Moot Court, ADR, and Vis Teams Pivot and Prevail in Online Competitions

After the interruption of the in-person competition calendar, the Moot Court Honor Society (MCHS), Alternative Dispute Resolution Honor Society (ADRHS), and Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot teams arrived in the fall 2020 semester ready to compete on a new virtual playing field. In an evolving online circuit, these teams racked up victories and gained national recognition.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Teams Excel in Virtual Meets

In what was only the organization’s second year, ADRHS teams successfully navigated the challenges of virtual competitions, placing in two prestigious competitions and building a national reputation. Teams representing the Law School advanced to the semifinals in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Commercial Mediation Competition and took the top prize in the regional round of the American Bar Association Client Counseling Competition.

“Although it’s not ideal, we’ve made the most of the virtual competitions by being flexible,” said ADRHS President Robert Butlien ’21. “We’ve been very lucky to have a really enthusiastic, motivated, and passionate group of people. The coaches have done an outstanding job of facilitating simulations, keeping everyone engaged, and keeping the teams in a competitive headspace while still making it fun.”

The ICC International Mediation Competition is, according to Butlien, the most prestigious competition on the team’s docket. The students were evaluated by an international panel of professional mediators on test cases that were strategically developed on the basis of real-world disputes. Out of the 48 teams from 39 countries, Brooklyn Law School’s team was one of four to move on to the semifinal round. Adding to its achievement, it was one of the few teams in the competition to be entirely student-led. Team members Susan Kritzmacher ’21, Melissa Ronan ’21, and Noelle Stone ’21 were coached by Butlien and Katherine Teng ’21.

At the ABA Client Counseling Competition, students are judged on their practical skills in a simulated client intake meeting. The Law School was represented by Taylor Arluck ’22, Sari Kreutzer ’22, Camille Mangiaratti ’22, and Audrey Ziar ’22, along with coaches Jonathan Callaway ’21 and Eliza Simons ’21. They advanced to the national competition in March 2021.

Elite Oralists Dominate at Vis International Moot

Out of the 387 teams participating in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, the Law School’s team had the fifth-highest overall score and was one of only four U.S. teams to advance to the Round of 64. Kerry Hardman ’21, Elise Lindenmayer ’21, Rene Macioce ’21, and Ashley Schilling ’21 won honorable mention for placing in the top 5 percent of oralists, the only team to have all four members receive awards. The team was coached by adjunct faculty members Louis Kimmelman and Dana MacGrath.

“This is one of the best performances a Brooklyn Law School team has had in the Vis Competition,” said Stacy Caplow, associate dean of experiential education. “Even without a trip to Vienna [the competition’s usual host city], our team excelled.”

Brooklyn Law students log in to virtual competitions

BLSA and Moot Court Team Join for Trial Competition

A team fielded by the Law School’s chapter of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and coached by Moot Court Honor Society members advanced to the Northeast regional finals of the National Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition. Named in honor of the first woman of color to serve as a federal judge, the competition provides law students with a platform to develop their trial skills within a compressed time frame.

The team members were Shanni Lynch ’24, who was recognized for best opening statement in the competition, Gita Miller ’22, Kristen Wallace ’23, and Keanu Velez ’24, coached by Kimberly Kramer ’21, MCHS President Jacob Nunziato Warren ’21, and Semyon Davydov ’21.

Moot Court Honor Society Hosts Inaugural House Cup

In October 2020, MCHS held the first-ever Brooklyn Law House Cup Competition. Launched by the MCHS executive board to address gaps in the competition calendar created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the House Cup pitted four of the Law School’s trial teams against one another in a competition. Fifteen alumni and faculty volunteers served as judges and jurors. Hon. Ramon E. Reyes, Jr. ’92, magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and member of the Law School’s Board of Trustees, judged the championship round.

“We knew we needed to provide a venue for all the energy our peers were putting in to prepare for the fall season,” said MCHS President Jacob Nunziato Warren ’21. “Our alumni really came through for us, and the competition was a great success. Now we have a blueprint for events like this for future executive boards to follow.”

The winning team’s members were Jane Dowling ’22, Sydney Segal ’22, Carl Wu ’23, and Regina Yu ’23, coached by Andrew Ramstad ’21, Mollie Hamel ’21, and Fiona McFarland ’21. Alexa Ornelas ’22 won recognition as the best overall advocate and for delivering the best opening statement. Bernadette Schneider ’22 won for best cross-examination and best closing statement, and Michelle Lepkofker ’22 for best direct examination.