Since 2012, our Paris office has been the official partner of the Day of Crisis mooting competition, with the latest iteration taking place on 3-4 March 2023 in the prestigious setting of the Hague Academy of International Law.
Created at the University of Nanterre in 2012 by Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Day of Crisis is an inter-university, international law and diplomacy competition taking place over the course of 24 hours, during which a major international crisis is simulated. Competing teams must represent governments, international organisations, businesses or non-governmental organisations, in dealing with a variety of legal issues quickly, accurately and diplomatically.
Video: Relive Day of Crisis 2023
The crisis evolves as the 24 hours unfold, with new information and questions arising. This 24-hour non-stop international law and diplomacy competition challenges students’ knowledge of public international law, and their skills in teamwork, drafting, negotiation and working under pressure. After the 24 hours are over, the students conduct a final negotiation, which, since 2022 is held in the auditorium of the Hague Academy of International Law, based in the Peace Palace.
“Simmons is proud to have co-created Day of Crisis alongside Professor Thouvenin. We’ve been impressed each year by the level and professionalism of the students, paving the way for a successful career in international law and diplomacy. We look forward to the next editions of Day of Crisis!”
Phillippe Cavalieros, Partner
Hear what the participants have to say
Student teams are asked to define a strategy enabling them to resolve complex and realistic international crisis scenarios. They are required to show daring and ingenuity, deal with unforeseen elements and make use of all the knowledge they have gained during their legal studies.
Since its inception, the competition has kept growing with entries from universities across Europe, Asia, America and Oceania. Around sixty students from a dozen universities enter the competition each year.
Each year, students are assessed by a jury consisting of leading figures from the world of law and international relation: former ministers, ambassadors, high-ranking officials, NATO and OECD legal advisers, general counsel and practitioners.
“Simmons’ role has been essential to the development of Day of Crisis. From a private competition organised for Nanterre students, it has evolved and cemented itself in a highly symbolic location for international law at the Hague, welcoming universities from across the world to compete in front of a prestigious jury, and we owe this success especially to the firm’s unfailing support over more than ten years.”
Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin
Day of Crisis: four things you should know, with Prof Jean-Marc Thouvenin
Day of Crisis gallery
Recent editions
2024
Held at the Hague Academy of International Law.
Participating teams:
- Georgetown University Law Center, USA
- Allameh Tabataba'I University, Iran
- Université Grenoble Alpes, France
- Université Paris Cité, France
- Maastricht University, Netherlands
- Universidad de la Sabana, Colombia
- Shahid Beheshti University, Iran
- Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
- Ilia State University, Georgia
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
Jury members
- Leonardo Brant, Judge at the International Court of Justice,
- Nico Schrijver, Professor of Public International Law at Leiden University and member of the Curatorium of the Hague Academy,
- S.E. Mario Oyarzábal, Ambassador of Argentina to the Netherlands and to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
- Prof. Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Secretary General of the Hague Academy of International Law,
- Arnaud Félix, Partner, Corporate at Simmons & Simmons Paris.
2023
Held at the Hague Academy of International Law.
The following universities took part in the 2023 Day of Crisis edition:
- King’s College London
- International Court of Justice, The Hague
- Universidad Carlos III, Madrid
- Georgetown University Law Center, Washington DC
- Leiden University, Leyde
- Paris 1 – Panthéon Sorbonne, Paris
- Sofia University St Kliment Ohridiski, Sofia
- Université de Louvain
- Bucerius Law School, Hambourg
- Université de Lyon-Grenoble
- Université Paris Nanterre
The 2023 jury comprised:
- Nicolas Michel, President of the US-Iran Claims Tribunal
- Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the Netherlands
- Carolina Olarte-Bácares, Ambassador of Colombia to the Netherlands
- Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law
- Philippe Cavalieros, Partner and Global Co-Head of International Arbitration at Simmons & Simmons, LLP.
2022
Held at the Hague Academy of International Law.
Participating teams:
- King’s College of London, representing the UK
- Freie Universität Berlin et Universität Hamburg, representing Germany
- Universidad Europea de Madrid
- Le Centro de Estudos em Direito e Negócios, representing Brazil
- Universiteit Leiden and The Hague University of Applied Sciences, representing the Netherlands
- l’Université Paris Nanterre and Pantheon Assas, representing France.
Jury:
- Chairman of the Jury: Bernard Bot, former Foreign Minister of the Netherlands and former President of the Carnegie Foundation
- Hilary Charlesworth, International Court of Justice Judge and member of the Hague Academy of International Law Curatorium
- Mario Oyarzabal, Ambassador of Argentina to the Netherlands and to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
- Philippe Gautier, Clerk to the International Court of Justice
- Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law
- Etienne Kowalski, Disputes Partner at Simmons
- Philippe Cavalieros, Arbitration Partner at Simmons
2021
Held online (the “pandemic edition”).
Participating teams:
- King’s College London, representing the UK
- Freie Universität Berlin et Universität Hamburg, representing Germany
- Kazan University, representing Russia
- UCL Louvain, representing Belgium
- Università Roma Tre, representing Italy
- l’Université Paris Nanterre representing France
Jury:
- Mario Oyarzabal, Ambassador of Argentina to the Netherlands
- Eric Danon, Ambassador of France to Israel
- Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law
- Anne-Laure Chaumette, Lecturer in Public Law
- Etienne Kowalski, Disputes Partner at Simmons
2019
Held in Nanterre at the OECD
Participating teams:
- King’s College London, representing the UK
- National Law University of Odisha, representing India
- University of New South Wales, representing Australia
- Freie Universität Berlin et Universität Hamburg, representing Germany
- Kazan University, representing Russia
- UCL Louvain, representing Belgium
- Università Roma Tre, representing Italy
- l’Université Paris Nanterre representing France
- Washington College of Law, representing the USA
Jury:
- Eric Danon, Associate Director for Political and Security Affairs at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
- Nicola Bonucci, Director of Legal Affairs at the OECD
- Elie Jarmache, chargé de mission to the French Ministry for the Sea
- Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Professor of Law at Université Paris Nanterre and Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law
- Anne-Laure Chaumette, Lecturer in Public Law
- Etienne Kowalski, Disputes Partner at Simmons
- Philippe Cavalieros, Arbitration Partner at Simmons
2018
Held at Université de Paris Nanterre.
Participating teams:
- King’s College London, representing the UK
- Kazan University, representing Russia
- l’Université Paris Nanterre representing France
- UCL Louvain, representing Belgium
- University of New South Wales, representing Australia
- Freie Universität Berlin et Universität Hamburg, representing Germany
Jury:
- François Alabrune, Director of Legal Affairs at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
- Nicola Bonucci, Director of Legal Affairs at the OECD
- Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Professor of Law at Université Paris Nanterre and Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law
- Anne-Laure Chaumette, Lecturer in Public Law
- Etienne Kowalski, Disputes Partner at Simmons
- Philippe Cavalieros, Arbitration Partner at Simmons
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