IE Law School has hosted the final stage of the sixth edition of Comparative Law in Action (CLiA), further consolidating this initiative as a leading international academic competition in the legal field. Over the course of three days, Madrid welcomed student teams from Bucerius Law School, Università Bocconi, Maastricht University, Tilburg University, University of Amsterdam, Católica Global School of Law, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Universidad Espíritu Santo, and IE Law School. 

A HIGH-LEVEL FINAL 

The final, held on Sunday at the IE Tower campus, brought together teams from Università Bocconi and the University of Amsterdam. After an intense and closely contested round, the jury awarded first place to Bocconi, marking a welldeserved victory after finishing as runner-up in the previous two editions. 

COMPETITION IN DIGITAL MARKETS 

This year’s competition focused on one of today’s most pressing regulatory challenges: competition in digital markets. Designed by Lazar Radic, Professor at IE Law School, the case centered on a fictional dispute between a major U.S. tech company and an emerging European firm, prompting students to explore key issues related to competition law, data protection, digital contracts, and the impact of the Digital Markets Act. 

In the first phase, teams worked remotely to analyze the case. The finalists then advanced to an in-person stage in Madrid, where they presented their proposals before an international jury composed of Angelo Golia (LUISS Law School), Begoña Barrantes (Clifford Chance), Thibaut Larger (Amazon) y Alba Ribera (Stanford Computational Antitrust). 

Beyond technical evaluation, CLiA places strong emphasis on the development of core competencies such as persuasive argumentation, clarity of communication, and the practical application of law in global and highly competitive environments. 

TRAINING AND COACHING FOR TEAMS 

Throughout the weekend, students took part in training and coaching sessions led by IE University’s expert faculty, in an environment designed to strengthen both legal analysis and strategic communication skills. 

In her masterclass on geopolitics and innovation, Adriana Hoyos, consultant at Harvard Strategy Consulting, emphasized: "Future lawyers must master not only legal doctrine, but also understand how digital markets operate, how data flows, and how regulatory frameworks interact globally."

During the coaching session, Erika Pagano, independent strategic advisor, shared a key piece of advice with participants: "The true measure of a successful lawyer of tomorrow is the ability to marry rigorous analysis with an authentic voice. This competition provides the perfect stage to do exactly that."

COMPARATIVE LAW IN ACTION 

Through Comparative Law in Action, IE Law School reinforces its commitment to a legal education aligned with real-world practice, where law is positioned as a strategic tool for operating in a global, digital, and constantly evolving ecosystem