The Centre for Alternative Dispute resolution (CADR), Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab is ecstatic to welcome you to the most anticipated event 3rd RGNUL National Negotiation Competition – 2023, wherein teams representing the top universities participate from all over the country.
ABOUT RGNUL
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, was established by the State Legislature of Punjab by passing the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab Act, (Punjab Act No. 12 of 2006). The Act incorporated a University of Law of national stature in Punjab, thereby fulfilling the need for a Centre of Excellence in Legal Education in the modern era of globalization and liberalization.
ABOUT CADR
The Centre for Alternative Dispute resolution (CADR), Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law has been established to promote students’ and researchers’ interest in Alternative Dispute Resolution consisting dispute resolution mechanisms like Arbitration, Negotiation, Mediation and Conciliation. Started in 2018, the Centre strives to organize stimulating discourses which is relevant to, not only the academia, but also the professional world and thus add to, and enhance the literature of ADR. In pursuance of its objectives, CADR has initiated various novel and successful events, lectures, competitions et. al. in collaboration with the valued partners in the professional and academic world.
ABOUT 3rd Edition of the National Negotiation Competition, 2023
After 2 successful editions of the flagship RGNUL National Negotiation Competition, CADR-RGNUL is all set to organize the 3rd edition of the exciting competition from 3rd – 5th November, 2023. The competition is in association with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.(SAM) and Dr, PC Markanda Chair on ADR. Besides, we have onboard, EBC Group as our knowledge partner, SCC as our media partner and Justice Kupdip Prakash Bhandari as our chief advisory partner.
The third edition which is being held offline at the campus and is going to be exciting and intellectually stimulating. With increasing emphasis on Additional Dispute Resolution not just in India but worldwide, this edition is intended to further the prospect for the same.
ABOUT SAM CO.
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (SAM), is one of India’s leading law firms rated by International Organisations, Law Directories and Professional Journals.
As a full-service law firm, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. is renowned in the business community for its ability to enable business, its innovative solutions, responsiveness and collaboration with its clients. The firm has over 700 lawyers, including over 150 Partners, offering legal services through their offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Gurugram, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai.
They offer solutions in the field of mergers & acquisitions, tax, competition law, dispute resolution & arbitration, regulatory litigation, capital markets and private equity practices.
Further, SAM & Co. is an exclusive member firm of Lex Mundi in India.
About DR. P.C. MARKANDA CHAIR
Late Advocate Dr. P.C. Markanda was one of the leading arbitration lawyers in India. He was popularly known as the Father of Indian Arbitration. To carry forward his legacy and vision, RGNUL has set up Dr. P.C. Markanda Chair on ADR.
The objective of the Chair is to set up RGNUL as a hub of arbitration and to render training and technical assistance by way of setting up training institutes for arbitration and mediation, to conduct meaningful research in the areas of ADR and provide consultancy by way of introducing legal start-ups and collaborations in the country and further it aims to impart basic education by way of initiating new degree, diploma and certificate courses by uplifting the core principles and ethics behind ADR.
ABOUT EBC
The EBC Group, which was founded in 1942, is the industry leader in legal publishing, with offices in several Indian cities and abroad. In the 1940s, two brothers, the late Shri C.L. Malik, and the late Shri P.L. Malik, together laid the foundation of EBC group. EBC has traditionally focused on publishing legal commentaries, student texts, law reports, and digests. Nowadays, EBC works in both print and electronic media. Supreme Court Cases (SCC), SC Yearly Digest and Complete Digest, SCC Online, EBC Webstore, EBC Student Books and Practitioner Commentaries, EBC Reader, SCC Online Blog, EBC Explorer, and Practical Lawyer magazine are the products of the EBC Group.
ABOUT SCC
The Supreme Court Cases, or SCC, is the law report that was started in 1969 and currently has over 400 volumes. With a wide audience and extensive circulation, it is the leading law report in India. The Supreme Court of India and other courts in India, along with all other standard works of the law, cite it 67% of the time. Other apex courts, including the House of Lords, the South African Constitutional Court, the VSSC, the Pakistan Supreme Court, the Bay Supreme Court, and Malaysian courts, also cite it. The entire legal community respects and recognises the standard of legal reporting set by the SCC.
