The Kingland Cup is Francis Taylor Building’s annual mooting competition, aimed at students at university and bar school, and focussing on topics within chambers’ specialist areas. You can read more about Lord Kingsland, after whom this competition is named, and the history of the moot here.
The competition takes place over three rounds: the first round sees entrants judged on the quality of their skeleton arguments; in the semi-finals, four teams will argue before current or recently retired High Court judges; and the final of the competition is judged by a current or retired Lord Justice of Appeal and/or a panel of senior barristers, judges, and legal academics.
The Moot Rules, which explain the eligibility and procedure for the competition, can be read here.
All queries relating to the Kingsland Cup and Prize Moot should be directed to the Moot Coordinators, Brendan Brett, Stephanie Bruce-Smith and Armin Solimani at kingslandcup@ftbchambers.co.uk – please do not contact the clerks.
This year's competition is currently open. Entries, submitted in accordance with the Moot Rules will be accepted until 4pm on 31 December 2025.
The moot problem for the first and second rounds this year is an appeal from the High Court’s decision in R (Friends of the Earth) v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2024] EWHC 2707 (Admin). The relevant materials are as follows:
The Moot Coordinators will hold an introductory webinar at 1pm on Friday 21 November 2025. To register to attend this, please clink this link. Attendance is not a condition of entering the competition, and is particularly aimed at those who are less familiar with mooting or who may have questions about how the competition works. The substance of the moot problem will not be discussed.
The Moot Coordinators have also produced a short note, based on previous years’ entries, setting out general comments, pointers on common mistakes, and top tips for skeleton arguments.
The following are the indicative timings for the rest of the competition:
The results of the first round will be announced on or around the 14 January 2026.
The second round moots are expected to place in the two weeks following 16 February 2026.
The Grand Final is likely to take place in the middle of April.
The Grand Final of the Kingsland Cup and Prize Moot was held on 21 February 2025 at the Royal Courts of Justice and was judged by Sir Keith Lindblom, Senior President of Tribunals.
We congratulate the winners, Gregor Donaldson and Katherine Wood both of The Inns of Court College of Advocacy. They will be offered mini-pupillages in chambers, along with a cash prize.
Many congratulations also to the runners-up, to Archie Hunter and Alessia Lucifora both of City University.
The Grand Final of the Kingsland Cup and Prize Moot was held on 12 July 2024 at the Inner Temple and was judged by Sir Keith Lindblom, Senior President of Tribunals.
We heartily congratulate the winners, Liz Sawyer and Nora Nanayakkara, both of The Inns of Court College of Advocacy. They will be offered mini-pupillages in chambers, along with a cash prize.
Many congratulations also to the runners-up, Alfie Vine, (City, University of London) and Richard Calver (University of Law, Bloomsbury).
The Grand Final of the Kingsland Cup and Prize Moot, was held on 10 July 2023 in the Old Court Room of Lincoln's Inn. It was judged by Sir Keith Lindblom, Senior President of Tribunals. Iason Pafitis and Ruari Clarke (City Law School) were the winners. The runners-up were Henry Screaton and Alex Miller (City Law School).
The Grand Final took place on 4 July 2022 at the Royal Courts of Justice. It was judged by Sir Keith Lindblom, Senior President of Tribunals and Professor Alison Young, Sir David Williams Professor of Public Law at the University of Cambridge.
The winners were Joshua Neaman and Bethany Hermanszewska. The runners-up were John Choi and Daniel Leyva.
The winners were Joshua Neaman and Bethany Hermanszewska (pictured). The runners-up were John Choi and Daniel Leyva.
Final judged by Sir Keith Lindblom, Senior President of Tribunals and Professor Alison Young, Sir David Williams Professor of Public Law at the University of Cambridge.
2024-25: Gregor Donaldson and Katherine Wood (The ICCA)
2023-24: Liz Sawyer and Nora Nanayakkara (The ICCA)
2022-23: Iason Pafitis and Ruari Clarke (City Law School)
2021-22: Joshua Neaman and Bethany Hermanszewska (City Law School)
2020-21: Lois Lane and Tom Lambert (City Law School)
2019-20: Jack Stuart and Jack Moore (Nottingham Law School)
2018-19: Jessica Allen and Richard Mahal (City Law School)
2017-18: Jared Kang and Rabin Kok (University of Cambridge)
2016-17: Harriet Fitzsimons and Sarah-Jane Ewart (City Law School)
2015-16: Esther Drabkin-Reiter and Ryan Ferro (City Law School)
2014-15: Rachael Muldoon and Ng Lee Vin (BPP Law School)
2013-14: Victoria Brown and Daira Popescu (Kaplan Law School)
2012-13: Martin Edwards and Joel McMillian (BPP Law School)
2011-12: Julia Petrenko and Grace Hansen (Kaplan Law School)