The skill set required of lawyers is evolving, and the ability to creatively and expeditiously resolve client concerns through effective negotiation is increasingly important. The negotiation competition is designed to teach the knowledge, skills, attitudes, judgment, and values that are vital to law students’ success in legal practice. Such competencies include knowing key negotiation concepts; managing information and process; communicating and relationship-building; advocating for client interests in a problem-solving environment; internalizing ethical decision-making in negotiation; and engaging in reflective practice. The competition gives law students the opportunity to engage in negotiations like those that lawyers experience in practice and to receive feedback from expert negotiators.

In teams of two, the students met with another team representing the other side, each team possessing confidential details about their client’s circumstances and settlement preferences.  The purpose of this year’s negotiation was for a wildlife sanctuary to hire an expert to assist with the development of bird and animal shows and additional programming to support eco-friendly tourism. The students negotiated an agreement on important points such as the expert’s duties and responsibilities, contract length, time commitment, and compensation.

All this took place under the close scrutiny of the judges, who scored each team’s negotiation skills.  At the end of each session, the judges provided detailed feedback to each team about what they did well, and potential areas for improvement.

The event was generously sponsored by Fillmore Riley, which has a very long history of supporting the competition.  In addition to covering all competition costs and supplying cash prizes, lawyers from the firm volunteered to judge the students.  These lawyers have extensive knowledge about and experience in negotiations. They were: Ari Hanson [JD/12], Kalev Anniko, Donald Baker [JD/17], Amber Harms [JD/21], Samantha Harvey [JD/23], Hannah Humphries, Nick Noonan [JD/21], Amelia Peterson [JD/19], Tamara Reimer [JD/16], Alexa Smith [JD/21], Rhiannon Swan [JD/23] and Michael Zacharias [JD/18].

These judges were tremendously impressed with the caliber of the students’ negotiations, and were faced with the unenviable task of selecting a winner.  Due to their stellar performance, the negotiating team of Emily Dueck and Kate O’Rourke were awarded first place. The runners up, who also did a tremendous job, were Dena Aminzadeh and Mitchell Klippenstein.  Both teams will now represent Robson Hall and compete in the Canadian National Negotiation Competition, which will be in Montreal at the l’Université de Sherbrooke – Campus de Longueuil on March 13th and 14th, 2026.

Robson Hall students have a long history of success in inter-school competitions: The winner of the 2014 Robson Hall competition went on to win the 2015 International Negotiation Competition in Dublin, Ireland. For the past three years, both French and English language streams have been held at the national competition, with Manitoba’s students placing strongly in both. In 2023, the English language team placed third, and the French language team placed second. In 2024, Robson Hall’s French team brought home the French Spirit of Negotiation Award (le prix d’excellence dans l’esprit de la négociation pour la section française). Last year’s English stream won the award for “Best Process Management” for best demonstrating skills in time management, preparation, adaptability and self-reflection. 

The winning team. From left to right: Emily Dueck, Ari Hanson (competition judge) and Kate O’Rourke (photo credit: Daniel Cha).

The runner-up team. From left to right: Mitchell Klippenstein, Ari Hanson (competition judge), and Dena Aminzadeh (photo credit: Daniel Cha).

A sincere thanks to Fillmore Riley for its generous sponsorship of the competition.

Congratulations Emily & Kate and Dena & Mitchell!

Founded in 1992, the goal of The Wilson Moot is to explore legal issues concerning women and minorities, and promote the education of students and the legal profession in these areas. Past topics chosen for Wilson Moot problems include Charter implications of the taxation scheme for child support payments, freedom of religion in the context of state-funded education, and a challenge to the anti-terrorism provisions of the Criminal Code.

Manitoba competed in a group of 15 teams from across Canada and Australia. The University of Toronto won, with Osgoode Hall Law School (York) placing second and Bond University (Queensland, Australia), third. A University of British Columbia student won the Peter W. Hogg Memorial Prize (Top Oralist) and Thompson Rivers University won top team facta.

Team Manitoba consisted of Avery Alexiuk (2L), Tess Poulton (2L), Maia Bacchus (3L), Kirsten Nynych (3L), who were coached by Madison Pearlman [JD/18] (Law Society of Manitoba), and Charles Murray (Manitoba Justice, Constitutional Law section). The Moot gave each student the chance to watch oral advocacy and creative problem-solving in action, and allowed them to engage in honing their own advocacy skills at the Federal Court.