About JUSTICE KP BHANDARI FOUNDATION
The JKPBF was founded by Mrs. Prabha Bhandari, Mr. Pradip Bhandari, and Ms. Varuna Bhandari Gugnani in 2017 in memory of the late Justice Kuldip Prakash Bhandari, who served as a judge on the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as the Advocate General for the State of Punjab, as the Chairman of the Punjab State Law Commission, and as a distinguished Senior Advocate on the Supreme Court of India. JKPBF is a trust dedicated to spreading knowledge, promoting education in institutions, awarding fellowships, instilling a sense of responsibility to serve society, and educating students and researchers about their role in “National Development.” One of the most prestigious medals of excellence instituted at RGNUL is the Justice Kuldip Prakash Bhandari medal for constitutional law excellence.
DAY 1 – INAUGRAL CEREMONY
3:00 PM – Mr. Jotsaroop Singh and Mr. Rachit Somani, the convenors of the Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR), gave welcome addresses to start off the ceremony. A brief overview of the event was provided to the participants. After that, draw of lots was conducted to assign each team to the respective side they would be exercising for in the preliminary rounds. The ceremony ended with a group photograph with all the competing teams, members of the organizing committee and the teacher coordinators.
Prelims rounds begins tomorrow at 9:45 am, and the following teams will be head to head for the title of Best Negotiators :
| Zeus | HPNLU |
| Hera | JGLS |
| Poseidon | NLUJA, Assam |
| Hades | MNLU, Nagpur |
| Dionysus | NALSAR |
| Hestia | ILNU |
| Apollo | RMLNLU |
| Hermes | NLSIU, Bangalore |
| Aphrodite | School of Law, Christ University |
| Hephaestus | TNNLU |
| Athena | VIPS, Delhi |
| Artemis | KPMSOL, Mumbai |
| Persephone | St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata |
| Demeter | MNLU, Mumabi |
| Ares | AIL, Mohali |
| Eros | NUJS, Kolkata |
| Helios | SLS, Nagpur |
| Selene | MAIMS, Delhi |
| Nemesis | MAIMS, Delhi |
| Hecate | USLLS, GGSIPU |
| Atlas | SLS, Pune |
| Aeolus | NLUO |
| Styx | ICFAI, Hyderabad |
| Gaia | NMIMS, Indore |
| Uranus | HNLU, Raipur |
| Kronos | NLIU, Bhopal |
| Prometheus | NLUJ |
| Oceanus | Manipal University, Jaipur |
| Rhea | UPES |
| Eris | UILS, Chandigarh |
we wish all the competing teams best wishes for the prelims rounds.
DAY 2 – PRELIMINARY ROUNDS
Preliminary Round 1
The general information for preliminary rounds 1 centers on a matrimonial dispute concerning the allocation of assets and child custody. It shall be an intellectually stimulating experience for the participants to offer their perspectives and negotiate on behalf of their respective sides.
9:50 AM – With the participants receiving their CIs and assessors being briefed about the first preliminary round, the event got off to a great start. The rounds will begin soon.
11:00 AM – The negotiation has finally begun, with both sides articulating their concerns and demonstrating a shared commitment to finding a mutually beneficial solution. The opening statements from from both the parties are under way.
11:10 AM – The parties are actively seeking to find a common ground and begin to reduce their differences as the negotiations are well underway. Both are focused and involved in the process. Assessors are carefully reviewing and examining the issues brought up by both sides.
11:15 AM – As the negotiations move forward parties are trying to make their ground stronger. In certain rooms the atmosphere is getting heated and persuasive maneuvers are being adopted in discussions while is some rooms the issues are being amicable resolved and teams are involving themselves in healthy discussions and trying to discover a common ground, paving the way for collaborative solutions.
11:30 AM – Discussions regarding visitation rights and child custody are happening. Besides, clients from both the sides are engaging in conversations concerning the division of their financial assets. The stakes are high and the teams are employing their remarkable persuasion to make their mark and reach a consensus.
11:35 AM – With negotiations approaching the final phase, the teams are trying to reach a consensus and make an agreement which favours both the parties. Despite the intensity of discussion teams are trying to hold the decorum and facilitate a conclusive solution.
11:40 AM – The negotiation rounds finally comes to an end, clients and counsels from all the teams displayed excellent responding and communication skills. While many teams were able to come to an agreement while some were not able to form an agreement which favours both the parties.
11:45 AM – After a collaborative and fruitful yet heated negotiation sessions, the assessors are now outlining gaps or issues in the arguments provided by both the parties. Alongside profound questions are being asked by the assessors, which are thoughtfully answered by the participants. With this preliminary rounds 1 are successfully come to and end. Preliminary rounds 2 shall start soon.
Preliminary Round 2
12:05 PM – While the CI for preliminary rounds 2 is being revealed, assessors are being briefed on the round 2 issue. The prop for the round 2 is named “Game time crunch“, the issue revolves around a contractual dispute between an E-sport athlete and a game development company.
