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CHARLES WIDGER SCHOOL OF LAW

Villanova Law Competition Teams Find Success on National Stage in 2023-24 Academic Year

Throughout the 2023-24 academic year, Villanova Law was well-represented by its competition teams at various regional and national competitions across North America. This year’s teams include the Moot Court Board, National Trial Team, Phi Alpha Delta, Scarpa Corporate Negotiation Team and Sports Law Negotiation Team. At competitions, students are given the opportunity to enhance and showcase their courtroom skills while facing some of the best law school advocates in the country in simulated real-world examples.

Co-curricular teams: 

  • At the Eighth Annual Notre Dame National Appellate Advocacy Tournament for Religious Freedom from November 10-12, Dan Goldfield ’24 and Anna O’Brien ’24 finished as semifinalists. The team was coached by Alannah King ’24, Parks Kingery ’24 and Daniel Sulvetta ’19, along with Professors Doris Brogan, Ann Juliano, Michael Moreland and Tuan Samahon.
  • Madison Hamm ’24 and Alannah King ’24 advanced to the octo finals at the 19th Annual Immigration Law Competition at New York University School of Law from February 2-4. Mary McDermott ’23, Mylon Medley ’24, Eddie Reilingh ’23, Clinical Fellow Catherine Kapples ’21, Professor Daniel Cortes and Adjunct Professor Whitney Viets coached the team.
  • Parks Kingery ’24 and Patrick McKeon ’24 placed second in the regional round of the International Trademark Association Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition in New York on February 3. Matt Lynn ’24 and Vice Dean Michael Risch coached the team.
  • At the Frank A. Schreck Gaming Law Moot Court Competition hosted by the University of Nevada at Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law from March 1-2, Meghan Fleming ’24 and Abby Kelley ’24 placed 10th in the competition. Adam Berger ’10, Leah Edelstein ’21, Madison Hamm ’21 and Alex Rosa ’20 coached the team.
  • Morgan Hill ’25 and Giavanna Litz ’25 excelled in the preliminary rounds at the 48th Annual Robert F. Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition hosted by the New York Law School Moot Court Association from March 1-3. Sophie Czerniecki ’23, Keith Lee ’21, Jordyn Pace ’24 and Professor Ann Juliano coached the team.
  • Krysti Oschal ’24 and Sarah Urie ’24 finished as quarterfinalists at the west coast national round of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition hosted by the International Law Students Association from March 3-4. Ryan Hyde ’08, Patrick MacAvoy ’08 and Anna O’Brien ’24 coached the team. Professors Preston Lim and Tuan Samahon, and Adjunct Professor Arthur Traldi helped with preparation.
  • From March 13-15, Aris Fernandez ’24 and Eric Rotteveel ‘24 competed in the preliminary rounds at the inaugural Cardozo FAME Center Intellectual Property Law Moot Court Competition. Maggie MacDonald ’23, Patrick McKeon ’24 and Professor Brett Frischmann coached the team.
  • Mylon Medley ’24 and Jordyn Pace ’24 excelled in the preliminary rounds at the 2024 Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Moot Court Competition hosted by the University at Buffalo School of Law from March 15-16. Abby Kelley ’24, Kaely Lawler ’23 and Professor Steve Chanenson coached the team.
  • Matthew Lynn ’24 and Nicholas Ozorowski ’24 competed in the 18th Annual Williams Institute Moot Court Competition at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law on March 16. Krysti Oschal ’24, Eric Rotteveel ’24 and Professor Ann Juliano coached the team.
  • Taylor Bellardino ’25 and Sam Rollick ’25 finished as quarterfinalists at the 2024 Thurgood Marshall Memorial Moot Court Competition hosted by the Federal Bar Association from March 20-21. Dan Goldfield ’24, Allie Romano ’23 and Professor Rebecca Scalio coached the team.
  • Daniel Rooney ’25 and Jillian Updegraff ’25 excelled in the preliminary rounds of the 2024 Seigenthaler-Sutherland Cup National First Amendment Moot Court Competition at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law from March 22-23. Vanessa Huber ’20, Sarah Urie ’24 and Professor Doris Brogan coached the team.
  • At the Philadelphia Regional Round of the 2024 National Appellate Advocacy Competition hosted by the American Bar Association Law Student Division on April 7, Courtney Culhane ’25 and Elizabeth Henning ’25 finished as octo finalists. Hailey Norwillo ’23, Nick Ozorowski ’24 and Professor Brett Frischmann served as the team coaches.
  • At the 39th Annual Dean Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Competition hosted by Brooklyn Law School from April 4-6, Andrea Solís Canto ’25 and Victoria Peña-Parr ’25 competed well in the preliminary rounds. Alannah King ’24, Parks Kingery ’24, Sierra Stockley ’22 and Professors Amanda Rogers and Rebecca Scalio coached the team. 
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Anna O’Brien ’24 and Dan Goldfield ’24 at the Eighth Annual Notre Dame National Appellate Advocacy Tournament for Religious Freedom
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Madison Hamm ’24 and Alannah King ’24 at the 19th Annual Immigration Law Competition
