Five law students from Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) have qualified for the final rounds of the Sports Arbitration Moot (SAM), held on May 21 and 22 in Madrid, placing the University among the world’s leading arbitration teams.
Sarah Skaff, a laureate of SAM, described the participation as a first for the team. The competition is of particular importance to these law students, who train to adjudicate sports-related legal disputes through arbitration. She noted that lawyers handling this type of case remain rare in Lebanon, where expertise is limited to a small number of law firms.
The Sports Arbitration Moot is an international competition organized in partnership with FIFA, the Swiss Arbitration Academy (SAA), and globally recognized law firms. It brings together law students from around the world through online qualifying rounds, before advancing to oral pleadings in the final stages.
The USJ team is currently in Spain, where it will compete against the 15 other finalist teams in Madrid. Finalists also have the opportunity to visit some of the most influential law firms in the field of sports arbitration worldwide.
The team’s qualification marks a historic milestone for both USJ and Lebanon. It is the first time USJ has reached the final stage of the competition, and the first time a Lebanese team has advanced this far in SAM history. This year’s edition brought together 76 universities from across Europe, North America, Asia, and other regions traditionally dominant in international mooting competitions.
“When I learned we were ranked 12th out of 76 teams and qualified for the finals in Madrid, I felt immense pride,” said appellant speaker Maroun Lebbos. “Especially given the difficult conditions under which we prepared and competed. It was deeply rewarding to see a Lebanese university among the top teams.”
The team is composed of Sarah Skaff and Anthony K. El Feghali as respondent speakers, Tia Karame and Maroun Lebbos as appellant speakers, and Habib Abdel Sater in a strategic support role.
“My role is to observe what speakers cannot see from the podium,” Abdel Sater explained. “I track arbitrators’ reactions, identify what resonates, and relay that information to the team between rounds. It is continuous, real-time analysis.”
Five coaches supervised months of intensive preparation: Rola Makke, Malek Al-Khalil, Elie El Kareh, Ramy Paul Kiwan, and Elie Gabriel Helou.
Each team must deliver three oral rounds: one before a sole arbitrator and two before panels of three arbitrators, composed of practitioners and academics in sports arbitration. Participants analyze a complex case involving sports law, private international law, and arbitral procedure, and must present arguments for both sides while responding to sustained and detailed questioning.
“The arbitrators do not allow uninterrupted pleadings,” said Skaff. “They interrupt arguments, but you must remain composed, precise, and responsive. That discipline taught me the most.”
Tia Karame said the experience reshaped her understanding of legal advocacy. “I was not particularly passionate about sport before this competition. I no longer felt I was in a role-play; I fully assumed the role of a lawyer.”
For Anthony K. El Feghali, the experience extended beyond technical legal training. “We found ourselves before real arbitrators, who actively arbitrate cases in this field, and lawyers who already plead before this tribunal,” he said.
The achievement carries particular significance against the backdrop of Lebanon’s ongoing economic and social challenges. Campus-J described the team’s performance as a “true source of hope” and a reminder of the country’s academic potential on the international stage.
Reflecting on the experience, Skaff emphasized the responsibility of representation. “It is more than a journey; it is a responsibility,” she said. “In Madrid, I carry the name of my university and the pride of Lebanon, especially in these difficult times. A responsibility for my university and for Lebanon. More than ever.”
Also read: L’USJ en finale mondiale d’arbitrage sportif