TEXAS BANKRUPTCY SECTION HOLDS BANKRUPTCY
MOOT COURT COMPETITION FOR THE 2007 ELLIOTT CUP
The Bankruptcy Law Section of the State Bar of Texas sponsored
the Second Annual Elliott Cup competition on March 2-3, 2007
at the federal courthouse in Houston, Texas. The Elliott Cup
is named in honor of the late Joseph C. Elliott, former Chief
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Texas. The
Elliott Cup was created to provide an opportunity for Texas
law schools and other invited law schools to refine and bolster
their moot court skills prior to the actual Duberstein national
competition. Each school must be registered to compete in the
Duberstein national bankruptcy moot court competition to be
held in March 2007 at St. John's University School of Law in
New York City. The Duberstein competition is co-sponsored by
the ABI.
The University of Houston Law Center, Southern Methodist University
School of Law, South Texas College of Law, Texas Tech University
School of Law, the University of Texas School of Law, and the
Louisiana State University Law Center each sent teams to participate
in the 2007 Elliott Cup event. Over 25 experienced Texas bankruptcy
lawyers gave up a Saturday and served as judges for the first
two preliminary rounds. The final round participants had the
opportunity to argue before the Honorable Karen Brown (Southern
District of Texas), the Honorable Leif Clark (Western District
of Texas), and the Honorable Harlin Hale (Northern District
of Texas).
 |
| Winner of the 2007 Elliott
Cup from the University of Houston Law Center: (left to
right) Don Russell, coach; Kameron Averitt and John-Thomas
Foster, team members; Michelle Slaughter, coach.
|
Kameron Averitt and John-Thomas Foster, one of the teams from
the University of Houston Law Center, took home the 2007 Elliott
Cup, a traveling trophy. The University of Houston team is coached
by Don Russell, Michelle Slaughter, and Jim Lawrence. The second
place team was from the Southern Methodist University School
of Law, and consisted Cindy Roberts and James Hunnicutt and
their coach K.D. Shull. The Best Advocate award went to Kameron
Averitt.
Each of the participating schools fielded teams of outstanding
competitors and oralists. The high level of competency was reflected
by the very close scores for all rounds. Following completion
of arguments, the Elliott Cup judges provided constructive input
to each participating team. A participating team commented that
the "Elliott Cup was a superb preparation for the Duberstein.
The judges were well-prepared and provided good feedback to
help in preparation for the Duberstein ... The participating
teams were outstanding competitors ... The Elliott Cup is a
great idea, and its execution was absolutely first class."
The University of Houston Law Center served as the host school
for this year's Elliott Cup event. The Houston office of Haynes
& Boone LLP hosted a welcoming reception for all participants
on the Friday night of the Elliott Cup event. A team dinner
sponsored by the Bankruptcy Law Section was held on Saturday
night for all teams following the event. Chris Mott of the El
Paso firm of Gordon & Mott P.C. served as Chair of the Elliott
Cup for the Bankruptcy Law Section of the State Bar of Texas,
which has grown to over 1200 members in less than four years.
Chris would be glad to assist any other state or region which
would like to explore a similar preparatory event for the Duberstein.
He can be reached at cmott@gordonmottpc.com.
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