ACB Helps Law Students Prepare for National Moot Court
Samuel J. Gerdano, ABI Executive Director
College Fellows in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th and 1st Circuits assisted students preparing to compete in the 27th annual Judge Conrad B. Duberstein National Memorial Moot Court Competition. The
Competition is sponsored each year by the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) and St. John’s University School of Law. This year, some 60 teams competed in one of the largest competitions ever. The 2019 event was held over three days in early March in New York City.
College Fellows served as regional event organizers, judges, coaches and financial supporters for the teams of students. Regional competitions help students prepare for the rigorous national event. This year, two new regional competitions were established, for law schools in the 7th Circuit (held in Chicago) and the 6th Circuit (held in Detroit).
A team from the SMU Dedman School of Law took top honors in New York, while a team from the University of Miami (coached by Fellow Trish Redmond) was the runner up. A student from the University of Alabama won the top prize for best oral advocate. The awards, including cash prizes, were funded by ABI and presented at a gala attended by 600 professionals at Manhattan’s Gotham Hall. Each of the winners and finalists were a product of regional competitions, including the Elliott Cup in the 5th Circuit (sponsored by the Bankruptcy Section of the Texas State Bar).
College Fellows assisting in the 1st Circuit were Mark Berman, Michael Goldberg, Rick Mikels, Christopher Panos, Lynne Riley (organizer) and Jim Wilton. College Fellows in the 4th Circuit were Michael Bernstein, Hon. Patrick Flatley, Doug Foley, Sam Gerdano, Craig Goldblatt, Judge Michelle Harner, Denise Neary (organizer), Lynn Tavenner and Beth Wiggins. College Fellows assisting in the 5th Circuit regional were Hon. Harlin D. Hale and Deborah Langehennig. College Fellows in the new 6th Circuit regional were Joel Appelbaum, Susan Cook, Richardo Kilpatrick, Hon. Steven Rhodes and Hon. Phillip Shefferly (organizer). Fellows in the new 7th Circuit regional were Howard Adelman, Richard Bendix, Tim Nixon, Felicia Perlman, Ron Peterson, Nancy Peterman, Brian Shaw, Cathy Steege and Hon. Deborah Thorne (organizer). Fellows in the 11th Circuit were Eric Brunstad, Hon. Jay Cristol, Hon. Mary Grace Diehl, Hon. Laurel Isicoff and Trish Redmond (organizer).
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All of those involved in the regionals owe huge thanks to Fellow Sam Gerdano and his colleagues at the ABI for their inspiration and support.