Our congratulations go to the Pace 2016 New York State Bar Association/AAA Arbitration Competition team that competed on November 13-14, 2015. Matthew Arpino (2L), Emily Bendana (2L), and Bryan Kelly (2L) represented Pace Law School. The team was coached by New York Attorney Jay Bielat.

This year the problem was a contract dispute between a pharmaceutical company and their storage and sales distributor. Both sides claimed the other had breached the contract. The team also argued violations of good faith and fair dealing and alter ego liability.

In the first round, Matt and Emily were co-counsel for the claimant and Brian was the client. The team competed against Cornell and won that round. In the second round, Brian and Emily were co-counsel for the respondent and Matt was the client. They competed against Buffalo Law School and won that round as well.

The team and coach were honored to represent Pace Law School in this competition.

Congratulations to Matt, Emily, and Bryan. ​

POST WRITTEN BY: Brianne M. Cunningham (J.D. Candidate 2013-2016, Pace Law School)

Pace Law School’s Vis Moot Team competed in the 2016 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition this March in Vienna, Austria. The competition was composed of over 300 teams from over 60 countries.

The Pace team consisted of Vittoria Fiorenza (3L), Brianne M. Cunningham (3L), Monica Calderon (2L), Angelica Cancel (2L), and Patricia Lam (2L).  Pace Law School was mentioned several times during the opening ceremonies of the event as the sponsor and founding university of the Competition. Pace Law Professor Darren Rosenblum spoke at the opening ceremony representing Pace. The team was coached by Pace Professor Linda Wayner and Pace Alum Bryn Goodman.

The team competed four times in the general rounds. The team argued against the University of Bielefeld, Federal University of Paraná, the University of Silesia, and Dalian Maritime University. As part of the competition, each team is required to submit two memorandums, one as Claimant and one as Respondent. This year’s team won an honorable mention for their Respondent memorandum.

Held in Vienna each Spring, this moot is the world’s premier international commercial law moot court. Founded by Pace Law School, this competition is named for Professor Willem C. Vis, who was a highly respected scholar and former Pace Law School faculty member. The moot involves an arbitration of a contract of sale between two parties in countries that have adopted the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. This moot provides experience in commercial arbitration skills and provides an opportunity for students to develop commercial law expertise. The research for this moot begins in the Fall semester and continues through the Spring, at which time two briefs are due. Selected students within the Vis team travel to Vienna. All team members, regardless of their selection to travel to Vienna, are entitled to earn 2 credits for their participation.

Learn more about the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot via this website.

The 2016 Pace Vis team and coaches were proud to represent Pace Law School in Austria.

C​ongratulations to Vittoria, Brianne, Monica, Angelica, and Patricia.

POST WRITTEN BY: Cassandra Castellano (J.D. candidate 2013-2017, Pace Law School)

Pace Law School hosted its annual Grand Moot Court Competition this past Thursday, March 31, 2016. The four finalists of the Grand Moot Court Semi-Final Competition, Sarah Main, Alex Lowell, Samantha Hazen and Andrea Osgood, argued before prestigious U.S. District Court Judges: The Honorable Loretta A. Preska, The Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald, The Honorable Jed S. Rakoff, The Honorable Cathy Seibel and U.S. Magistrate Judge, The Honorable Judith C. McCarthy.

The students argued the merits of a fictitious case Brendan Smith v. Luis Peralta, concerning two constitutional issues:

1. Whether subjective malice is one of the elements of a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 malicious prosecution claim based on the Fourth Amendment; and

2. Whether Peralta was the subject of an unreasonable seizure that lacked probable cause for purposes of a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 malicious prosecution claim based on the Fourth Amendment.

The class, Advanced Appellate Advocacy, is under the direction of Professor Louis Fasulo, coordinated by Professor Alissa Bauer and supported by the team of Professors Jennifer Arlin, Elyse Moskowitz and Danielle Shalov.  The Professors guided the students throughout the fall semester in writing their appellate briefs and preparing for oral arguments. The students were presented with challenging questions from a challenging bench of Judges.

The Gerber Glass Courtroom was packed with observers eager to watch the arguments, followed by a wonderful reception in the Tudor Room.

Congratulations to the competitors! Sarah Main received the award for Best Advocate and Andrea Osgood received the award for Best Brief.

Sarah Main, Alex Lowell and Samantha Hazen, will now move on to compete in the New York City Bar’s National Moot Court Competition. Andrea Osgood, will compete at the Dean Jerome Prince Evidence Moot Court Competition.