12:50 PM – Preliminary rounds two have begun, with participants in great spirits and eagerness to reach an agreeable deal. The negotiations began on a professional and poised manner with both parties engaged in a thorough discussion on strategies aimed at revitalizing their viewership and bolstering their reputation.
1:10 PM – The discussions are going and parties are trying to find a common ground. Both sides are addressing complex terms and conditions of their contract, community guidelines, and the potential repercussions of requesting party’s action.
1:30 PM – During negotiations, teams are demonstrating and establishing a cordial and amicable atmosphere. Their effort to clarify their respective positions and ensure mutual understanding have been exemplary. This transparent and respectful communication has set a positive tone for healthy discussions, fostering trust and collaboration.
1:40 PM – Preliminary rounds 2 have come to an end. Assessors ended the rounds with providing feedback to the teams and the same have been graciously taken by the participants and will hopefully implement them in future negotiation sessions.
1:45 PM – The competition has dispersed for the lunch break following which preliminary rounds 3 will take place.
Preliminary Round 3
2:45 PM – After a wonderful performance by participants in round 1 and 2 they will compete for preliminary round 3. GI for the round 3 is regarding a dispute relating to acquisition of an agricultural company by a tech company.
2:50 PM – The CI for the third issue is being released and in the meantime assessors are being briefed for the preliminary round 3.
3:30 PM – The finals rounds for the day has started. The round began with anticipation in the air as the participants presented their concerns on various critical issues, contrasting both acquisition and environmental concerns.
3:45 PM – Many parties have proposed their initial offer outlining specific terms and conditions and are justifying their position based on market research and cost analysis, aiming to establish credibility. Parties are being open to flexibility and compromise, showcasing their negotiation skills and planning mutually consented negotiation sessions on other agendas.
4:10 PM – In the culminating rounds of the day, both teams maintained their high spirits as they engaged in negotiations with full zeal. The atmosphere remained amicable, and the round concluded on a positive note, marking an impressive end to the rounds for the day.
Today at 8:00 PM Gala Dinner has been organized for all the participating teams and the Assessors, results shall also be announced there itself.
8:30 PM – Finally results are being announced and on the final and the last day of the competition i.e. tomorrow, we will be having quarterfinals, semifinals and at last the final rounds. Following teams have qualified for the quarterfinals –
- Ares (Requesting Party) v. Hephaestus (Responding Party)
- Athena (Requesting Party) v. Demeter (Responding Party)
- Hera (Requesting Party) v. Selene (Responding Party)
- Atlas (Requesting Party) v. Hermes (Responding Party)
We wish all the qualified teams best wishes for their upcoming rounds.
DAY 3
Quarter-Finals
9:45 AM – The CI for the quarterfinals rounds has been released to the participants and assessor’s are being briefed regarding the the rounds and the proposition. The GI for Quarterfinals is based on maritime dispute.
10:30 AM – The quarter-finals rounds have commenced. The proceedings started with a responsive tone and parties are engaged in a cooperative and cordial manner. The clients are showing willingness to negotiate and have a healthy discussion throughout while the counsel emphasizes on the confidentiality of the things being discussed.
10:50 AM – As the negotiation move forward it seems clear that parties are making an effort to reach a consensus. In the rounds of Athena v. Demeter, responding party has formally submitted a request for monetary compensation and an amendment to the existing contract. Besides, both parties are engaged in a methodical and articulate exchange, emphasizing their respective positions.
11:15 AM – As the negotiations move forward, the teams are discussing the finer details of the agreement and are taking a critical look at the terms and conditions as things are getting a little intense. The hardwork poured in by the various teams is clearly evident by the effortless flow of the negotiation process but at the same time they are stuck also stuck in a deadlock due to absence of mutual reconciliation between the parties.
11:30 AM – The rounds have finally come to the end, and while some teams were successful in reaching a consensus, others were not. But every team made a sincere effort to resolve the conflict and find a point of agreement. Now, all eyes are on the quarterfinal results; there is fierce competition as each team aims to advance to the semifinals.
12:10 PM – Finally the results for the quarter-finals are here, the competition was intense but at last only 4 teams out of the 8 were to be selected for the semis, the following teams are as follow –
- Hera (Requesting Party) v. Athena (Responding Party)
- Hephaestus (Requesting Party) v. Hermes (Responding party)
Semi-Finals
12:15 PM – The CI has been released for the Semi-finals round. The GI for the this round revolves around space technology exchange between 2 countries. The rounds shall start soon.
