(BANKRUPTCY SECTION WEBSITE/NEWSLETTER)

BANKRUPTCY SECTION HOLDS BANKRUPTCY MOOT COURT EVENT FOR THE 2008 ELLIOTT CUP

The Bankruptcy Law Section of the State Bar of Texas sponsored the Third Annual Elliott Cup event on February 22-23, 2008 at the federal courthouse in Dallas, 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 and Fifth Circuit law schools to refine and bolster their moot court skills prior to the Duberstein national competition. Each school must be registered to compete in the Duberstein national bankruptcy moot court competition to be held in March 2008 at St. John’s University School of Law in New York City.

This year the Elliott Cup event was expanded to include all schools in the Fifth Circuit. The University of Houston Law Center, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, South Texas College of Law, Texas Tech University School of Law, the University of Texas School of Law, and Mississippi College School of Law each sent teams to participate in the 2008 Elliott Cup event. Approximately 30 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 Barbara Houser (Chief Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of Texas), the Honorable Wesley Steen (Chief Bankruptcy Judge, Southern District of Texas), the Honorable Craig Gargotta (Western District of Texas), and the Honorable Harlin Hale (Northern District of Texas).

Winner of the 2008 Elliott Cup from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law: (left to right) Laura Schultz, SMU team member; Chris Mott, Chair; Rachel Stringer, SMU team member.

Rachel Stringer and Laura Schultz, one of the teams from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law (“SMU”), took home the 2008 Elliott Cup. The SMU team is coached by Heather Panko and Omar Alaniz. The second place team was from SMU, and consisted of Bill Richmond, Jeff Cullers and Stephen Lecholop. The Best Advocate award went to Bill Richmond.

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. Coaches for the participating teams commented that the Elliott Cup event was excellent preparation for the Duberstein competition.

SMU served as the host school for this year’s Elliott Cup event. The Dallas office of Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated 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 & Davis P.C. served as Chair of the Elliott Cup.