Congratulations to UAlberta Law students Dylan Gibbs, Allana McComb, David Pope, and Elena Ryland for their performance at the Gale Cup on February 19.

The group won best English speaking team who did not place in the finals, and Gibbs received a special nod with the Brian Dickson Medal for best oral argument in the preliminary round.

The two-day moot competition held every February at Osgoode Hall in Toronto included panels of presiding judges from various jurisdictions across Canada.

Traditionally, the problem to be mooted is drawn from a case recently decided in the Supreme Court of Canada.

This year that case was 2014's R v Fearon, a landmark decision in which the court ruled that police can search a cell phone without a warrant during arrest.

Prior to the moot, four students from each university's team were split into appellants and respondents, and each pair got just one chance to present their argument in the preliminary round, with the top four teams advancing. Twenty teams competed this year, including two from Laval University.

Gibbs and Ryland argued on the appellant side, while McComb and Pope acted as the respondent.

In the end, the Université du Québec à Montréal placed first, and the appellants from the University of Toronto placed second.

At the awards presentation, attendees were treated to a special guest speaker, Osgoode alumnus and the newest member of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Honourable Justice Malcolm Rowe.

Our students praised their coach Nathan Whitling, appellate counsel at Liberty Law, for his guidance throughout the competition.

"It is absolutely invaluable to receive input from someone as accomplished as Nate," said Gibbs.

"This is true not just for the moot, but also in terms of our professional development. This was really driven home for us when Justice Malcolm Rowe took the time to come over and comment positively on Nate's recent Supreme Court appearances."

Stella Varvis, Director, Legal Research and Writing Program, and Coordinator, Competitive Moot Program, spoke about UAlberta Law's impressive history at the Gale Cup.

"UAlberta Law has had tremendous success at the Gale Cup in the past, including winning best oralist awards in 2013 and 2015, and the best factum award in 2015," she said.

"We are incredibly proud of Dylan, Elena, Allana, and David for their remarkable achievements and for continuing our winning tradition."

UAlberta Law would like to thank Nathan Whitling, Brian Beresh, Q.C., and Liberty Law for their continued sponsorship and support of our Gale Cup team. Our thanks also goes to all the volunteer practice round judges who helped our team prepare for the competition.