“The Wilson Moot was a wonderful opportunity to practice our oral and written advocacy skills,” said Nynych. “We gained valuable feedback from our extremely dedicated coaches who also brought in several guest judges leading up to the competition. I think the Wilson moot in particular, broadened our view of how Charter claims may change as society develops and enabled us to make creative and novel arguments because of how the problem was framed.”

“This experience has affirmed how much I enjoy legal advocacy, and I’m excited to keep developing as an advocate and representing the university of Manitoba in the Laskin moot during my 3L year,” said Poulton.

In a LinkedIn post, Team Manitoba’s Avery Alexiuk reflected on this “unforgettable experience arguing complex Charter issues alongside some of the brightest legal minds from across Canada and abroad.”

“I am incredibly proud of our team for our hard work, perseverance, and commitment over the past few months,” said Alexiuk. “Our performances would not have been possible without our coaches, Charles Murray and Madison Pearlman. We are so grateful for your time, guidance and unwavering support!”

Speaking on behalf of the coaches, Pearlman said, “Coaching the Wilson Moot this year, alongside my co-coach Charles Murray, was such an exciting opportunity and a fulfilling experience. It was great to work with a passionate and committed team of students and to support them in developing and honing their advocacy skills. Mooting is an invaluable, practical learning experience for students and helps to prepare them for their future legal careers. Robson Hall’s return to the Wilson Moot this year was not only a chance for this year’s students to engage with complex Charter rights issues and social policy matters, it hopefully opened the door for future students to do the same.”

Alexiuk also thanked moot program coordinators, Professor Darcy MacPherson and Director of Clinics Elizabeth McCandless for support and resources, as well as members of the Manitoba legal community who served as guest judges at practice sessions.

—

Edwin Arthur Braid, C.M., Q.C. (1934 – 2020), also known as ‘Art’, was a beloved former Dean and Professor at Robson Hall, the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law. He was also a graduate of the UM Faculty of Law, class of 1960. Art was widely respected for his kindness, intellectual rigor, and dedication to teaching, but above all, he was deeply passionate about business law. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of law students, particularly through the Art Braid Business Law Case Competition.

Robson Hall’s Business Law Group, organizers of the 2025 Art Braid Business Law Case Competition.

The Business Law Group (BLG), a student group focused on corporate and commercial law at Robson Hall, first introduced the competition two years ago as a way to offer students a practical learning experience in transactional practice. The event, which continues to be a resounding success, has led to a continued partnership with the Marcel A. Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law, allowing the BLG to run the competition for its third consecutive year.

The competition was a valuable opportunity to engage students in the process of legal reasoning, a central value for Art Braid. Teams of two to four students were given a hypothetical contract and asked to identify any red flags, legal issues that could potentially render the contract void, and propose any creative or necessary changes. Students presented their solutions to a panel of judges made up of experienced lawyers from the Manitoba Bar.

Following the presentations, attendees gathered in the Northern Lights Lounge at TDS for refreshments and remarks, culminating in the announcement of the winning team.

Professor Darcy MacPherson gives a moving tribute to Art Braid.

Darcy MacPherson, a Professor at Robson Hall and Research Director at the Desautels Centre, shared heartfelt comments about Art Braid’s lasting impact on the law community. Professor MacPherson emphasized Art’s passion for corporate and commercial law and his unwavering belief in preparing students for the business world. He also highlighted Art’s commitment to pro bono work and his philosophy of giving back: “There’s something special about using your legal skills to help those in need. That was the essence of Art Braid – he freely gave his time and expertise to help others.”

The judges noted that this year’s competition was exceptionally close, with all teams displaying outstanding reasoning and presentation skills. Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Art Braid Business Law Case Competition: Jordan Wagner (3L), Eric Wagner (1L), and William Ho (1L), who triumphed over the finalists: Eric Martin (1L), Tyler Rubigny (1L), Thomas James-Davies (1L), and Alessandro Imbrogno (1L).

Jordan Wagner (3L) presents his team’s case to judges at the 3rd annual Art Braid Cup.

Feedback from the student participants was overwhelmingly positive, and the BLG is excited to continue refining the competition in the years ahead.

