U of A Faculty of Law celebrates another year of mooting success
Carmen Rojas - 3 April 2024
The University of Alberta Faculty of Law is celebrating another year of impressive results in moot competitions.
The season got off to a strong start last fall, with a record 77 students taking part in the Brimacombe Moot to determine which students would represent the U of A at competitions.
Students carried this momentum forward, capturing top prizes and accolades at regional, provincial and national moots.
“The University of Alberta has rightfully developed a fearsome reputation as one of the strongest mooting schools in the country,” says Chris Samuel, director of the Legal Research and Writing Program. “This reputation is founded on the hard work of our talented mooting students and the tireless dedication exhibited by our wonderful coaches and volunteer judges.”
“The law school mooting experience is a truly special and unique opportunity,” he adds. “It is an avenue for students to dive deeply into today’s pressing legal questions, while receiving mentorship and guidance from experienced practicing legal professionals.”
The Faculty held a Celebration of Mooting for students on April 8th, 2025.
Top Prizes
Faculty of Law moot teams secured numerous top finishes.
The season started on a high note with Yume Kobayashi, ‘26 JD, and Jackson Miller, ‘26 JD, earning first place at the Mathews Dinsdale National Labour Arbitration Competition, which was held in Toronto from January 31 - February 2. They were coached by David Williams and Justice Kristan Mcleod.
The moot team of Talia Brown, ‘25 JD, Matthew Tumbach, ‘25 JD, Kasey Chao, ‘26 JD, and Rodrigo Vela Figueroa, ‘25 JD, won the regional MacIntyre Cup Trial Advocacy Competition, which took place in Winnipeg from February 14-15.
The team, who were coached by Scarlett Chan, Cameron McCoy and Bonnie Parker, then advanced to the national Sopinka Cup in Ottawa on March 14-15. For the second time in the history of the competition, the U of A team finished in first place.
On top of the overall team win, Matthew Tumbach won best overall advocate and Talia Brown won best cross examination.
On March 22, the U of A enjoyed great success at a series of intra-provincial moots between the U of A and the U of C.
Madison Bere-Hansen, ‘26 JD, and Micheal Debinski, ‘25 JD, were named champions at the Morrison Family Law Moot in Edmonton. Bere-Hansen was also named best oral advocate in the competition. They were coached by Spencer Morrison and Erin Morrison.
The team of Uma Bhattacharya, ‘26 JD, Ansh Gulati, ‘27 JD, Mikayla Haley, ‘26 JD, and Emma Madden-Krasnick, ‘25 JD, took home first place at the Bennett Jones Health Law Moot in Edmonton. They were coached by Beth Jonah and Rayna Lew.
At the Alberta Court of Appeal Moot in Calgary, the U of A won two of the three rounds of competition. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the U of A has been the overall winner of the province-wide moot.
Adam McDougall, ‘26 JD, and Michaela Pacholok, ‘26 JD, claimed top spot in the Civil competition, coached by Kyle Kawanami and Stephanie Wanke. The Criminal competition was won by Sydney Parent, ‘26 JD, and Jenna Sabroe, ‘26 JD, who were coached by Jon Kerber, Amy Lind and Brianne LaRochelle.
Rachel Cook, ‘26 JD, and Eli Ziff, ‘26 JD, competed in the Constitutional round, coached by Don Padget.
Awards and Recognition
At the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Law Moot in Toronto from February 27-March 1, the team of Chelly Francisco, ‘26 JD, Simon Robertson, ‘26 JD, Imaan Somji, ‘26 JD, and Rae Wilson, ‘26 JD, won two awards: third place for written factums and third place in the “Top School” category. They were coached by Anna Kuranicheva.
The same weekend at the virtual National Family Law Negotiation Competition, the U of A was represented by Hiba Khan, ‘25 JD, Aref Tarreh, ‘26 JD, Beth Lotoski, ‘25 JD, and Octavian Cristea, ‘25 JD. Khan and Lotoski won the top written submissions (“Best Representation Plans”). The team was coached by Riley Gallant and Madison Durham.
From February 28 - March 1, the team of Helena Rizzuto, Adam Gareau, Jordan Cowan and Benjamin Pacholik competed at the Gale Cup in Toronto. They were coached by Alex Dunn and Katherine Fraser. Rizzuto and Gareau were awarded the prestigious Peter Cory Factum Prize for the top factum – the first time since 2015 that the U of A has secured this top honour.
At the Canadian Client Consultation Moot Competition, which took place in Ottawa from March 15-16, two of our teams placed in the finals for the first time in the faculty’s history. Neha Tadepalli and Purvi Dhaliwal placed second, while Dustin Edwards and Joy Brailean took home third place. They were coached by Barb Acton, Danielle Mousseau, Lynn Parish and Farrel Shadlyn.
At the Bowman National Taxation Moot, which took place in Toronto from February 28-March 1, the Respondent team of James Louis Larouche-Paquet, ‘25 JD, and Adrian van Wyck, ‘26 JD, advanced to the Final Round of the moot. Larouche-Paquet and van Wyck were also awarded the prize for Best Respondent Factum. Their teammates were Vanshika Jain, ‘26 JD and Calum Jopling, ‘26 JD, and they were coached by James Yaskowich and Mark A. Stevens.
All Moots
At the Julius Alexander Isaac Diversity Moot, which took place in Toronto from January 30-February 1, the U of A was represented by the team of Isabella De Dominicis, ‘26 JD, Farshad Labbaf, ’26 JD, Shina Malhi, ‘25 JD, and Tajdeep Singh Sandhu, ‘26 JD. They were coached by Alex Bernard and Tom Ndeziki.
Areeba Ismail, ‘26 JD, Mason Graham, ‘25 JD, Majed Hakawati, ‘26 JD, Madalyn Mandziuk, ‘25 JD, and Ezra Saul, ‘25 JD competed in the Jessup International Law Moot in Ottawa from February 20-22. They were coached by law professor Gerard Kennedy.
The team of Ali Bazzi, ‘25 JD, Haley Calder, ‘25 JD, Jacob Parks, ‘26 JD, and Julianne Jessica Valle, ‘26 JD, travelled to Toronto from February 21-22 to compete in the Harold G. Fox IP Moot. Their coach was Tesia Doblanko.
The same weekend in Toronto, the Wilson Moot took place. The U of A was represented by Anjali Choudhary, ‘26 JD, Christian Gomes, ‘25 JD, Krystin Hoffart, ‘26 JD, and Maria Kalapurayil, ‘26 JD, who were coached by Maddison Croden and Justine Faye.
In Montreal from February 27-March 1, Chiara Concini, ‘25 JD, Brandon Thomas, ‘26 JD, Emma Tucker, ‘26 JD, and Victoria Wright, ‘25 JD, competed in the Laskin Moot. Their coaches were law professor Andrew Leach and Robert Drummond.
The Davies Canadian Corporate/Securities Moot took place in Toronto from March 7-8. The U of A team included Evan Jacka, ‘25 JD, Logan Summers, ‘26 JD, Alyssa Tisi, ‘26 JD, and Naveed Virji, ‘26 JD, with their coaches Matt Anderson and Missy Garska.
Also on March 7-8, the Kawaskimhon Moot took place in Thunder Bay. Ajae Wilson, Dave Dahlin, Neal Ruth and Sarra Kerbic competed, coached by Larry Chartrand and Kathleen Makela.
Congratulations to all the students and coaches for yet another incredible year of mooting!