7th TNNLU National Med-Arb Competition (NMAC) 2026
7th TNNLU National Med-Arb Competition (NMAC) 2026
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (ADRC) of Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU) is organising the 7th National Med-Arb Competition (NMAC) 2026. This flagship competition focuses on the Med-Arb model, a hybrid dispute resolution mechanism combining mediation and arbitration, and aims to test participants’ negotiation, advocacy, and decision-making skills in a realistic dispute-resolution setting.
Competition Dates and Venue
Online Preliminary Rounds: 7–8 February 2026
Advanced Rounds (Hybrid/Offline): 28–29 March 2026
Offline Venue: TNNLU Campus, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
Valedictory Ceremony: 29 March 2026
---
About the Host Institution
Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU)
Established in 2012 by the Government of Tamil Nadu
Offers B.A. LL.B., B.Com. LL.B., LL.M., and Ph.D. programmes
Known for its strong ADR culture through specialised courses, research initiatives, and national-level competitions
Houses a dedicated Centre for ADR focusing on research and innovation in dispute resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (ADRC)
Established in 2018
Has successfully conducted six editions of the National Med-Arb Competition
Actively organises workshops, training programmes, and competitions to familiarise students with modern dispute resolution practices
---
Competition Model and Structure
The competition follows a Med-Arb format, where each round consists of:
Mediation Stage:
Participants act as a client-counsel pair and attempt to resolve the dispute collaboratively.
Arbitration Stage:
The same dispute proceeds to arbitration if unresolved. Participants now act as co-counsels, presenting arguments before an arbitral tribunal.
Mediator-Arbitrator Role:
The participant who serves as the mediator in the first stage transitions into the role of arbitrator in the arbitration stage.
Arbitral Award Writing:
Following the preliminary rounds, mediator-arbitrators are required to draft a reasoned arbitral award.
From an initial pool of 32 teams, the top 16 teams advance to the offline rounds, which include:
Qualifier Round
Semi-Finals
Finals
---
Eligibility and Team Composition
Open to students currently enrolled in 3-year or 5-year LL.B. programmes (or equivalent) worldwide
Cross-university and independent teams are permitted
Professionally certified or practising mediators are not eligible
Each team must consist of three members:
Negotiating Team (2 members):
Act as counsel and client during mediation, and as co-counsels during arbitration
Mediator-Arbitrator (1 member):
Acts as mediator during mediation and arbitrator during arbitration and award-writing stages
---
Registration and Fees
Preliminary Rounds Registration Fee: ₹6,000 per team
Advanced Rounds Fee (for qualifying teams): Additional ₹15,000 per team
All fees are non-refundable
If only part of a team qualifies, the advanced-round fee is adjusted proportionately
---
Important Timeline
Provisional Registration Commences: 6 December 2025
Release of Competition Problem: 24 December 2025
Provisional Registration Deadline: 26 December 2025
Slot Confirmation and Final Registration Begins: 28 December 2025
Deadline for Seeking Clarifications: 1 January 2026
Final Registration Deadline: 10 January 2026
Release of Clarifications: 11 January 2026
Soft Copy Memorial Submission Deadline: 25 January 2026
Online Preliminary Rounds: 7–8 February 2026
Offline Advanced Rounds: 28–29 March 2026
---
Submission Guidelines
Written submissions must be prepared for both Claimant and Respondent
Maximum length: 25 pages per memorandum
Font: Times New Roman, size 12, 1.5 line spacing
Citation style: Bluebook (21st Edition) in footnotes
Compendium submission is optional for prelims and mandatory for advanced rounds
---
Awards and Recognition
The following awards will be conferred at the Valedictory Ceremony:
Winner – Negotiating Team
Runner-up – Negotiating Team
Winner – Mediator-Arbitrator
Runner-up – Mediator-Arbitrator
Best Memorial
Best Arbitral Award
---
Logistics for Advanced Rounds
Accommodation provided by TNNLU from 12:00 PM on 28 March to 12:00 PM on 30 March 2026
Accommodation cost is included in the advanced-round registration fee
All meals will be provided during competition days
Participants must submit travel details in advance for coordination
---
Past Adjudicators and Partners
Previous editions have featured adjudicators including:
Senior Advocates
Partners from leading law firms
Retired High Court judges, including Justice Kannan Krishnamurthy (Retd.)
Past sponsors and partners include:
Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys
SCC Online
Eastern Book Company (EBC)
Zoho Corporation
International Arbitration and Mediation Centre, Hyderabad
---
Contact Information
Official Email: nmac@tnnlu.ac.in
Faculty In-Charge:
Ms. Mrinmoyee Mukherjee
Ms. Malini Elumalai
Student Coordinators:
Varsha Maharaja (Convenor): +91 96771 76777
Leah Sarah Eapen (Co-Convenor): +91 91508 45671
Instagram: @tnnlu_adrc