The BLG extends its deepest gratitude to the family and friends of Art Braid, whose ongoing support helps sustain his legacy. We also offer sincere thanks to the Marcel A. Desautels Centre for its generous funding, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman for hosting the event, Professor Darcy MacPherson for his moving tribute to Art, Dr. Laura Reimer, Program Director of the Desautels Centre, Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law, and the Faculty of Law for their unwavering support. Additionally, we would like to thank the competition judges – Steven Dressler [JD/21] (MLT Aikins), Celyna Yu [JD/22] (TDS), Don MacDonald [LLB/83] (Pitblado), and Caroline Christie [BA/12 (UM), JD/16 (UND)] (Pitblado)  – for their time and expertise. Finally, our appreciation goes to the entire BLG Executive team and all the students who participated, making this year’s competition a continued success.

Without the ongoing support of these individuals and organizations, the Art Braid Business Law Case Competition would not have grown into what it has become in these three short years.

This year, the Kawaskimhon did a number of things differently. Instead of conducting negotiations between the colonial government and Indigenous people, it involved all Indigenous organizations negotiating a treaty amongst themselves. As well, table awards were given out for the first time to honour team work at each table. Manitoba’s team of Lathlin and Jackson brought home one of those table awards.

The specific problem at this year’s moot involved each team representing an Indigenous community coming together to protect the water. As Dreilich-Girard explained, each table consisted of six teams, each representing different Indigenous organizations and governments, all with the goal of protecting the Lake Winnipeg Watershed. “Throughout the negotiation, we worked to move beyond colonial legal frameworks, and opted to create a Water Treaty inspired by the Buffalo Treaty. This treaty recognized principles such as kinship, reciprocity, respect, relationships, regeneration, and responsibility. It also integrated ceremony as a way of honoring and upholding these commitments.”

“In creating the treaty, we acknowledged and recognized the ongoing work being done in community such as the great work being done at the Turtle Lodge. We emphasized the need for a Grandmothers’ Council and ensured that the treaty, along with all related documents and communications, would be available in the languages of all signatory nations. Additionally, we called for the renewal of relationships and commitments to be marked during the solstice. One of the most significant aspects of our treaty was Article #7, which spoke about the importance of future generations being included in all discussions and decisions, with an open seat at every discussion and gathering to welcome new community members and individuals who wish to join the conversation.”

Dreilich-Girard observed that “This opportunity saw us utilize what we’ve learned in the classroom while integrating ceremony and teachings.”

Kawaskimhon Team Manitoba (left to right): Coach Marc Kruse [JD/15], Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services; Mary-Charlet-Lathlin (3L); (back left) Raven Morrisseau (2L); Chloe Dreilich-Girard (2L); Janell Jackson (2L); Coach Daniel Diamond, Assistant Professor, UM Law.

Thanking her teammates, Dreilich-Girard said, “Together, we successfully mirrored the partnership our “clients” have, and navigated the negotiation process while supporting each other’s visions and goals.

The moot’s keynote speaker was Aimée Craft, a Full Professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Common Law, who holds the University of Ottawa Research Chair Nibi miinawaa aki inaakonigewin: Indigenous governance in relationship with land and water. Her talk highlighted the “incredible work being done by communities to protect water, including the development of a Water Treaty,” said Dreilich-Girard.

The team thanked their coaches Kruse and Diamond for their support throughout the Kawaskimhon including bringing them Thunder Bay’s iconic Persian donuts.

Finally, Dreilich-Girard extended kihchi marsii to her and Morrisseau’s table moderator, Jamie McGinnis, Manager of Legal Services, Human Rights Legal Support Centre in Thunder Bay. “Her guidance was instrumental in helping us navigate the negotiation with respect, reciprocity, kinship, relationships, regeneration, and responsibility all in mind.”

“It takes a village to coach a Moot Team,” Clarke observed, remarking on the generosity and dedication of the Manitoba legal community to help train the next generation of lawyers. From the beginning of January until the team left for Toronto, Clarke said they practiced twice a week at the Manitoba Court of Appeal in front of five panels of Crown and defence lawyers, and a panel of Provincial Court Judges. “The final practice panel was in front of three Manitoba Court of Appeal Justices, including the Chief Justice of Manitoba, The Honourable Marianne Rivoalen, herself,” said Clarke.

