Christ Church victory at Varsity Roman Law Moot Competition

In June this year, Christ Church made up much of a winning team at the Varsity Roman Law Moot Court Competition, an annual event which brings together students who have an interest in Roman Law from Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Held in the grand Upper Library at Christ Church, the moot was judged by the Regius Professors of Civil Law from Cambridge and Oxford, Professor Wolfgang Ernst (Oxford) and Professor David Ibbetson (Cambridge) who commended the exceptionally high quality of the submissions from both teams.

Christ Church’s Edward Tribe (Law, first year) and Nicholas Stone (Greats, 2016–2020 and MSt in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature, 2020–2021 and now reading Law at Harris Manchester College) were two of the four Oxford students on the winning team.

Christ Church’s Law tutor Professor Ciara Kennefick coached the Oxford team along with Professor Joe Sampson from Magdalen College, while Benjamin Spagnolo, the coach of the Cambridge team, is a former Penningtons Student at Christ Church.

The moot problem centred on a loan, granted by Quintus to a man named Macedo when the latter was still in the power of his father Trimalchio. The loan was guaranteed by way of a valuable vase belonging to a third party, Gaius. 

When Quintus is not repaid, he decides to sue Trimalchio, from whom Macedo is now emancipated, and Gaius hears about the impending lawsuit. He comes to the view that Quintus has no right to keep or even to sell the vase, and he demands its return. 

Quintus brings a condictio as an actio adiectitiae qualitatis against Trimalchio, for the payment of the amount lent, and Gaius brings an actio pigneraticia against Quintus, for the return of the vase.

While an Oxford win on home territory delighted the team, all the participants and organisers were pleased to see the event return in-person after two years of virtual moots due to Covid.