ND Law's IP students advance to national finals in Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition

Notre Dame Law School’s intellectual property moot court team won the Chicago regional of the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition this past Saturday.

The team consists of third-year law students Isaac Behnawa, Jaemie Paraon, and Chelsea Spence, and second-year law students Kristen Burns, Brittany Von Rueden, and Caroline Wenzel. The team also earned the award for best brief at the Chicago regional.

They will advance to the national rounds of the tournament next month where they will defend the national title won by Notre Dame Law School last year.

This is the third time in four years that the Law School’s team has won the Saul Lefkowitz regional competition. Approximately 80 teams compete in the tournament each year across six different regions. Twelve teams advance to the national competition.

The case problem this year examined the use of similar brand names by a pet food company and a fitness company providing exercise regimens for dog owners, and whether the fitness company willfully infringed on the pet food company’s trademark. Each team competed in two rounds of oral arguments, arguing as appellant in one round and appellee in the other round.

The Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition, sponsored by the International Trademark Association, introduces law students to important issues arising in U.S. trademark and unfair competition law. Students develop their brief writing and oral advocacy skills in a mock courtroom experience.

Learn more about moot court opportunities at Notre Dame Law School at law.nd.edu/mootcourt, and more about the Law School’s Program on Intellectual Property & Technology Law at iptech.nd.edu.