2025 Young Comparativists Committee Prizes
The YCC awarded the following 2025 prizes, which were approved by the Prizes Committee of the ASCL.
The images depict photos of current YCC board members Clare Ryan, Mortimer (Tim) Sellers, Yueh-Ping (Alex) Yang, and Alan Koh. Pictured also are Prof. Tim Sellers, ASCL Vice President, presenting the awards to Yuyan (Nicole) Zhang and Yinn-ching Lu.
Richard M. Buxbaum Teaching Prize for untenured law faculty in comparative law. Nominations for this prize were reviewed by the YCC Committee.
Dr. Soterios Loizou, Assistant Professor of Commercial Law, University of Cambridge, Faculty of Law
Dr. Loizou’s packet evinces a substantial record of excellence in teaching comparative law courses at a wide range of universities in Asia, Europe, and most recently in the UK. He demonstrates a passion and commitment to teaching students from diverse backgrounds and effectively deploying comparative methodology in commercial and business law. Notable accomplishments in teaching include being nominated for a university-wide excellence in teaching award every year from 2018-2025, and being accepted as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in recognition of teaching and service. The Prize submission included multiple testimonials from students, which emphasize Dr. Loizou’s engagement, humor, knowledge, and inclusivity in the classroom.
Phanor Eder Prize for the best paper written by a student in their first law degree. Submissions for this prize werew reviewed by the Membership and Engagement Advisory Group.
1st place: Yuyan Zhang, JD Candidate, Duke Law School, “Colonial Law and Contemporary Authoritarianism: Section 144 and Myanmar Military Junta”
Yuyan Zhang’s paper offers a powerful and timely analysis of how colonial-era laws — specifically Section 144 of the British Code of Criminal Procedure — are revived by contemporary authoritarian regimes to cloak political repression in legal form. Through detailed examination of Myanmar’s use of Section 144 before and after the 2021 military coup, Zhang demonstrates that colonial legal infrastructures not only persist but are strategically mobilized to serve autocratic ends. Drawing on the theory of autocratic legalism, the paper compellingly shows how legality itself becomes a tool of domination when inherited legal devices are reinterpreted and weaponized. The paper is well-structured, thoroughly researched, and grounded in close readings of both historical and contemporary legal texts.
Honorable Mention: Annalisa Kingsbury Lee, J.D. Candidate, Stanford Law School, “Legal Constraints in the Making and Un-Making of Regional Energy Systems in the US and China, 1963-1989”
This paper presents an original comparative legal-historical study of regional energy system development in the United States and China between 1963 and 1989. Challenging the assumption that central-local legal relations in these two systems are fundamentally dissimilar, Lee reveals structural parallels in how legal and institutional constraints shaped — and in some cases hindered — the formation of integrated electricity networks. The paper applies a functional institutionalist methodology, blending legal analysis with historical context and infrastructure studies to show how law operates not only as a constraint but also as a constitutive force in regional energy governance. . . it stands out for the honorable mention for its comparative ambition and conceptual clarity.
Colin B. Picker Prize for the best paper presented for the 2025 YCC conference by a graduate student. Submissions for this prize were reviewed by the Scholarship Advisory Group.
1st Place: “The Faces of Judicial Data Governance” by Leo You Li, JSD Candidate Stanford Law School
This Article offers a comprehensive and insightful analysis of judicial data governance across three major jurisdictions. The discussion is rigorously substantiated, with very clear comparative structure. The comparative method and the conceptualization of distinct models offer valuable insights into how varied legal cultures address challenges of transparency and utilization rules. … Overall, this work makes a significant contribution to understanding the complex landscape of judicial data management and offers practical guidance for future reforms. It is an excellent candidate for recognition as a prize-winning paper.
Honorable Mention: “Justices Matter: A Comparative Theory of Judicial Self-protection” by Yinn-ching Lu, SJD Candidate Emory University
This Article presents a very clear contribution, with a highly interesting subject and a solid comparative analysis of legal systems. The analysis flows seamlessly and is well-resourced, . . . the choice of Poland, Georgia, and Taiwan as comparative cases is particularly insightful, as these jurisdictions are underrepresented in current English-language legal literature yet share significant similarities and values. This Article enriches our understanding of how institutional arrangements—particularly in judicial appointment processes—impact courts’ ability to self-protect. . . Overall, this research provides valuable guidance for safeguarding judicial independence in challenging political environments and merits recognition as an honorable mention.