The Gale Cup has been Canada’s premier appellate moot on criminal and constitutional law since 1974.  The assigned moot problem for 2025 was R v Bykovets, 2024 SCC 6, focussing on Section 8 of the Charter, in particular, the privacy of IP addresses of Canadians. While Manitoba did not bring home any prizes, Clarke said, “I think I speak for everyone when I say we walked away with something much more practical than a prize – a fantastic learning experience to add to our resumes and tool kits as we prepare for articling interviews, and articling for Denise.”

In a LinkedIn post, Harris expressed pride in the team’s work. “I would like to thank my co-counsel, Derek Zaporzan, and my teammates Kaitlyn Clarke, Andrew Bergen, and Denise Sarmiento for their hard work, effort, and support throughout our preparation,” he wrote. “I’m incredibly proud of our determination, creativity, and progress over the past few months and of the advocacy skills we have honed along the way.”

Clarke and Sameer expressed deepest thanks to their coaches, Smith and Queau-Guzzi, on behalf of the team. “We are deeply grateful for your guidance, feedback, tireless effort, and unwavering dedication since our very first meeting. Your impact on our skills and professional development will extend far beyond this competition,” Harris wrote.

In addition to acknowledging the contributions of numerous lawyers and justices who took time out of their busy schedules to help with practices, the team also thanked University of Manitoba Faculty of Law moot coordinators, Professor Darcy MacPherson and Director of Clinics, Elizabeth McCandless, for their support and guidance.

Sydney Reimer took 2nd place Top Negotiator for the National Family Law Negotiation Competition.

“This experience was incredibly rewarding, allowing me to learn, grow, and gain confidence in my skills,” said Reimer in a LinkedIn post.

Competitors were welcomed by Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law at the University of Manitoba, followed by a talk from keynote speaker Patricia Hebert, K.C.. A mediator, collaborative lawyer, child advocate and litigator for 30 years, Hebert was able to share words of wisdom and experience with the competitors.

Attendees were also treated to a conversation / discussion panel between Justice Sheilaugh O’Connell of the Ontario Court of Justice, with Professors Shelley Kierstead and Patricia McMahon of Osgoode Faculty of Law, York University.

The first-place winning team was from the University of Saskatchewan College of law, and the first-place student negotiator was Mackenzie Singer from U of S.

The full team of Steven Csincsa (3L), Marianna Pozdirca (2L), Maria Pepelassis (2L), Jordan Wagner (3L), was awarded the inaugural Ronald E. Dimock “Spirit of the Moot” Award, given to a team or individual who furthers the objectives of the Harold G. Fox Moot by combining persuasive IP advocacy with collegiality, positivity, and respect throughout the competition and its associated events. As Pozdirca explained, “This was the first year the Fox Moot did a Spirit award, and the organizers shared how they feared it would be hard to decide which team to award it to, but instead Manitoba stood out as the clear winner. It was really remarkable recognition for “friendly Manitoba”.”

The team was coached by Julia Rykman (Fillmore Riley), and Kelsey Desjardine (Justice Canada), who Pozdirca thanked in a LinkedIn post, along with former coach John Myers who continues to support the team after serving as coach for many years. “We stand on the shoulders of so many members of the legal community, from last year’s University of Manitoba team to members of the judiciary, all volunteering their time to help us prepare for this competition, to the Honourable Justice Marshall Rothstein for his financial support of the Robson Hall Team each year since joining this Moot,” said Pozdirca.

“The Fox Moot honed my advocacy, research, and adaptability skills while underscoring the value of precision and teamwork,” said Wagner. “It was a demanding yet rewarding experience, made possible by the dedication of our coaches. To future students: start early, practice relentlessly, and welcome feedback – it makes all the difference. I couldn’t be prouder of my team and the effort we poured into this competition.”

The Harold G. Fox Moot is intended to promote the furtherance of education in the intellectual property field, and to provide participants with the opportunity to interact with jurists of the Supreme, Ontario, and Federal Courts and experienced practitioners of intellectual property law.

