November 04, 2009
The
Securities Dispute Resolution Triathlon is a joint initiative of
the
Hugh L. Carey Center for Dispute Resolution and the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The Triathlon is not a
competition of physical endurance, but of dispute resolution
competence, with student teams from law schools around the country
testing their advocacy skills in the negotiation, mediation and
arbitration of a securities dispute. Students play the roles of
attorneys and clients, with some teams in the role of investor and
others in the role of broker-dealer. Members of FINRA’s roster
of experienced neutrals serve as mediators, arbitrators and judges,
critiquing the student teams and offering the students an
invaluable real-life experience. By challenging students to
negotiate, mediate, and arbitrate in a single competition, this
one-of-a-kind event gives students an opportunity to hone their
advocacy skills in a realistic and comprehensive securities dispute
experience.
This
first dispute resolution triathlon took place on Saturday, October
17 and Sunday, October 18, 2009 at St. John's Manhattan campus,
located in Tribeca, the heart of innovation bordering the world's
financial center. Fourteen teams representing twelve schools
from seven states competed. Awards were given for top
scores in each of the three rounds—negotiation, mediation and
arbitration—as well as for the overall champion and the “advocate’s
choice award,” an award given to the team voted by other teams as
the one they would most like to work with in the future.
The winning teams in the 2009 Triathlon were:
- Negotiation - Seton Hall
- Mediation – Florida
- Arbitration – New York Law School
- Overall Champion – St. John’s
- Advocate’s Choice – Penn State
We
invite law schools to compete in next year’s
competition. Information on the upcoming competition will be
posted on this site as it becomes available. Links at the
right provide additional detail about the format and rules for the
competition. We look forward to seeing you at the 2010
Securities Dispute Resolution Triathlon!