Stetson’s Dispute Resolution team wins Vis pre-moot competition, heads to international competition

(L-R): Professor Joseph Morrissey, Martin Musichi, Jade Turner, Matthew Ceriale, Taofikat Ninalowo, Ahmed Mohamed and Associate Dean Stephanie Vaughan.

(L-R): Professor Joseph Morrissey, Martin Musichi, Jade Turner, Matthew Ceriale, Taofikat Ninalowo, Ahmed Mohamed and Associate Dean Stephanie Vaughan.

Stetson University College of Law’s Dispute Resolution team of Matthew Ceriale, Ahmed Mohamed, Martin Musichi and Jade Turner won the Florida Bar International Law Section Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis International Commercial Arbitration Pre-Moot in Miami on Feb. 17. Ceriale was recognized as Best Oralist in the competition.

Stetson’s award-winning team will compete in international pre-moot competitions beginning March 24 in Belgrade, Serbia, and Budapest, Hungary, before heading to the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria. More than 300 teams from around the world, including the Stetson team, will compete in Vienna.

“The significance of this international competition is more than winning. Teams from more than 50 countries come together to compete, and more importantly, to learn about the rule of law, other cultures, and the global legal community,” said Stetson’s Associate Dean for Student Engagement and Professor of Law Stephanie Vaughan. “It is truly remarkable.”

The Stetson team was coached by student coach Taofikat Ninalowo, Associate Dean Vaughan, and Professor of Law Joseph Morrissey. The JAMS Resolution Center, the largest provider of mediation and arbitration services worldwide, hosted the pre-moot competition in Miami. The Florida Bar International Law Section sponsored the competition.

“We are looking forward to representing the state of Florida, as well as Stetson, as our team travels to Vienna,” said Stetson’s Dispute Resolution Board Director and Professor of Law Kristen Adams.

“This is much more than just one year’s success story,” said Professor Morrissey. “This is really about a continuing tradition, a legacy of Stetson’s excellence in this area of advocacy.”

To learn more about advocacy at Stetson Law, visit https://www.stetson.edu/advocacy.