Student Writing Competition

Student Writing Competition

AIEN has sponsored an annual student writing competition since 2001. The competition is open to all full-time seniors in a four-year program and all graduate students enrolled at an accredited university. Essays should be an original work at editorial length (no more than 4,000 words, excluding footnotes) on any specific issue of the student's choice which is directly related to international petroleum negotiations, such as matters of contract, law, or policy.

Students enrolled at schools associated with our Education Advisory Board program must submit their papers to the professor representing the school in the program, who will submit the top four (4) papers from that school. Students who are not enrolled at schools represented by the AIEN Education Advisory Board may submit their essays directly to AIEN.

One prize will be awarded, although AIEN reserves the right to award none at all, if it determines that none of the submitted entries justifies an award. Previous winners are not eligible to participate again. The essays will be reviewed by a committee comprised of educators, lawyers, business managers and international negotiators. Selection of the winning essay is solely at the discretion of the committee. Essays will be judged on topical relevance (is the topic useful to members of AIEN in their work?), originality of content, creativity, insight, clarity and support for viewpoints taken. Each student may submit only one entry. Essays become the property of AIEN. AIEN may request proof of enrollment for the submission to be considered.

All essays must be submitted to the AIEN by email no later than November 20, 2024, accompanied by a current one-page curriculum vitae of the author and his/her contact details. Applicants will be notified of the winners on or around January 30, 2025.

The 2025 award includes:

• One winner will receive registration to either the AIEN International Energy Summit and its related evening events, June 10-12, 2025, Shangri-La Hotel, Istanbul, Türkiye OR the Model Contracts Workshop, September 8-11, 2025, Sofitel Hotel, Bali, Indonesia.
• Roundtrip, advance booking coach ticket to conference city
• $300 expense reimbursement, for expenses incurred directly relating to this conference and supported by receipts
• Standard lodging at the conference location during the event, and
• Student membership in AIEN for one year.

In addition, the winning essay may be eligible for publication in the Journal of World Energy Law and Business, AIEN's official journal published by Oxford University Press.

Entries should be submitted in one email by November 20, 2024 in PDF or Word format to education@aien.org including: Current curriculum vitae that does not exceed one page in 12-point font and complete contact information including name, email address and phone number.

*Students related to current AIEN Officers or Directors or past winners are not eligible to win. Previous Student Writing Competition winners are excluded from participating. By submitting an entry, you certify that you are not related to any foreign (outside the United States) government official, nor are you subject to any United States economic sanctions.

Click here to view the 2024-2025 briefing document.

Read previous papers

Please note: Login with your AIEN username and password will be required for viewing the winning papers.

2021 Winning Paper

"The Digitization of Oil and Gas & Accompanying Data Privacy Compliance Considerations for International Investments in China and Brazil" by Harry Phillips, Tulane University Law School, J.D.

2020 Winning Paper

"Force Majeure Clauses in LNG Sales and Purchase Agreements: How do they stand up during the Covid-19 pandemic?” by Michael Denison, City Law School, London, LLM, International Energy Law and Regulation

2019 Winning Paper

"Future of Cross-Border Pipeline Projects in AMLO’s Mexico: What’s the Risk?” by Megan Rollag, University of Houston Law Center, Juris Doctorate degree

2018 Winning Papers

“Oil-Rich and Out of Options: Venezuela’s International Arbitration Saga of Expropriation, Enforcement, and Settlement” by Kristin Kluding, University of Houston Law Center, Juris Doctorate degree

“Indian LNG Demand & The Global LNG Market” by Kevin Locke, University of Houston Law Center, Juris Doctorate degree

2017 Winning Paper

“The Effects of Japan’s Push for Greater LNG Market Flexibility on LNG Pricing and Destination Restrictions” by Chantal Carriere, University of Houston/University of Calgary, International Energy Lawyers Program

2016 Winning Papers

"Take or Pay: A Different Perspective? Ensuring ‘Top’ Clauses Always Come Out on Top" by Masayu Lynn Masagoes, University of Western Australia
"State ownership of petroleum resources: an obstacle to shale gas development in the UK?" by Meri-Katriina Pyhäranta, doctoral researcher, University of Eastern Finland; visiting researcher, University of Texas at Austin

2015 Winning Papers

"The Evolution of the Law of Indirect Expropriation and its Application to Oil and Gas Investments” by Omar Chehade, University of Calgary
“The Trans-Caspian Pipeline: Implications for the Five Littoral States" by Bryce Cason, University of Tulsa
“Arbitrating International LNG Disputes: Lessons Learned over Two Decades" by Lisa Bohmer, University of Houston
“Unlocking Mexico’s Shale Gas Reserves: Folly or Fortune?” by Michael Ventocilla, University of Houston

2014 Winning Papers

“U.S. LNG Exportation: The Regulatory Process and its Practical Implications” by John Adams, SMU Dedman School of Law (Please login with username and password to view)
“Applying Game Theory to Oil and Gas Unitization Agreements: How to Resolve Mutually Beneficial, Yet Competitive Situations” by Barrett Schitka, University of Houston Law Center (Please login with username and password to view)

2013 Winning Papers

“Limiting Damages for Loss of Profits and Loss of Production Under the AIEN 2013 Model Form International Operating Agreement” by Leanne Desbarats, University of Calgary (Please login with username and password to view)
“Investment Protection in Colombia: Can Investors Rely on the Full Protection Security Clause?” by John Riggs, University of Houston (Please login with username and password to view)