Harris Manchester College win University of Oxford Maitland Chambers Inter-Collegiate Mooting Competition 2022

The Grand Final of the University of Oxford Maitland Chambers Inter-Collegiate mooting competition (Cuppers) 2021-22 took on Thursday, 24 February 2022 between Harris Manchester College and Trinity College.  

Previous rounds had covered a range of issues including, but not limited to, those within Criminal, Contract and Medical Law. The moot problem for this year’s Grand Final involved an appeal to the Supreme Court concerning the defence of illegality with respect to holding shares on trust, and exemplary damages. 

Diane de Young de la Marck and Joseph Foye (Harris Manchester) appeared on behalf of the Appellant, and Rhys Duncan and Nicolo Gaggero (Trinity College) appeared on behalf of the respondent. All mooters made innovative submissions based on their interpretation of the case law, as well as wider policy arguments and successfully navigated challenging judicial intervention throughout. The Grand Final was judged by George Hayman QC, David Mumford QC and Gregory Banner QC of Maitland Chambers.  

After the moot, the judges delivered a judgment on the merits of the case. They then announced Harris Manchester College as the winners, commending all mooters on the quality of their submissions and advocacy. They emphasised that the margin between the two teams was extremely thin and that they were extremely impressed by all four participants. In light of this, they announced that Maitland will offer mini-pupillages not just to the winning team, but to the runner-up team as well.