and doctrinal reflection, MIAMoot forms part of a broader dynamic that is strengthening Morocco’s position as an actor in international arbitration. The presence of a final tribunal composed of widely recognized figures, the involvement of an international firm such as Clyde&Co, the engagement of public and private universities, and the partnership of investment institutions, such as CDG, all contribute to shaping a genuine local and regional ecosystem for arbitration. Buoyed by this successful launch, the organizing team is already working on the next edition of MIAMoot, which will be held in close collaboration with CIMAC, further consolidating Casablanca and Rabat as twin hubs for cutting‑edge training in international investment arbitration. The ambition is to broaden the pool of participating universities, reinforce institutional partnerships, and integrate new themes such as the digitalization of proceedings, arbitration related to the energy transition, and mechanisms for dispute prevention. After this first edition, MIAMoot is already emerging as a privileged observatory of how a new generation of lawyers is practically engaging with the challenges of international arbitration and investment protection.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mohammed Boumariam is an Attorney at the Rabat Bar, Morocco, as well as an Energy Engineer and certified Energy Auditor. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Law and was educated at the International University of Rabat and the University of Lorraine (France). He is currently a PhD candidate in International Investment Arbitration at Mohammed V University of Rabat (Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences – Souissi), where his research focuses on the enforcement of international arbitral awards in the energy sector. His areas of interest include international investment law, arbitration, energy law, and investor–state dispute settlement, with a particular emphasis on cross-border energy investments.
*The views and opinions expressed by authors are theirs and do not necessarily reflect those of their organizations, employers, or Daily Jus, Jus Mundi, or Jus Connect.
