Team competitions are an integral part of law school education, providing law students with the opportunity to hone their advocacy skills, legal knowledge, and teamwork abilities. This year, the Maryland Carey Law teams demonstrated a clear understanding of the law and the practical skills needed to be zealous advocates. Members of the three teams, the Bankruptcy Moot Court Team, the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law (EASL) team, and the Transactional Law Team, earned high praise for their performances in regional and national competitions.
Bankruptcy Moot Court Team
The Bankruptcy Moot Court Team competed at the 4th Circuit Regional competition, where they presented their meticulously crafted oral arguments before sitting bankruptcy judges of the Fourth Circuit. Mark Melmed ’23 “showed a clear command of the code” and Rebekah Paradis ’23 presented “the best substantive argument of the day” per the judges. Michael Gaskell ’24 and Megan Young ’24 secured an impressive 2nd place finish with their composed, articulate oral arguments. They navigated complex legal issues in bankruptcy law and effectively presented their arguments to the judges.
The team also competed at the national Annual Duberstein Moot Court Competition, widely considered one of the most prestigious moot court competitions in the country. The team's success can be attributed to their exceptional legal knowledge, research, and advocacy skills. Judge Robert Gordon ’82 and Bud Stephen Tayback coached the team with assistance from Heather Terech.
Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law
Similarly, EASL had a remarkable performance at the Fordham National Basketball Association (NBA) competition, where they earned a 2nd place finish. The EASL team's success was due to their exceptional understanding of the legal issues surrounding sports law, as well as their ability to persuasively negotiate their positions. Judges praised the preparation, strategies, and negotiation skills of both teams, consisting of Ryan Cooke ‘23 and Dakota Foster ‘24, as well as Katherine Delgado Licona ‘24 and Jeremy Ponn ‘24. With 34 teams competing, Ryan Cooke and Dakota Foster earned a well-deserved second-place finish. The students dedicated hours to preparation and practice and were coached by attorney W. Bruce DeValle.
Transactional Law Team
The Transactional Law Team competed in the Duke National Transactional Moot Competition on Saturday, March 25. Nick Curtis ’23, Abigail Allen ’24, and Elizabeth Stamas ’24 represented Maryland Carey Law earning first place in the “buyers” category of the overall competition. The team negotiated a mock transaction in front of a panel of attorneys from several of the nation’s leading law firms at the competition. During the first round of the event, students markup term sheets and exchange them via email. During the second round of the event, students participate in a face-to-face negotiation.
The team members met weekly for preparation to practice their transactional skills and were led by team coaches Joe Ward ’03 and Tea Carnell ’92. This school win would not be possible without the efforts of the entire team. In addition to our competing members, the team included Gedalia Winchell ’23, Caroline Salim ’24, Julia Levine ’24, Imani Rainey ’24, and Don Kim ’24.
All of the Maryland Carey Law teams are commended for their strong performance and dedication. Their performances at the regional and national competitions demonstrate the depth of their legal knowledge, the strength of their advocacy skills, and their ability to work collaboratively with others. Their success is a testament to their dedication and hard work, as well as the training and guidance provided by their coaches and the law school. We look forward to seeing their future achievements and continued excellence in the legal profession.