2025 Upper Year Moots
Annually UVic Law students participate in moot competitions that sharpen their advocacy and legal reasoning skills in a competitive atmosphere. In 2025, UVic teams participated in 10 moot competitions, showcasing their talent in legal research, oral presentations, and critical analysis on both national and international stages. Below, we showcase these experiences from the perspective of coaches and students.
Kudos to all participants, and a big thank you to the coaches and sponsors who make these events possible!
Isaac Moot 2025 | January 30 – February 1, 2025 | Toronto
From left to right: Rebekah Smith, Chantal Bacchus, Lindsay Veenstra, Lucy Rohatynchuk, Katie Delay, Stuart Rush.
Coaches: Stuart Rush, Rebekah Smith
UVic team: Appellant Team: Katie Delay & Chantal Bacchus. Respondent Team: Lindsay Veenstra & Lucy Rohatynchuk
This moot focuses on racial profiling analysis in criminal law. The UVic teams for the Isaac Moot worked through R v Ali, a Saskatchewan Court of Appeal decision, developing doctrinal arguments and applying critical race theory. The team practiced their oral submissions with volunteer judges, including professors and a Supreme Court of BC judge. The appellant team finished seventh out of 26 teams, with Lindsay Veenstra and Chantal Bacchus nominated for the Spirit of the Moot Award.
BC Law Schools Competitive Moot 2025 | February 8 | Victoria
From left to right: J.A. Pankiw-Petty, Paul Fader, Daniel Ta, Taylor Workman, Luke Noftle, Sean Finn, Jarrett Plonka
Coaches: Sean Finn, JA Pankiw-Petty, Jarrett Plonka
UVic team: Taylor Workman, Luke Noftle, Paul Fader and Daniel Ta
Supported by CLEBC and DLA Piper
The focus of this moot was landlord remedies in commercial lease agreements. The UVic team competed against UBC and TRU, placing second overall, with Paul Fader winning Best Oralist in Division 3. The competition enhanced their legal skills and emphasized the importance of teamwork and resilience. "The moot greatly enhanced our legal skills, including factum writing and advocacy, but more importantly, it strengthened our ability to support one another while mastering factum writing under time constraints and refining our submissions," said the team.
MacIntyre Cup Moot | February 14 | Winnipeg
From left to right: Schuyler Roy, Kieran Crosby, Sophie Fergus, Roberto Alberto, Elaine Goussiatiner
Coaches: Roberto Alberto and Schuyler Roy
UVic team: Sophie Fergus, Kieran Crosby, Elaine Goussiatiner, Isabelle McIntyre
Supported by the Trial Lawyers Association of BC
The MacIntyre Moot focuses on trial advocacy in a criminal prosecution. First and second place teams go to Ottawa to compete in the Sopinka Cup. While the UVic team did not qualify for the Sopinka this year, their dedication and skill were toted as “remarkable.” They invested countless hours in preparation, research, and practice, working through various challenges while implementing feedback from local lawyers and judges, according to coach Roberto Alberto. “Their commitment to advocacy and professionalism was inspiring. The university's support was instrumental in their development, and the team looks forward to future competitions.”
Bennett Jones Jessup Canadian Rounds | February 20 – 22, 2025 | Ottawa
From left to right: Brent Fisher, Salena Thomas, Chelsea Fintoff, Emma Camicioli, Caitlin Kleaman.
Coaches: Nat Carnegie, Chelsea Flintoff
UVic team: Brent Fisher, Caitlin Kleaman, Salena Thomas, Emma Camicioli
The Canadian rounds serve as the national qualifying stage for the international Jessup moot court competition. The UVic team of Fisher, Kleaman, Thomas, and Camicioli competed against 16 teams, improving with each round by fielding challenging questions from experienced judges. The problem was "The Case Concerning the Naegea Sea" and featured guest judge and UVic Prof. Asad Kiyani. "We delved into the issues to a depth that we would not have if these were mere topics for one class in an international law course. The experience will stay with us for the rest of our studies and after we leave school," the team reported.
The Wilson Moot | Feb. 21-22 | Toronto
From left to right: Kaitlyn Chewka, Rachel Bishop, Natalie Vandenberg, Elizabeth Collins, Lauren Praill, and Alandra Harlingten.
Coaches: Alandra Harlingten and Kaitlyn Chewka
UVic team: Lauren Praill, Elizabeth Collins, Natalie Vandenberg, and Rachel Bishop
The Wilson Moot focuses on exploring issues concerning women and minorities. The team said attending the British Columbia Court of Appeal and having a panel of three justices sit for them was the highlight of their trip. The Wilson Moot taught them the value of intrepidness in litigation and gave them the courage to advance arguments that cultivate growth in the law. "We are immensely grateful to our coaches Alandra and Kaitlyn. Their diligence, selflessness, and commitment to enhancing the legal field will continue to serve as inspiration for all of us as we enter our legal careers," said the team in a report. "The Wilson Moot has undoubtedly been a highlight in all our law school experiences.
