About the Model
Within the framework of the Consortium of BRICS Law Schools, HSE University is proud to announce the BRICS Lex Model to be held in Moscow on 1-3 December 2025. The model will be dedicated to investment cooperation and will simulate a diplomatic conference on the adoption of a new investment treaty.
Teams from BRICS universities are invited to participate. A team can consist of 2-4 students from Bachelor and Master programmes on Law, supported by a coach. The task for the selection process can be found on the model's website. The deadline for submitting applications to the BRICS Lex Model is 5 September 2025. The results will be announced by the Organising Committee by 15 September 2025.
Registration
Registration of the team is accomplished by completion and submission of the registration form, which may be done at any time prior to 23:59 Moscow Standard Time (UTC+3) 5 September 2025. A team can consist of 2-4 students from Bachelor and Master programmes on Law from BRICS universities and be supported by a coach.
Problem
The growing role of the BRICS as a group within global governance marks a significant shift in our understanding of this system. The five original BRICS members now have a combined GDP that is larger than that of the G7 in purchasing power parity terms. After the expansion of BRICS in 2024, this share will be even larger. The BRICS, which is not a classical international organisation, has shown its effectiveness in developing international cooperation in various areas, including investment.
At the same time, international investment law remains a rapidly evolving and turbulent area of international law. It faces various challenges, including the ineffectiveness of the investor-state dispute settlement mechanism. Working Group III of the UN Commission on International Trade Law has been pursuing reform of the investor-state dispute settlement model since 2017, and this work is still ongoing.
In the Kazan Declaration of 2024, the BRICS leaders recognised the need to deepen judicial cooperation within the BRICS framework and the importance of attracting investment and developing the economies of the BRICS countries, as well as developing a robust framework to address investors' grievances, with further consultations and deliberations among the BRICS countries. They also took note of the Russian initiative to establish the BRICS International Investment Arbitration Centre. These initiatives demonstrate the need to develop a new effective international legal regime for investment relations within the BRICS.
Problem Related Materials
Associated Materials for the Problem
Eligibility criteria
- The Model is open for participation of law students studying at the bachelor’s, specialist’s and master’s level or equivalent levels at the universities of BRICS States. It is presumed that all participants in the Model have taken a general course in public international law prior to participating in the qualifying stage and have a good command of English.
- Each team consists of 2-4 participants. A team can be assisted by 1 or 2 coaches.
- Since one of the key Model’s objectives is to develop university students’ awareness of the legal, political and diplomatic practices of the different BRICS States, participants cannot represent their own State at the preparatory and main stages of the Model.
- The selection of teams for the preparatory and main stages will be made by the Organising Committee on the basis of the written assignments submitted by the participants.
- The selection of the winning team, as well as the best speakers within the Committees will be made by a jury of experts in the field of international investment law - teachers, researchers, civil servants and practitioners of leading law firms.
- The costs of hotel accommodation and meals for the participants are at the expense of HSE University. Travel expenses shall be borne by the University of the team or through private funding.
Organising Committee
The 2025 BRICS Lex Model is organised by Faculty of Law of Higher School of Economics.
Information about Awards
On occasion of the 2025 BRICS Lex Model the following prizes will be awarded:
- Top-3 Winners of the 2025 BRICS Lex Model
- Best Memorandum
- Best Individual Oralists
- Best Team Work
- Best Coach