Three Bentley teams participated in the national American Collegiate Moot Court Association competition in Tampa, Florida in early January. The teams had their best performance since 2012.

Moot Court simulates arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court where team members are given 20 minutes to argue their case. Teams are judged by attorneys and judges on their forensics, knowledge of the law, demeanor and ability to answer questions from the bench.

Bentley’s students worked closely with Franklyn Salimbene, senior lecturer of Law, Taxation and Financial Planning, to prepare for the competition. The qualifying Bentley teams were as follows:

• Amanda Pine ’17 and Javi Monterrosa ’17
• Michael Clement ’18 and Adria Clanton-Thuon ’17
• Kevin Forbes ’18 and Anthony Santaro ’19

In Tampa, two Bentley teams advanced through the first day of competition to the round of 48, where they had to face off against one another to advance.

In a close-fought battle, Pine and Monterrosa moved forward over their teammates, Clanton-Thuon and Clement. The pair advanced to round 16, but was ultimately defeated by a pairing from Loyola University of Chicago.

In addition to the three teams arguing in the tournament, a fourth Bentley pairing (Lauren Rosenfeld ’17 and Matt Dwyer ’17) competed in the written brief competition where their submission was ranked #9 out of 45, earning honorable mention at the awards ceremony.