Inaugural HBKU-GU-Q TradeLab Award Celebrates Outstanding Student Achievements

Six interdisciplinary teams showcased the power of cross-collaboration across four projects

Two innovative projects advancing international trade law in the digital age–including the use of generative AI, and Asia region digital transformation–were recognized at the inaugural Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) TradeLab Award ceremony, held at GU-Q in May, 2025. 

The awards recognized work produced by students participating in the TradeLab Clinic, a collaborative initiative between HBKU’s College of Law and GU-Q, which advances policy-related research and the practice of trade law. The initiative tackles modern-day issues raised by public organizations and leverages the insights and research of more than 30 students from five programs, including the Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Law (LL.M.) in International Economic and Business Law (IEBL), LL.M. in International Law and Foreign Affairs (ILFA) at HBKU, and Bachelor of Science in Foreign Affairs majors in International Economics and International Politics at GU-Q.

This year, the clinic engaged students in four projects addressing critical trade issues, including commodity trade and regulation, World Trade Organization dispute settlement reform, digital trade, and the role of generative AI in trade negotiations. These projects supported prominent governmental and intergovernmental stakeholders. Six interdisciplinary teams, comprising students from GU-Q, HBKU, and Georgetown Law, showcased the power of cross-institutional collaboration.

The awards were selected by a distinguished committee chaired by Dr. Diego Iribarren, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Commerce and Industry. Committee members included HBKU alumnae Asma Al-Khulaifi, Associate Legal Counsel at Qatar Investment Authority, and Amal Abdulla, Chief Information Officer at Hamad Medical Corporation, as well as Safaa Jaber, a current S.J.D. candidate. The committee evaluated submissions based on originality of arguments, depth and quality of research and analysis, and quality of writing and referencing.

Leshamta Maina (GU-Q’25), Bothaina Firas Namos (GU-Q’23, HBKU, LL.M. ILFA), Emilia Pacheco De Larrea (GU-Q’25), as well as Ana Katarina Grubisic, Jerry Li, and Miriam Taylor from Georgetown Law were awarded first place for their groundbreaking Handbook on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in International Treaty Interpretation. The report, produced under the supervision of Georgetown Law Professor Katrin Kuhlmann, was praised for its originality, depth of research, and exceptional writing and referencing.

Salem Al-Adba (HBKU, JD’25), Noof Al-Mansouri (HBKU, LLM IEBL), Tayoung Chung (GU-Q’26), and Iqra Nadeem (GU-Q’26) received the runner-up award for their report Recommendations to Promote Digital Transformation in Asia and the Pacific. The submission was lauded for its insightful analysis and high-quality presentation.

The awards were presented by Dr. Safwan Masri, Dean of GU-Q, and Dr. Susan Karamanian, Dean of HBKU’s College of Law, whose participation highlighted the strong institutional support for the TradeLab and the students’ achievements. Their presence underscored the commitment of both universities to fostering innovative teaching, research, and global engagement.

TradeLab is a global network of legal clinics that brings together students, academics, and practitioners from all over the world to tackle trade and regulatory challenges. The joint HBKU-GU-Q TradeLab clinic is convened by Dr. Georgios Dimitropoulos, Professor of Law and World Trade Organization Chair at HBKU, Dr. Emmanouil Chatzikonstantinou, Assistant Professor in International Economics at GU-Q, HBKU Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Alexandros Bakos, and HBKU Doctoral Fellow Amna Zaman. The initiative is supported by the Industrial Policy for Digital Development (IPDD) Project funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).

For more information about the joint HBKU-GU-Q TradeLab and the IPDD Project, please visit https://www.hbku.edu.qa/en/cl/ipdd.