The Appellate Lawyers Association Moot Court Committee would like to congratulate the following winners of the 2021 Moot Court Competition.

2021 HIGHLIGHTS
First Place Overall Competition Winner
       • Victoria Smiegocki, Ruan Meintjes, and Emil Meintjes, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law 

Second Place Overall Competition Winner
       • Erik Banuchi, Tris Bolinder, and Hannah Klonowski, Stetson University College of Law

Best Oral Argument
• First Place (Tie): Ruan Meintjes, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law & Alexandria Lora-Whitmer, South Texas College of Law

Best Brief
• First Place (Tie): Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law & Texas Tech University School of Law

Participating Schools
Brooklyn Law School
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Northern Illinois University College of Law
University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
University of California, Hastings College of Law
Texas Tech University School of Law
Florida State University College of Law
South Texas College of Law Houston
Michigan State University
St. Mary's University School of Law
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Baylor University School of Law
University of Mississippi School of Law
Stetson University College of Law
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Rutgers Law School

2021 SPONSORSHIP

The Appellate Lawyers Association Moot Court Committee would like to thank the following sponsors for contributing to the 2021 Moot Court competition.

Silver Sponsors

Quarles & Brady LLP
Quarles & Brady LLP is national multidisciplinary AmLaw 200 firm. For nearly 130 years, we have provided quality legal services to a wide variety of industries on a national and international stage for clients ranging from Fortune 500 to medium and small-sized companies.When representing clients in appeals, while our practice is national, we have a particular depth of experience in the appeals courts where we have our offices: Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin as well as in the Courts of Appeals for the Seventh, Ninth and Federal Circuits. Our resources include attorneys who have clerked for appellate judges and those who are active in bar association activities with appeals court judges. Our appellate lawyers also represent a wide range of groups in participating as amici in federal and state courts.

Law Offices of Michael W. Rathsack

Forde Law Offices
Forde Law Offices LLP is a seven-lawyer firm that focuses its practice on commercial litigation and appeals, as well as residential and commercial real estate transactions and zoning matters. Our clients include individuals, partnerships, major corporations, and some of the leading lawyers and law firms in Chicago. We have been lead counsel or co-counsel in some of the most important cases in Illinois, including litigation involving the demutualization of the Chicago Board of Trade, cost-of-living adjustments for Illinois state court judges, and the election challenge to the then-mayoral candidate (now mayor) of the City of Chicago. We have defended corporations and corporate officers in shareholder derivative actions and in cases brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission; and we have represented plaintiffs in business and governmental disputes, including the Speaker of Illinois House of Representatives and President of the Illinois Senate in a constitutional challenge to actions by the Governor in withholding salaries from members of the Legislature. We continue to serve our clients in the federal courts and the courts of Illinois, Indiana, and Delaware.

Taft Law
At Taft, delivering outstanding legal performance to help clients succeed is what drives and motivates our 625 attorneys every day. Taft has offices in Chicago, Ill.; Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Delaware, Ohio; Indianapolis, Ind.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Denver, Col.; Covington, Ky., and Washington, DC. The firm practices across a wide range of industries, in virtually every area of law. Our appellate lawyers serve as lead counsel on significant and high-profile appeals with deep experience in federal and state appellate courts across the United States. With a proven track record of experience since 1885, the firm offers breadth and depth of legal expertise coupled with a trusted business perspective to help our clients reach their goals.

Bronze Sponsors
Law Office of David Gotzh
Mahoney, Silverman & Cross, LLC
Honorable Mary Anne Mason (Ret.)
Mayer Brown LLP
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP

TESTIMONIALS

“The Appellate Lawyers Association is moot court at its finest!  I am fortunate to have met and competed with talented law students, intelligent attorneys, and prestigious judges from all over the United States.  The entire process enhanced my appreciation for the courtroom, the appellate practice, and the law.” - Moot Court Student Participant

"I enjoyed participating in the ALA competition this year.  The judges that we argued before were particularly helpful with their feedback." - Moot Court Student Participant

“Using experienced appellate lawyers as judges is far more valuable to our moot court students than are trial-lawyer judges who often don't understand the difference between advocacy to a jury and advocacy to a panel of judges. Your judges were superb.  I've never seen a more well-prepared group of judges." - Moot Court Faculty Advisor