TMU wins “Best New Team” at Oxford International IP Law Moot

A team comprising three students from the Lincoln Alexander School of Law won the “Best New Team” award at the 22nd edition of the Oxford Intellectual Property (IP) Law Moot held in March.

Following competitive written factum submissions from nearly 70 teams worldwide, Lincoln Alexander Law students, Jill Crich, Rachel Pham, and Kendra Tatemichi, were among the top 32 teams selected to compete in Oxford.

The third-year law students began researching and drafting two factums for the competition in October to meet the December submission deadline. After receiving their invitation in January, the team began preparations for oral arguments. In February and March, Crich, Tatemichi and Pham met a few times each week, often with one or more of their coaches. Their coaches included Dr. Alexandra Mogyoros, assistant professor and an expert in trademark law at Lincoln Alexander Law, as well as two practising IP lawyers, Dr. Tracey Doyle and Laura MacDonald.

This year’s moot problem focused on Multilever plc v Greenland Supermarket plc [2024] HCE 337, a case involving a trademark dispute between a multinational consumer goods store selling brand name products and three copycat retailers. During the moot, teams made oral arguments before sitting judges, leading academics and lawyers, and other experts in the intellectual property community.

“Our coaches were crucial in our preparation, from walking us through how the moot is structured, to asking us thought-provoking questions and to giving us valuable feedback to hone our advocacy style,” said Tatemichi.

Lincoln Alexander Law makes historic debut in international moot

The Lincoln Alexander Law team won all four preliminary rounds of the competition, arguing twice as the respondents and twice as the appellants against teams from the Netherlands, India, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Ranking among the top eight teams after the preliminary rounds, the Lincoln Alexander Law 3L students advanced to the quarterfinals where they were bested by the team that ultimately won the competition. Throughout the three-days of mooting, “the students demonstrated excellence, integrity, and grace—firmly establishing Lincoln Alexander Law as an emerging leader in IP advocacy,” according to Mogyoros.

This was Lincoln Alexander Law’s debut in an international moot, marking a historic milestone for the university. Mogyoros also thanked Doyle and MacDonald, who “devoted countless hours to our students… they were excited to help a new law school shape their reputation in intellectual property law in Canada and globally.”

The coaches, all former Oxford International IP Law Moot winners, emphasized the importance of preparation to help dispel the team’s nerves, and even suggested a "pump up song" to listen to before each round. “Thanks to the Spice Girls, this strategy helped me shake off the jitters and focus on the competition,” said Tatemichi.

“As law students, it’s rare to have the chance to develop litigation skills in such a specialized area,” said Crich, who has spent the past two summers working as an IP law student at Gowling WLG. Not only did the moot reinforce her interest in IP law, “it provided me with the opportunity to improve both my written and oral advocacy skills within the IP context.”

In addition to developing legal research, legal writing, and oral advocacy skills, mooting “also develops many other skills, including stress management, dealing with disappointment and competition,” Pham pointed out. “Mooting gives participants a head start in developing skills necessary for various levels of advocacy.”

With their outstanding performances, Crich, Pham and Tatemichi deservedly earned the “Best New Team” award, which goes to the team with the highest score among all teams who have not competed at the Oxford International IP Law Moot within the last three years. “It felt great to take home an award for our school, and I have no doubt that it will be the first of many more to come,” said Pham.