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Patrick McKeon ’24 and Parks Kingery ’24 at the International Trademark Association Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition
  • Villanova Law competed at the Buffalo Niagara Trial Competition at the University at Buffalo School of Law from October 13-14. Victoria Bouvé ’24 and Jake Dianno ’24 won two of three competitive rounds, while Matthew Ingram ’25 and Lucy Sumner ’25 also delivered strong performances. John Michael Hickey ’15 and Adjunct Professor Christopher Lynett coached the teams. 
  • At the White Collar Crime Invitational hosted by the Georgetown University Law Center Barristers’ Council from November 3-5, Dan Goldfield ’24, Kelsey McCafferty ’25, Grace Mezzanotte ’25 and Abby Morris ’25 represented Villanova Law in the finals. In addition to going undefeated in the preliminary rounds, Morris earned an honorable mention for the Best Advocate award. Adjunct Professors Danielle Nispel and Zach Wynkoop coached the team.
  • From November 10-12, Villanova Law competed at the First Annual Gold Cup Mock Trial Competition hosted by the University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, CA. Competitors Elizabeth Land ’24, Veronica Sansone ’24, Ambria Smith ’25 and Grant Stephano ’25 advanced to the quarter-final round under coaches Leah George ’21 and Ryan Kelly ’21.
  • Villanova Law had two teams compete in the regional round of the 2024 National Trial Competition hosted by Temple University Beasley School of Law from February 1-4. Grace Mezzanotte ’25 and Abby Morris ’25 won the tournament to earn a bid to the national finals, while Dan Goldfield ’24 and Kelsey McCafferty ’25 went undefeated in the preliminary rounds. Additionally, Morris was awarded the Edward D. Ohlbaum Award for Best Advocate in the final round. Steve Patton ’15 and Adjunct Professors Danielle Nispel and Zach Wynkoop coached the teams. 
  • Completing the competition year, Grace Mezzanotte ’25 and Abby Morris ’25 represented Villanova Law at the finals of the National Trial Competition in Houston from April 3-6. Winning seven out of twelve ballots, the team finished in the top 30 of 300 teams from across the country. Steve Patton ’15 and Adjunct Professors Danielle Nispel and Zach Wynkoop served as coaches. 
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(Left to right:) Adjunct Professor Danielle Nispel, Grace Mezzanotte ’25, Abby Morris ’25, Kelsey McCafferty ’25, Dan Goldfield ’24 and Adjunct Professor Zach Wynkoop at the White Collar Crime Invitational
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(Left to right:) Adjunct Professor Danielle Nispel, Grace Mezzanotte ’25, Abby Morris ’25, Steve Patton ’15 and Adjunct Professor Zach Wynkoop at the regional round of the National Trial Competition
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(Left to right:) Adjunct Professor Zach Wynkoop, Grace Mezzanotte ’25, Kelsey McCafferty ’25, Abby Morris ’25, Dan Goldfield ’24 and Steve Patton ’15 at the final round of the National Trial Competition
  • From September 29-October 6, a team of students competed at the Eighth Annual Game Day Sports Case Competition co-hosted by the UCLA Anderson School of Management Center for Media, Entertainment and Sports and the Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law at Villanova Law. Taking place this year at UCLA, the team of Jonathan Passero ’25, Nick Pilny ’25, Alyssa Rodarte ’25 and Zach Slogoff ’25 won the competition.
  • Mustafa Ghasletwala '24 and Josh Rothenberg '24 competed at the Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada hosted by the University of Toronto Faculty of Law from November 11-13.
  • For the first time in program history, Villanova Law won the 17th Annual International Baseball Arbitration Competition, held January 17-19 at the Tulane University School of Law. David Brake ’24, Alyssa Rodarte ’25 and Alex Shaff ’24 won the competition. Carl Capizzi ’25, Zach Cioffi ’25 and George Pla ’25 finished as semifinalists. Shaff was also awarded the Oral Advocacy Award. In addition to being Villanova Law’s most successful year at the competition, this was the fifth straight year the team has advanced to the playoffs and the fourth time in five years that the time has been semifinalists.
  • Villanova Law sent two teams to compete at the Tenth Annual Tulane Professional Football Negotiation Competition from January 26-27. The team of Ryan Franklin ’24, Jonathan Passero ’25 and Brett Podell ’25 narrowly missed the playoffs, while Sarah Grossman ’24, Christian Novarro ’25 and Robert Steere ’25 also displayed a strong performance.
  • Two teams competed at the Seventh Annual Tulane Professional Basketball Negotiation Competition from February 23-24. With both teams securing a top ten finish, James McCauley ’24 and Hunter Parsons ’24 finished fourth, while Thomas DePaola ’25, Sid Green ’24 and Zack Slogoff ’25 finished ninth.
  • From February 23-24, Villanova Law competed at the Third Annual Soccer Law Competition hosted by the New York Law School Sports Law Society. In their first appearance at the competition, Jacob Deradoorian ’25, Ricardo Peña ’24 and Kyle Winquist ’24 were finalists, narrowly being defeated in the final round on a three-to-two vote.