1:00 PM – The semi-finals have commenced and one could sense the competitiveness in the rooms. Team Hera is competing with Team Athena while the team Hephaestus is competing with team Hermes. The proceedings started with a responsive tone and all the teams are trying to be more cordial to foster a constructive atmosphere for negotiations.
1:30 PM – More than half of the time is over and still there are points yet to be discussed. In the rounds of Hermes and Hephaestus, the teams are trying to come to a consensus, while team Hephaestus seems to be dominating the room in terms of speaking at the same time team Hermes is also clearly and amicably moving the negotiations forward.
1:50 PM – As negotiations are in their final part, the prevailing atmosphere of the room suggests that there should be an agreement between both parties with both respondent and requesting parties finding a common ground to lay on. It is only a matter of minutes now and we will get to know if the negotiations are successful or not.
2:00 PM – The semi-final rounds are over now and both the team pairs were successful in coming to an agreement, while in the opinion of a few judges the agreement was more in favour of a particular but besides all this all 4 competing teams have performed very well and this commendable performance is surely gonna give some hard time to the judges in marking the rounds. The results will be declared shortly, until then the competition has dispersed for a short break.
2:30 PM – Finally the finalist teams have been announced, while it was a very tough task for the judges to mark the teams since the competition was intense and it was mainly the small points which made the differentiation in the overall marks scored. The teams are –
- Hermes (NLSIU, Bengaluru)
- Hera (JGLS)
The panel of Expert Assessors for the final round is as follow –
- Ms. Nandini Gore, Senior Partner at Karanjawala & Co.
- Ms. Varuna Bhandari, Advocate at the Supreme Court of India
- Prof. (Dr.) Kamaljit Kaur, Professor of Law at RGNUL
- Mr. Prakhar Deep, Principal Associate at SAM
- Mr. Ankit Virmani, Partner at Virmani and Virmani Law firm
The CI for the finals will be disclosed at 3:00 Pm and the rounds will begin at 3:30 PM.
Finals
3:30 PM – The final rounds have begin and both the parties seems well-prepared and confident. It is crystal clear that the competition is gonna be intense. NLSIU is the responding party while JGLS is representing the requesting party. The rounds begin with both the parties introducing themselves and providing a brief insight into the issue on the table.
3:45 PM – Discussions have started amicably and while responding party seems to have an upper hand or dominating position in the negotiations but requesting party is also putting in best efforts to make their issues count in and ultimately reach a consensus.
4:00 PM – As the talks go, both sides are setting the table to find a solution to the problem. The requesting party has been proposing amends to the offer, which the responding party has made. It’s nearly the halfway point, and offers and counteroffers have already begun to circulate. In due course, we shall ascertain whether or not the parties can resolve the situation amicably.
4:15 PM – Negotiations have reached its last leg and a majority of sub-issues have been discussed. Both the parties have displayed utmost sense of cordial nature towards obtaining viable solutions subduing the agenda. The grievances of the requesting party has been effectively addressed by the responding party.
4:25 PM – After negotiating for almost an hour the parties have to come an agreement and have been successful in formation of an agreement which is favourable to both the parties. The Q&A session has now started. The final results will be released in a while now.
4:45 PM – the much awaited moment is here, the results for the 3rd RGNUL National Negotiation Competition are here –
- Winning Negotiating Pair = NLSIU, Bengaluru
- Runner-Up Negotiating Pair = JGLS, Sonipat
- Best Negotiation Plan = NLSIU, Bengaluru
- Best Negotiators (Preliminary rounds) = Neelam and Amishi Shukla, AIL Mohali
The winners have been presented with following awards
- Winning Negotiating Pair: Cash prize of INR 18,000 + Internship at SAM + Trophy
- Runner-Up Negotiating Pair: Cash Prize of INR 11,000 + Internship at SAM +Trophy
- Best Negotiation Plan: Cash Prize of INR 5,000 + Trophy
- Best Negotiators (Preliminary rounds): Trophy
Alongside all the participants have been provided with Certificate of Participation.
5:30 PM – Closing address is being delivered by our Honorable VC Dr. Anand Pawar, he provided his regards to CADR centre and all the participants. Furthermore, he encouraged the centre and the participants to pursue the path of negotiation.
5:40 PM – Vote of thanks is being delivered by Mr. Rachit Somani (Convenor- CADR) thanking all our collaborators, expert accessors, faculty coordinators, CADR members and all the participants. The competition concluded with National Anthem.
With this we finally come to an end to this event. Until then, adios amigos.
