10 May 2007

Out of this world success for Dundee law student

University of Dundee Law student Lauren Payne is celebrating after winning the European Final of a major international competition in Space Law.

Lauren, who is currently on an exchange programme with Leiden University in the Netherlands where she is studying Air & Space Law, entered the European rounds of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Competition, where competitors debate key issues relating to Space Law.

She and a colleague, Jason Bonin, reached the finals and emerged triumphant. Now they are set to represent Europe in the World Finals in Hyderabad in India at the end of September. The competition is supported by all the major players in the space industry and Lauren and her colleague will be sent to India by the European Centre for Space Law.

"It has already been an amazing experience to take part in the competition but to have the chance to go to India and take part in the World Final is just fantastic," said Lauren.

The Lachs Moot began in 1992 and is organised annually by the International Institute of Space Law (I.I.S.L.). Each year, the winners of the Asia Pacific, European and North American Regional Rounds compete in the world finals, held in conjunction with the annual International Astronautical Congress and the Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space.

The Lachs Moot has the distinction of having its world final judged each year by three sitting members of the International Court of Justice.

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