Fifth Research Contest on Commercial Custom

In this edition we initially have the registration of 23 participating teams, of which 15 presented a written essay and 8 They managed to qualify for the final round. However, for the oral phase we have finally with the participation of 7 teams, due to the withdrawal of one of them the classified groups.

The results of the day are listed below. end of the contest:

First place: Externado University of Colombia, with the practice of exchanging expired retail perishable foods held between distributors and shopkeepers, without surcharge for the shopkeeper.

Second place: University of La Sabana, with the practice sale of cattle ‘by eye’ in the Province of Sumapaz.”

Third place: University of La Sabana, with the research on replacement at no additional cost in food restaurants to the table, due to lack of quality on the plate.

Fourth place: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, with the investigation on the assumption of the cost of the expert opinion by the buyer in the purchase and sale of motor vehicles.

Fifth place: Externado University of Colombia, with the investigation on the grace period for adaptation of commercial premises in lease contracts for restaurants, cafes and gastrobars.

Sixth place: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, with the investigation “exchange of personal data for discounts on products in the e-commerce”.

Seventh place: University of La Sabana, with the practice of percentage division of profits for manicure services.

The fifth edition of the Contest seeks for teams—composed of three undergraduate or postgraduate law students from the Bogotá-Region and one professor—to identify and propose mercantile practices that are not currently under investigation or have not yet been certified by the CCB (Bogotá Chamber of Commerce) as mercantile customs.

Teams of three (3) students led by a professor from the same university may participate, representing their respective institution. Universities may enter multiple teams as long as there are no repeating students or professors across the groups.

The research work must take into account the legal requirements for a practice to be certified as a mercantile custom and must include a field study of at least five (5) companies where the application of the practice is verified.

What are Mercantile Customs?

Mercantile customs are practices carried out by individuals within an economic sector in a uniform, repeated, and public manner, which can be certified and enforced in business transactions. For example, in sales contracts for used private-service vehicles, it is a mercantile custom for the seller to deliver the following accessories to the buyer: a spare tire and floor mats.

Team Registration: Open until March 20, 2026, at 11:59:59 p.m. , after previously validating compliance with the Regulations.

Submission of Research Essay: Must be sent to the email correspondencia@ccb.org.co no later than April 10, 2026, at 3:59:59 p.m. with the subject: Concurso de Investigación de Costumbre Mercantil – Ensayo (Team Number).

Review and Selection of Finalists: Subject matter experts will review the submissions until April 22, 2026, selecting the finalists who will participate in the Grand Finale.

Grand Finale: Finalist teams must present and defend their research orally before a jury on May 7, 2026, who will then select the winning teams.

First Place: Awarded to the team with the highest total score from the final oral phase combined with the essay score. The prize consists of redeemable vouchers equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the total prize budget available for the current year. The 50% total will be distributed proportionally among the team members and the coach.

Second Place: Awarded to the team with the second-highest combined score. The prize consists of redeemable vouchers equivalent to thirty percent (30%) of the total prize budget available for the current year. The 30% total will be distributed proportionally among the team members and the coach.

Third Place: Awarded to the team with the third-highest combined score. The prize consists of redeemable vouchers equivalent to twenty percent (20%) of the total prize budget available for the current year. The 20 % total will be distributed proportionally among the team members and the coach.