In addition, the Sports Law Negotiation Team hosted various competitions at Villanova Law throughout the academic year, including the Third Annual Villanova Law Esports Competition from October 20-21, the Second Annual Villanova Baseball Filing Day Competition from November 3-4 and the Fourth Annual Villanova Professional Football Negotiation Competition from March 22-23. 

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(Left to right:) David Brake ’24, Zach Cioffi ’25, Alyssa Rodarte ’25, Carl Capizzi ’25, Alex Shaff ’24 and George Pla ’25 at the 17th Annual International Baseball Arbitration Competition
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(Left to right:) Nick Pilny ’25, Alyssa Rodarte ’25, Zach Slogoff ’25 and Jonathan Passero ’25 at the Eighth Annual Game Day Sports Case Competition
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(Left to right:) Jacob Deradoorian ’25, Kyle Winquist ’24 and Ricardo Peña ’24 at the Third Annual Soccer Law Competition

Other competition teams: 

  • From February 22-24, Villanova Law competed at the Phi Alpha Delta Law School Mock Trial Competition in Arlington, VA. Will Gale ’26, Hannah Jang ’24, Matthew Peipher ’26 and Mitchell Towne ’26 finished in sixth place. Jang was recognized as the Most Outstanding Advocate out of 92 competitors. Mackenzie Jeffrey ’24 and Alannah King ’24 coached the team.
  • Villanova Law had two teams compete in the regional round of the American Bar Association Negotiation Competition at the Fordham University School of Law from October 28-29. Kathryn Kane ’25 and Jackson Sindaco ’25 won the competition to earn a bid to the finals, while Michael Huging ’25 and Jorge Navarro ’25 also delivered strong performances.
  • From November 10-11, two teams represented Villanova Law in the regional round of the American Bar Association Arbitration competition at Texas Tech University School of Law. Theo Elliehausen ’24, Emilie Mooney ’25, Thomas Nguyen ’24 and Krysti Oschal ’24 all competed well.
  • At the American Bar Association Client Counseling Competition from February 2-3, two teams from Villanova Law competed virtually. Michael Huging ’25  and Jorge Navarro ’25 showcased well, and Emilie Mooney ’25 and Krysti Oschal ’24 received a top score in their second round.
  • From February 2-3, Kathryn Kane ’25 and Jackson Sindaco ’25 represented Villanova Law in the national finals of the American Bar Association Negotiation Competition in Chicago.
  • The team of Nick Greco ’24, Alex Hambsch ’24, Aaron Hudson ’24 and Alex Schiavino ’24 competed well at the Counseling Creators: Influencers, Artists and Trendsetters Negotiation Competition and Conference at the University of Miami School of Law from February 29-March 1.
  • Completing the competition year, George Pla ’25 and Jack Mansur ’25 finished as semifinalists at the William & Mary Law School Negotiation Tournament from March 2-3. 
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Kathryn Kane ’25 and Jackson Sindaco ’25 at the national finals of the American Bar Association Negotiation Competition