Pepperdine Caruso Law Hosts National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law hosted its 21st Annual National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition on November 5 and 6 in a remote format. Participants from across the country engaged in a moot court competition in which the advocates debated the similarity of two works under the umbrella of copyright, as well as the trademark strength pertaining to a phrase. The arguments were made before a panel composed of top entertainment industry lawyers, current sitting judges, and Caruso Law alumni, creating a remarkable experience for the competitors.
The final round bench included alumnus Jeremy Evans (LLM' 18, MBA '20), an award-winning attorney in the entertainment industry, who represents clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies, to film and television producers and studios. Evans was joined on the final round bench by Professor Maureen Weston, director of the Entertainment, Media & Sports Dispute Resolution Project. Professor Weston sits on committees for the ABA, ABA Law School Division, Arbitration Competition, and AALS Sports Law Executive Committee. She also serves on the University of Colorado School of Law Alumni Board, the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette School of Law Board of Directors, and the Editorial Board of LawInSport.
The judges lauded the competition's problem writer, alumna Nicole Geiser (JD '21), which was Geiser's second time writing a problem for the National Entertainment Law Competition.
Caruso Law is pleased to congratulate the competition champions, Samantha Doyle and Chloe Coss (winner of Best Advocate in the final round) of Loyola Law School, and finalists, Jonathan Kaldas and Connor Rathbun of California Western School of Law. The semifinalist teams were from UC Hastings College of the Law and the Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School. The competition was hosted and administered by Caruso Law's Moot Court Board and competition co-chairs, Anita Marks and John Louis Chiappe, with faculty advisor Victoria Votino. Student Life and Advocacy Coordinator Hannah Neighbors oversaw the competition.