As the Canadian Jessup webpage notes, “The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is the world’s largest moot court competition”. This year, globally, over 800 teams from more than 100 jurisdictions took part in the competition. The students had to research and argue four complex issues of international law involving the rights or obligations of states when two people make competing claims to be the president of a state, the immunities to which state property and former state officials may be entitled, the legal implications for maritime zones of states which have coastlines receding due to climate change induced sea level rise. There was also an issue of treaty interpretation.

The team and coach were very thankful to two members of last year’s Jessup team, Stefan Leicht and Liam Brown, for returning to help this year’s team by acting as guest judges for one practice. Recent graduate, and former Jessup Mooter, Megan Filyk [JD/24] also gave up one of her evenings to help the team by serving as a judge.

In addition, Major Laura Hodgson, a lawyer at the Canadian Armed Forces, Office of the Judge Advocate General and her colleague Darren Vallentgoed, LCdr/Capc, Deputy Judge Advocate, Assistant Judge Advocate General, of the Canadian Armed Forces came to two practices and served as guest judges. Another of their colleagues from the Canadian Armed Forces also served as a guest judge for one practice.

As Dr. MacNeil observed, “I am grateful to the lawyers, colleagues, and former Jessup team members for preparing the mooters for what they would face in the competition. Thanks to the time they were willing to put in to help the team, I had the pleasure of watching our students compete in Ottawa, handling complex questions from the judges, and improving every round. The Jessup is a lot of work and, I hope all members of the team feel as though that work paid off in their performance at the Canadian Rounds.”

For the first time in recent memory, the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law fielded a full team at the Isaac Moot, of which the Appellant team of Quinn Thomas (3L) and Talia David (3L) emerged as champions and brought the Isaac Moot Cup home to Winnipeg. Team members Thomas and Apara Grace (2L) were also both nominees for the “Spirit of the Moot” award, which goes to an individual who best exemplifies the late Justice Isaac’s passion for diversity and social justice by advancing the most innovative and compelling critical race theory argument.

Coaches Michael Badejo [JD/22] (Fillmore Riley), Deborah Yeboah (TDS), and Chimwemwe Undi [BA/16; JD/20] (TDS), worked with Thomas and David, Kira Wardrop (2L), Grace, (Respondent team), and team researcher Kennedee Hills (3L).

Thomas described the Moot as focusing on “an area of the law in which issues of equity and diversity arise and requires law students to incorporate elements of critical race theory into their arguments.”

Talia David presents her argument for the Appellant team while her teammate Quinn Thomas listens. Fellow Manitoba team members Kennedee Hills and Kira Wardrop listen in the row behind. Photo credit: Blessing Uja, BLSAC.

The unique aspect of this Moot, Thomas explained, is that “allows students to explore both theoretical and doctrinal arguments in a way that few Canadian moots do. The thrust of a doctrinal argument must be rooted in reference to traditional legal authorities, whereas the thrust of a theoretical argument is normative – it concerns what Canadian law should be, not what it is.”

This year’s Moot problem required students to look at issues underlying the current test for racial profiling using as the foundation of the problem, the majority and dissent rulings of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in R v Ali, 2023 SKCA 127.

The 18^th Annual Isaac Moot made history with the largest number of participants since the Moot first started in 2008. The Moot is entirely organized by the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada, and this year, 26 teams from 15 Canadian law schools and a first-ever team from the United States of America took part.

Judges for the final round, before whom Thomas and David had the opportunity to present oral submissions, were The Honourable Justice Mahmud Jamal, Supreme Court of Canada; Chief Justice Michael H. Tulloch, Ontario Court of Appeal; and Associate Chief Justice Aston J. Hall, Ontario Court of Justice.

Moot Champions with Final Round Judges, left to right: Talia David, Justice Mahmud Jamal (SCC); Chief Justice Michael H. Tulloch (OCA); Associate Chief Justice Aston J. Hall (OCJ); Quinn Thomas. Photo credit: Blessing Uja, BLSAC.

For students wishing to compete in the Isaac Moot, no prerequisite courses are needed, and this year’s team described the experience as a ‘learn as you go’ endeavour. In a LinkedIn post, David thanked the team’s three coaches, saying, “Our growth over the past few months is largely due to their encouragement, feedback, and unwavering support. I am also very grateful for the guest judges who took the time out of their extremely busy schedules to attend our practices, our judges in the preliminary rounds of the Moot, and the rest of the Manitoba team. I also want to thank Professor Amar Khoday for taking the time to sit down with our team and have an open discussion about Critical Race Theory.”

