Visually-Impaired Version 
Students from 13 countries are developing innovative legal solutions to address the challenges of the digital age. The second International Legathon MaxUP 2026 case championship has kicked off in the capital.
This large-scale student competition is being held as part of the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, declared by the Head of State. The event is organized by Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU). Chairman of the Board of the university, Talgat Narikbayev, welcomed the participants, highlighting the competition’s theme, “Law of the Future”, which reflects the world we live in today.
“The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has declared this year the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Technologies are rapidly transforming our lives, including how society and law function. Concepts such as digital identity and digital twins are no longer science fiction—they are becoming part of our reality. This creates new challenges that require clear and effective legal solutions,” said Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the Board of MNU.
The head of the university wished the students success and emphasized that the new generation of lawyers will shape the legal world of tomorrow. During the competition, participants explore the impact of emerging technologies on legal systems, legal principles, ethics, and human rights. The event has brought together more than 90 students from Europe, Asia, and North America.
“I am very interested in Kazakhstan’s judicial system, particularly because online courts have already been implemented here. This experience is not yet as developed in Uzbekistan as it is in Kazakhstan. In our competition application, we proposed adopting Kazakhstan’s experience and incorporating it into Uzbekistan’s legislation,” said Diyorbek Davronov, a student of Tashkent State University of Law (Uzbekistan).
Participants were divided into Russian and English leagues. The first round, held in the format of debates titled “Lex Fantastica,” took place at the Astana International Financial Centre Court. The debate focused on a dispute over the virtual inheritance of Delal de Gogh, who passed away in 2036.
During the discussions, students presented arguments on issues such as whether metaverses can be considered analogous to real states with their own jurisdictions, the regulation of virtual assets, and the right to life and property protection of virtual entities. They also addressed questions related to the liability of metaverse owners, the recusal of an AI judge, and the legality of limiting time spent in virtual reality. The performances were evaluated by Supreme Court judge Elena Maksyuta, partner at ADL Disputes Mukhit Yeleuov, Chief Legal Officer of the Kazakhstan Agency for International Development “KazAID” Aiza Gabdullina, managing partner of Unicase law firm Artem Timoshenko, Chief Legal Counsel of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan Sayat Kukebayev, and attorney Rena Kerimova.
“Such competitions are extremely important for young people around the world. The legal case presented was very interesting. At first, we were not sure how realistic it was, but after listening to the speakers, we began to realize that with the integration of artificial intelligence into legal systems, we will indeed need new regulatory mechanisms. Legal systems are currently lagging behind, and it will be up to the younger generation to propose innovative solutions for the future,” emphasized Andrew Jiaxing Chen, a student at McGill University (Canada).
International Legathon MaxUP 2026 is held with the support of the AIFC Court, the Kazakhstan Bar Association, and the international law firm Baker McKenzie. The competition is also supported by the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, law firms Unicase, KP Disputes, Turkenov Consulting, and attorney Rena Kerimova. The final stage of the competition will take place tomorrow at MNU.
It is worth noting that the first International Legathon MaxUP was held in 2025.
