Contact: John Hartgen
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SIXTEENTH ANNUAL DUBERSTEIN NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY MEMORIAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION TO BE HELD MARCH 8-10 IN NEW YORK

January 15, 2008, Alexandria, Va. — The American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) and St. John’s University School of Law will co-sponsor the 16th Annual Chief Judge Conrad B. Duberstein National Bankruptcy Memorial Moot Court Competition, March 8-10, 2008, in New York.  Fifty ABA-accredited law schools will participate in this year’s competition. The event, the nation’s only moot court competition devoted entirely to bankruptcy, is named to honor the memory of Chief Judge Conrad B. Duberstein, a St. John’s University alumnus and a former member of the ABI Board of Directors. The competition’s preliminary and octo-final rounds will be held on March 8-9, and quarter-final, semi-final and final rounds held on March 10. The preliminary and octo-final rounds will be held at the St. John’s University School of Law, while the quarter-final, semi-final and final rounds will be held in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York.

The competition promotes and recognizes the finest oral written advocacy on a significant problem in bankruptcy practice. Awards will be presented to the winning team, as well as for best written brief and best oral advocate.  The awards banquet will be held at the famous Pier 60, Chelsea Piers. Brooklyn Law School is the defending champion, while past winners include Baylor University School of Law, University of Connecticut Law School, Emory University School of Law, University of Miami School of Law, Brooklyn Law School, University of Idaho College of Law, William & Mary Law School, the University of Florida Law School, the University of Alabama School of Law, Mississippi College School of Law, Stetson University College of Law and New York University School of Law.

Judges and prominent bankruptcy practitioners will judge all preliminary rounds and written briefs.  The final round, to be held at the U.S. Courthouse, will be judged by several leading members of the federal judiciary, including Judge Stuart M. Bernstein (Chief Bankruptcy Judge, S.D.N.Y.), Judge Carla E. Craig (Chief Bankruptcy Judge, E.D.N.Y), Judge Mary M. Schroeder (Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit), Judge Marjorie O. Rendell (U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit) and Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit).

State and local bankruptcy bar sections are encouraged to participate by sponsoring law school teams. ABI members, and especially academic members, are encouraged to help sponsor or coach a team. Hotel and travel accommodations are at the school’s expense.  The New York Marriott Financial Center is the host hotel.  For additional information, visit http://www.abiworld.org/moot/index.html.   

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ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes nearly 11,600 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit www.abiworld.org. For additional conference information, visit http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.