McGill Law team secures qualification to 2009 International Jessup moot!

This weekend, McGill's Jessup Moot Team, composed of Angus MacLean Rennie, Lee Rovinescu, Sandrina Antohi and Arezou Farivar (pictured on left with Justice Binnie),  took third place at the national qualifying tournament of the 2009 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. The competition was hosted by Western University on March 4-7, 2009.

In a simulated International Court of Justice hearing, McGill Law students Arezou Farivar and Angus MacLean Rennie represented the Applicants, while Lee Rovinescu and Sandrina Antohi acted for the Respondents in "the case between the Republic of Alicanto and the Commonwealth of Ravisia concerning “Operation Provide Shelter."

This year's moot problem covered a wide range of contemporary international legal issues, including humanitarian intervention, the responsibility of states for national contingents serving in UN peacekeeping operations and the power and authority of the International Court of Justice.

Both sides pleaded three times in preliminary rounds against students from 14 other Canadian Law Faculties. Entering the championship round with a third ranking and with a score of 5-1, McGill defeated its opponents in a final match and secured one of three Canadian invitations to participate in the international Jessup rounds in Washington D.C. from March 22-28th.

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Jessup International Competition, with participants from over 500 law schools in more than 80 countries competing. It is the first time McGill has been invited to participate in the International Competition since 2000.

Special thanks go to Coach Cara Cameron of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP for her tremendous support and assistance and to Faculty advisor Mark Antaki.