Special thanks to: Advocacy Administrator Loretta Musial, Advocacy Program Director and Professor Louis V. Fasulo, the guest Judges, the Advanced Appellate Advocacy Professors for their work with the class and for supporting the students at this event, Dean David Yassky, Chartwell Food Services for providing refreshments throughout the day, the 1L class for supporting the event, Pace Law Advocacy Honor Board Directors: Cassandra Castellano, Brianne Cunningham, Vittoria Fiorenza, Michael Giordano, W. Paul Alvarez and Michael Pesin-Virovets, along with the Board Members who all once again managed an excellent competition.

Congratulations to Sarah Main, Alex Lowell, Samantha Hazen and Andrea Osgood on this impressive achievement! We look forward to following your competitions next Spring!​

Pace team members Robert Foster (3L) and Brian Byrne (3L) did an outstanding job at the prestigious Jerome Prince Evidence Moot Competition, which was held at Brooklyn Law School from Thursday, March 31st through Saturday, April 2nd. Rob and Brian wrote an excellent brief on three issues: whether police use of long-term cell phone geolocation data requires a warrant; whether an “ancient document” (a document at least 20 years old) is admissible per se or only if shown to possess indicia of reliability; and whether the admission of a testimonial dying declaration of the victim in a murder case should be recognized as an exception to a defendant’s right to the Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause.

Rob and Brian advanced twice in the competition, at which 36 teams participated. The Pace team advanced first to the round of 16 teams and then again to the round of eight teams.

The team was ably assisted by Michael Pesin-Virovets (3L) and Wilfredo Lopez (2L).

Congrats to Rob and Brian on this excellent achievement!

POST WRITTEN BY: Cassandra Castellano (J.D. Candidate 2013-2017, Pace Law School)

Pace Law School hosted its Third Annual Louis V. Fasulo 1L Moot Court Competition this past weekend April 9-10, 2016. 160 first year law students argued before over 80 judges, including many Pace Alumni. The students argued the merits of a fictitious case Coburn v. Martinez before the fictitious Thirteenth Circuit, in an appeal from an order of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Tennessee. The Court dismissed a diversity action below for lack of personal jurisdiction. The plaintiff Mary Jo Coburn, a citizen of Tennessee, sued for injunctive relief against the defendant, Wally Martinez, a New York Journalist.

The case of Coburn v. Martinez, the subject of their 1L brief, concerned two issues:

1. Whether Martinez was validly served with process in Tennessee so that the District Court had personal jurisdiction based on presence; and
2. Whether the District Court had personal jurisdiction based on Martinez’s minimum contacts with Tennessee.

Professors Barbara Atwell, Carol Barry, Alissa Bauer, Francis Carroll, Linda Fentiman, Vicky Gannon, Tamar Gribetz, Cynthia Pittson, Gail Whittemore, and Peter Widulski worked with and guided the students throughout the spring semester in writing their first appellate brief and in their preparation for their first oral argument. The students were presented with challenging questions from great and lively panels of experienced judges and attorneys.

The comradery and intensity of the competition provided for a stimulating weekend. After Saturday’s preliminary rounds, the top 71 students advanced to the next round and argued on Sunday. Congratulations to the top 71:  Andrew Restivo, Andrew Tadrous, Aris Rotella, Ashley Brimm, Ashley Ratcliffe, Brenna Fitzpatrick, Brizeyda Parada, Casandia Bellevue, Caysee Kamenetsky, Chanel Noblin, Christian Radoi, Christina Desrosiers, Christopher Cech, Christopher Matcovich, Christopher Peticca, Christopher Zamlout, Courtney Dunn, Crystal Dilone, Danielle Meyer, Danny Amaisse, David Solimeno, Delonie Plummer, Dylan Rupp, Emily Rawdon, Eric Romanowski, Erin Novak, Estelle Mitchell, Gloria Okirie, Howard Schilsky, Jaclene Troisi, James Creech, James Greer, Jared Shababb, Justin Martinez, Justin Verzillo, Katelyn Squicciarani, Kevin Bazur, Kristyn Francese, Lisa Lazzaro, Luke Sostarecz, Lydia Rainey, Mackenzie Ferguson, Marina Stinely, Mary Kerrigan, Matthew Sotomayor, Melissa Duque, Michael Jasper, Michael Saba, Michael Viteritto, Michelle Greene, Natalie DeRyder, Nicholas Douglas, Nicolas Salviano, Nicole Boeckle, Nicolette Pellegrino, Ollia Pappas, Quinn McLoughlin, Rachel Baughman, Rachel Kesten, Rebecca King, Rosella Morabito, Roshni Mody, Ryan Memoli, Sara Aronbayev, Sarah Cinquemani, Sarah Sachmer, Thomas Persico, Tiffany Jacobsen, Timothy Henesy, Tyler Martin and Valentina Scirica.

