DivinaLaw, the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR), and the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS) have joined forces to enhance the Philippine qualifying rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.

Co-hosted annually by DivinaLaw and the University of Santo Tomas, the event is a prestigious platform for aspiring legal practitioners.

“Under the agreement, OADR and PALS will help DivinaLaw enlist judges for the Philippine qualifying rounds,” DivinaLaw wrote on its Facebook page on Thursday.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed to formalize the partnership, with Atty. Nilo Divina, managing partner of DivinaLaw and dean of the UST Faculty of Civil Law, OADR Executive Director Atty. Margaret Raizza Andaman, and PALS president Dean Teodoro Pastrana as signatories.

The signing ceremony was also attended by OADR Deputy Executive Director Krista Gem Santos, OADR Director Reinalyne Vidallon-Varias, and members of the executive committee of the DivinaLaw-UST Philippine Jessup Cup.

The Jessup competition, the largest moot court event in the world, attracts law schools from across the globe. Last year, 642 teams from more than 90 countries participated, with the international rounds held in Washington, DC.

The 2024 edition saw the University of the Philippines crowned world champion. Locally, the national rounds featured 21 participating schools, highlighting the growing prominence of the Philippines in the international legal community.

Under the new partnership, OADR and PALS will assist in recruiting judges for the national rounds, ensuring the competition continues to uphold its reputation for excellence.

DivinaLaw, established in 2006, is a full-service law firm known for its dynamic and results-driven approach. Initially founded with five lawyers specializing in corporate legal practice, the firm has grown to become one of the largest in the country, with over 100 lawyers on its roster.

The collaboration reinforces the commitment of all parties to nurturing the country’s legal talent and providing a platform for Filipino law students to shine on the global stage.