Bowman National Tax Moot 2024-2025 | Feb. 28-March 1 | Toronto
Left to right: Sam McDonald, Jenissa Sunderji, Nicola Bodnarchuk Gray Stanyer, Geoff Loomer
Coaches: Geoff Loomer, Michael Taylor
UVic team: Appellants: Gray Stanyer & Sam McDonald. Respondents: Jenissa Sunderji & Nicola Bodnarchuk.
UVic Law returned to the Bowman National Tax Moot, where students argued an appeal of the Federal Court of Appeal decision in Glencore Canada Corp v The King, involving the tax character of "break fees" paid following a failed corporate merger. "After working hard on their written factums (and bearing penalties based on some rather stern interpretations of the rules), the team travelled to Toronto to face cold temperatures and insightful questions from panels made up of tax lawyers, Tax Court justices, and Federal Court of Appeal justices," said coach Geoffrey Loomer.
Gale Cup | February 28 and March 1, 2025 | Toronto
From left to right: Robert Hebert, Ryan Balachandran, Shelby Liesch, Katrina Darychuk, Vanessa Triff.
UVic coaches: Shelby Liesch, Krista Johnson, and Rob Deane from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.
UVic team: Vanessa Trif & Robert Hebert. Katrina Darychuk & Ryan Balachandran
Supported by Borden Ladner Gervais
The Gale Cup moot focuses on appellate competition in criminal law. Mooters were asked to appeal from R v Bykovets, a recent decision of the SCC. Justices Frances Knickle (NLCA) and Kelly Slate (OCJ) commended the team of Trif and Hebert for possessing a true advocate's voice and a strong conviction in their case. Justices Amy Ohler (SCJ), Lois Hoegg (NLCA), and Louis Strezos (OCJ) lauded the team of Darychuk and Balachandran for their poise, responsiveness to questions, and command of the technical matter of IP addresses in a criminal search and seizure context.
Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot | March 7 and 8, 2025 | Thunder Bay
From left to right: Chelsea Cameron, Michael Davidson, Summer Tyance, Lindsay LeBlanc, Ciarra Roy
Coaches: Leah Mack, Laura Mars, Chelsea Cameron
UVic team: Summer Tyance & Michael Davidson. Ciarra Roy & Lindsay LeBlanc
This moot reinforced the students' passion for working with both Common Law and Indigenous law. The theme was negotiation of Indigenous legal frameworks and position papers. The students demonstrated high levels of critical thinking and incorporated their experiential knowledge into their legal research and analysis. Chelsea Cameron joined the team in Thunder Bay, assisting the students in integrating Indigenous legal frameworks into their negotiations. The moot began with a sacred fire and water ceremony and ended with co-drafting a comprehensive agreement-in-principle. The closing banquet featured networking opportunities and a lecture from legal scholar Aimée Craft.
Canadian Client Consultation Competition | March 15 and 16, 2025 | Ottawa
From left to right: Jocelyn Toledo, Patsy Ginou, Caterina Fusco, and Rebecca Gasparac.
Coaches: Nicholas Picard, Sheila Simpson
UVic team: Jocelyn Toledo & Patsy Ginou. Rebecca Gasparac & Caterina Fusco.
Supported by YLaw
The CCCC simulates a law office consultation. Gasparac and Fusco showcased remarkable poise and confidence in their advocacy, compelling their judge to cut short their time — a testament to their effectiveness and control. Toledo and Ginou’s teamwork was praised by the judges for their client questioning and precise, skillful presentation of the law. They advanced to the semifinals. While in Ottawa, a few students toured the SCC and House of Commons, and were fortunate to meet MP Jagmeet Singh.
Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot | April 11-17, 2025 | Vienna, Austria
From left to right: Aleksandra Partyka, Andrew Newcombe, Aivrey Mckinley.
Coach: Andrew Newcombe
UVic team: Aivery Mckinley and Aleksandra Partyka
Supported by Blakes LLP
International commercial arbitration was the focus of the prestigious Vis Moot in Vienna. Competing in this moot was the "most rewarding experience in law school," says McKinley and Partyka. Over four rounds, they alternated between representing the claimant and respondent, honing their advocacy skills through thoughtful feedback from lawyers and law students worldwide. "The experience offered not only a deep dive into international arbitration but also the opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives and approaches to oral advocacy. It was a challenging and enriching journey—one we will carry with us well beyond law school."