The students argued well in Sunday’s advanced rounds making it difficult for the judges to choose the top 32. Nevertheless, the following are this year’s top 32: Ashley Ratcliffe, Chanel Noblin, Christian Radoi, Christina Desrosiers, Christopher Cech, Christopher Matcovich, Christopher Zamlout, Courtney Dunn, Danielle Meyer, Danny Amaisse, Delonie Plummer, Emily Rawdon, Erin Novak, Gloria Okirie, Howard Schilsky, Jaclene Troisi, James Creech, Kristyn Francese, Lisa Lazzaro, Lydia Rainey, Mackenzie Ferguson, Mary Kerrigan, Nicolas Salviano, Nicole Boeckle, Nicolette Pellegrino, Rachel Kesten, Rosella Morabito, Sara Aronbayev, Sarah Cinquemani, Sarah Sachmer, Tiffany Jacobsen, Valentina Scirica.

It was a challenge for the judges to pick the top 8. However, Christopher Zamlout, Courtney Dunn, Danny Amaisse, Erin Novak, Gloria Okirie, Lydia Rainey, Mackenzie Ferguson and Sarah Cinquemani rightfully earned their spot in the top 8 final round.

The final eight students did a superb job in the final round making it an exciting event for the judges and the spectators. Mackenzie Ferguson won the competition as Best Advocate and received a $750 Themis Bar Review Certificate; Erin Novak placed second receiving a $500 Themis Bar Review Certificate; Courtney Dunn placed as the first runner-up receiving a $250 Themis Bar Review Certificate; Gloria Okirie placed as the second runner-up receiving a $250 Themis Bar Review Certificate.

Special thanks to: Advocacy Administrator Loretta Musial, Director of Advocacy Programs and Professor Louis V. Fasulo, the judges, the 1L Legal Skills professors for their work with the first year class and for coming to support the students at this event, Themis Bar Review for donating the first, second, third and fourth gift certificates prizes, Dean David Yassky, Chartwell Food Services for providing refreshments throughout the day, the Advocacy Honor Board Directors and its Board, including Executive Director Cassandra Castellano, Managing Director Brianne Cunningham, External Competitions Directors Vittoria Fiorenza & Michael Giordano, Internal Competitions Director Washington Paul Alvarez and Skills Development Director Michael Pesin-Virovets, who managed the competition.

Congratulations to Mackenzie Ferguson, Erin Novak, Courtney Dunn and Gloria Okirie on this wonderful achievement!

Our congratulations go out to the Pace 2016 International Environmental Moot Court Competition team that competed in Stetson’s Twentieth Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition this past weekend, April 14-16, in Gulfport, Florida.

The Pace team advanced to the International rounds in Florida after placing as a top 2 finalist in the North American Regional Round, February 19-21 in Washington D.C.

The competition is hosted annually by Stetson University College of Law. This year’s competition problem involved a dispute submitted before the International Court of Justice, concerning the illegal trafficking of cultural property.

Conor Strong (2L), James Patrick Logan (2L) and Leigh Wellington (2L) proudly represented Pace Law School at the competition. The team was under the direction of Cassandra Castellano (3L).

During Thursday’s first preliminary round, Pace competed against the Law Society of Ireland. During Friday’s second preliminary round, Pace competed against West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata. Then in Friday’s third preliminary round, Pace competed against the National University of Singapore. Pace prevailed in the fourth preliminary round against Pontificia Universidad Javeriana of Colombia.

The team was honored to represent North America among the 17 other teams from around the globe in attendance at the International Rounds.

Congratulations Conor, Patrick and Leigh on their outstanding performance, and their dedication for the past eight months.

Our congratulations go out to the Pace 2017 International Environmental Moot Court Competition team that placed as a top two finalist in the North American Regional Rounds, February 3-5 in Washington D.C.!

The competition is hosted annually by Stetson University College of Law. This year’s competition problem involved a dispute submitted before the International Court of Justice, relating to ocean fertilization and marine biodiversity.

Returning team members, James Patrick Logan (3L), Conor Strong (3L), and Leigh Wellington (3L) proudly represented Pace Law School at the competition. The team was coached by Cassandra Castellano (4L).

During Saturday’s preliminary rounds, Pace won all three arguments. Conor Strong (3L) received the prestigious award for Best Oralist of the Preliminary Rounds. The team advanced to Sunday’s final round where they placed as top 2 finalist in the North American Regional Rounds.

The team was honored to represent Pace Law School and bring home several awards for the second year in a row!

Congratulations Patrick, Conor and Leigh on their incredible performance and dedication over the past six months.

Post written by Cassandra Castellano (4L).