Being paired with a team member who is a good partner was also an important factor to mooting success. David added in her post, “Lastly, I owe the biggest thank you to my co-counsel, Quinn Thomas. I am extremely fortunate to have been paired with someone who constantly pushed me, checked in on me, and with whom I was always completely in sync. I could not have asked for a better partner.”

Quinn Thomas and Talia David with the Isaac Moot Cup.

For more about this Moot, please read the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada Julius Alexander Isaac Moot Magazine.

Team members Maria Garcia Manzano (3L) who won Robson Hall’s Solomon Greenberg intramural trial advocacy competition on November 16, 2024, and co-counsel Harlan Morris (3L), were runners-up to the University of Alberta first-place team at the Western moot. Both teams went on to represent Western Canada at the Sopinka Cup, held in Ottawa, Ontario, on March 14 – 15, 2025.

Team Manitoba was coached by Laura Robinson [LLB/09] and Evan Roitenberg [LLB/91] of Wolson Roitenberg Robinson Wolson, and Adam Gingera [BA/10; JD/16] of Manitoba Justice Prosecutions Service.

The Honourable Douglas Abra [LLB/72], retired Justice of the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench (and a past winner of the MacIntyre Cup himself), presided over the trials, with a team of six assessors deciding the winners. The Honourable Ryan Rolston [LLB/99], Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba presented the prizes at the awards dinner following the competition’s conclusion.

The University of Manitoba Faculty of Law hosted the 2025 Western (MacIntyre) Cup at Robson Hall. Members of the Manitoba practicing legal community generously contributed their time and skills to act as assessors and coaches. Photo by Jenna Chemerika.

The MacIntyre Cup awards dinner coincided with the Canada-US Four Nations Cup hockey game, so in true Canadian form, Robson Hall organizers ensured the game was played on a large screen in the room, much to the relief of many Moot competitors and coaches who are also irredeemable hockey fans. It was “a very Canadian moment,” said Elizabeth McCandless [LLB/07; LLM/20], Director of Clinics at Robson Hall.

McCandless extended special thanks to Faculty of Law administrative staff person Jenna Chemerika who worked very hard to organize all logistics and details of the MacIntyre Cup to make the competition a success.

Sopinka Cup

The final leg of the Trial Advocacy competition journey for Team Manitoba was at the Sopinka Cup, which is where East meets West. The winning eight teams from four regional competitions in Canada meet in Ottawa each year. These competitions include the Western (MacIntyre) Cup, the Arnup Cup (for Ontario Universities), the Guy Guérin Cup (Quebec), and the McKelvey Cup (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia).

Garcia Manzano and Morris shared some of their experiences at the national event, where all 16 students competing were presented with plaques to commemorate reaching the national level – “a remarkable accomplishment in itself,” Garcia Manzano explained. “It was an incredible experience to compete against some of the most talented advocacy teams in the country, and we’re proud to have represented the University of Manitoba on the national stage.”

She added, “We were fortunate to be guided by outstanding coaches whose mentorship was unparalleled for both the MacIntyre and the Sopinka Cup. They pushed us to grow, challenged us constantly, and – even though they tried to convince me to pursue a career in litigation – I know the advocacy skills they taught me will serve me will in the corporate-commercial practice I plan to build.”

“Competing in the MacIntyre and Sopinka Cups were undoubtedly the highlight of my time in law school,” said Morris. “Seeing the final product after the countless hours we put into preparing for our trials was by far the most rewarding experience in my three years at Robson Hall.”

Garcia Manzano will be articling at Fillmore Riley LLP throughout the next 12 months, while Morris will article with the Crown at Manitoba Justice, Public Prosecutions.

The Sopinka Cup was established in 1999 in honour of late Supreme Court of Canada Justice John Sopinka, a long-time Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, which runs the competition. In 2018, MacIntyre Cup winners Yassir Al-Naji [JD/18] and Ben Johnson [JD/18] took second place and won “Best Closing Argument” at the Sopinka Cup. Kevin Toyne [BA/00; LLB/03] and Jennifer Malabar [LLB/03] won the Sopinka Cup in 2003.