Team UNSW wins 2026 Oxford IP Moot

UNSW Law & Justice achieved an outstanding result at the 2026 Oxford International Intellectual Property Law Moot, winning the competition for the second time and placing second for its written submissions.

The team, made up of JD student Lana Hoffman-Brash and LLB students Samuel Bell and Zainul Punjani, competed against 72 leading law schools from around the world. Their written submissions placed them in the top 32, securing a place in the prestigious oral rounds which were held at the University of Oxford from 25-28 March.

Across four preliminary rounds, followed by the quarter-final, semi-final and final, the UNSW team impressed judges with the clarity and rigour of their legal arguments and their ability to engage with questions from the bench. The final was held before Lord Kitchin (formerly of the UK Supreme Court), Lord Justice Birss (Chancellor of the High Court of England & Wales) and Justice Mellor (High Court of England & Wales), where the team delivered a confident and persuasive performance that sealed the overall win.

Deputy Dean (Education) and coach, Professor Michael Handler, who travelled with the team, highlighted the strength of the students’ collaboration throughout the competition.

“I could not have been more impressed with the way the team conducted themselves over their time together,” Prof Handler said. “They are three quite different people, from different backgrounds, but they supported and looked after each other so well. They were an excellent team, and their success is a truly collective effort. They are terrific ambassadors for the faculty and the university.”

The result follows months of intensive work by the students, including detailed research, the preparation of written submissions for both sides of the problem question, regular practice moots, and the development of a coordinated oral advocacy strategy. Judges, coaches and fellow competitors at Oxford consistently commended the team’s disciplined approach to legal argument and their ability to engage thoughtfully with complex issues across intellectual property, contract law and related fields.

Reflecting on the team’s experience, Samuel Bell highlighted the importance of teamwork to the team's success.

“It never felt like three individuals working side by side,” he said. “We operated as a genuinely integrated team, and that collective approach made a real difference in both the written and oral rounds.”

For Lana Hoffman-Brash, the moot represented a steep but rewarding learning curve.

“Entering the competition with no prior mooting experience was daunting, but working so closely as a team and learning from Michael’s guidance made it one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my degree,” she said.

Zain Punjani reflected on overcoming expectations and backing the team’s preparation.

“Despite doubts from others about our lack of mooting experience, we trusted our preparation and each other, and that confidence ultimately carried us through to the final.”

Faculty Dean, Professor Andrew Lynch, also praised the team’s achievement and the dedication behind it.

“This result reflects the exceptional commitment of these students and the strength of our mooting program. The Oxford IP Moot is one of the most challenging and respected competitions in the world, and to win it is a remarkable accomplishment. The faculty is very proud of Lana, Samuel and Zain, and grateful to the academics and professional staff who supported their preparation.”

UNSW Law & Justice congratulates Lana, Samuel and Zain on this exceptional achievement.