THE AUTHOR<\/strong>: Held in Rabat in June 2026, the first edition of the Moroccan International Arbitration Moot (\u201cMIAMoot<\/strong>\u201d) 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\u2019s emergence as a regional platform for the settlement of international economic disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Opening the competition, Professor Sabrina Darbali<\/strong>, founder of MIAMoot, captured the stakes of investor\u2013State dispute settlement in a striking formula: \u201cBITs, they bite<\/em>\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2013State dispute concerning an investment in a sensitive sector, at the intersection of economic imperatives and public interest objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019 ability to grasp the full normative framework of investment arbitration and to defend a coherent position on both the merits and procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the basis of these memorials, the competition reached a key moment with the semi\u2011finals 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\u2011established public universities, private institutions and more recent universities with a strong international focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2011finals thus revealed the students\u2019 potential to move from doctrinal analysis to the contentious defence of an investment case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The culmination of this first edition was the final round, argued before a five\u2011member arbitral tribunal of the highest calibre. The tribunal was chaired by Professor Giorgio Sacerdoti<\/a>, Emeritus Professor of International Law at Bocconi University (Milan), an experienced arbitrator and former Chair of the WTO Appellate Body. He was joined by: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The composition of this tribunal reflected the geographical and professional diversity of today\u2019s arbitration community, bringing together profiles from universities, bar associations and specialized law firms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the final, the debates highlighted both classic and emerging issues in investment arbitration: the tribunal\u2019s jurisdiction, the scope of fair and equitable treatment and most\u2011favored\u2011nation clauses, the characterization of possible indirect expropriation, and the balance between investor protection and the State\u2019s 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\u2011policy considerations into a legally structured presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019 regulatory capacities. By placing students in front of a complex scenario combining treaty\u2011based obligations, economic constraints and public\u2011interest objectives, MIAMoot offered a very concrete illustration of the opening formula: when investment treaties are poorly understood, their \u201cbite<\/em>\u201d can translate into heavy, structuring disputes for the public policies concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 (\u201cAfCFTA<\/strong>\u201d), the reform of bilateral investment treaties and States\u2019 regulatory sovereignty, the impact of technology and legaltech on arbitration, and the concrete role of institutions and practitioners in conducting and enforcing proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the panelists, <\/em><\/strong>Mr. Jean R\u00e9mi de Maistre<\/a>, CEO of Jus Mundi<\/a>, spoke about digital innovation, legal intelligence and open data serving international arbitration, while Mr. Simohamed Damiri<\/strong>, Director of the UM6P Africa Business School Entrepreneurship Centre, highlighted the links between entrepreneurship, support for start\u2011ups and the regional investment climate. Mr. Hicham<\/strong> Zegrary<\/strong>, Secretary\u2011General of the Casablanca International Mediation and Arbitration Centre<\/a> (\u201cCIMAC<\/strong>\u201d), brought the perspective of a leading regional arbitration institution on the role of centers in structuring dispute\u2011resolution ecosystems and promoting Africa\u2011focused 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\u2011policy design and structuring of capital flows to dispute resolution and enforcement of awards, was examined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The involvement of the Caisse de D\u00e9p\u00f4t et de Gestion(\u201cCDG<\/strong>\u201d) sent another strong signal of MIAMoot\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This dialogue between public decision\u2011makers, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mohammed Boumariam<\/strong>, Attorney at the Rabat Bar<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nA New Landmark for Investment Arbitration Training<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Competition Grounded in Written Advocacy<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Semi\u2011Final as a Qualitative Filter<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A Final Heard by a Distinguished Tribunal<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A Case Designed to Spark Broader Reflection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
An International Conference in Four Panels<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Institutional Anchoring and the Role of CDG<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n