New York, NY; January 22, 2024—The New York State Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section has launched its 2024 Mediation Tournament and it is a complete sellout, with over twenty teams from across the country participating. The Tournament held its inaugural event in March of 2019, and this year’s Tournament is scheduled for March 22 and 23, 2024 at the offices of Hogan Lovells US LLP in New York City.  A portion of the Tournament will also be hosted by the American Arbitration Association and Barnes & Thornburg LLP. The Tournament is open to law schools and LLM students nationwide.

The Tournament is unique in that it enables three-member teams of law students to develop and display both advanced mediation and advocacy skills while participating as mediators, advocates and in-house client representatives. The event is judged in the Preliminary Rounds by a respected group of experienced mediators, practitioners and members of the judiciary.  The Final Round of Judges is comprised of: the Honorable Anthony Cannataro, Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, the Honorable Sarah L. Cave, Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the Honorable Peggy Kuo, Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the Honorable Elizabeth Emerson, Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Commercial Division (Ret.), the Honorable Robert R. Reed, Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Commercial Division and the Honorable Elizabeth S. Stong, Bankruptcy Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York.  A variety of cash prizes are awarded to the winning team and mediator, as well as an award for best mediation statement.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to earn valuable mediation experience, receive evaluations on their skills from some of the most respected experts in the field, and to network with top industry legal talents”, said Leslie Berkoff, the Tournament’s Executive Director (and creator),  Partner and Chair of the Dispute Resolution Department of Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, and the former Co-Chair of the Mediation Committee of the Dispute Resolution Section of the New York State Bar Association.

To learn more about the NYSBA Mediation Tournament please visit the official event page: NYSBA 2024 Mediation Tournament or contact Ms. Berkoff.

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