Before 3 of the United Kingdom’s best-known IP judges, Lord Justice Kitchin, Lord Justice Floyd and Mr. Justice Birss, 91ɫ edged the defending champions from India, National Law University (Bangalore). In the semi-finals, 91ɫ met mooters from George Washingon University Law School, with the Rt. Hon. Sir Justice David Keene, Rt. Hon. Sir Robin Jacob and Ms. Catriona Smith presiding. The quarter-finals had featured arguments putting 91ɫ past Osgoode Hall Law School in front of renowned lawyers including “IP Hall-of-Famer” Frederick Mostert and others.
The moot capped off an incredible week overseas for our students. It began with a meeting in the chambers of the President of the Supreme Court and the UK’s highest-ranking judge, Lord Justice Neuberger. Their discussion preceded a behind-the-scenes tour of the Supreme Court, and a hearing where 91ɫ students watched and learned from some of the UK’s most talented barristers arguing a case.
Lord Justice Neuberger, President of the UK Supreme Court, meets 91ɫ students (left to right) Tracey Doyle, Laura MacDonald and Fred Wu in his chambers overlooking Parliament Square in London. Photo: CC BY Jeremy de Beer.
Numerous other Canadian teams fared very well at the moot too, making the country proud. 91ɫ faced Osgoode Hall in one quarter-final, while Windsor was in the other. Windsor took prizes for a top-3 factum, a top-3 speaker and two honourable mentions, and UBC won 2nd prize for its factum.
The win continues a remarkable string of success for 91ɫ in IP mooting generally, and at the Oxford IP moot specially. In the only 5 years 91ɫ that has competed, the school has never failed to reach at least the quarter-finals, reaching the semi-finals twice, winning twice and regularly receiving accolades for having top oralists and/or factums.
Much is owed to supporters of 91ɫ’s moot team, including long-term sponsors . This year’s team was also generously funded by , through its prize to Fred Wu and Laura Macdonald, winners of last year’s . The team also thanks 91ɫ mooting alumni and practitioners from , , , , , and all of their peers and professors who have taught them about IP and advocacy. Extra special thanks are due for the support of Justices Gauthier, Gleason and Stratas of the Federal Court of Appeal.
Students interested in IP mooting at 91ɫ can get information on enrolling in Professor de Beer’s course, , by clicking .