UHLC third-year students Sarah Shireen Moinuddeen and Kourtney Phillips, were the only U.S. team to advance to the quarterfinals in the 2025 Cross-Examination Moot Competition in Paris. This global competition focuses on cross-examination in international arbitration.
Dec. 23, 2025 – The University of Houston Law Center is celebrating a standout semester for its advocacy programs. The school’s moot court, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and mock trial teams brought home awards for written and oral advocacy, professionalism, and overall team performance.
“Our law students hone their advocacy skills, discipline, and confidence in these advocacy competitions,” said Amy Hawk, Executive Director of the UH Law Center’s Blakely Advocacy Institute. “These are essential qualities that will help our students excel as effective, poised, and impactful attorneys in their future legal careers.”
Leading these accomplishments was UHLC’s strong showing at the 2025 Cross-Examination Moot Competition in Paris, one of the world’s premier contests for student advocates. Third-year students Kourtney Phillips and Sarah Shireen Moinuddeen advanced as the only U.S. team to reach the knockout stage, finishing as quarterfinalists after ranking second overall in the general rounds. The team was coached by Ann Ryan Robertson (UHLC J.D., ’77 and LL.M. ’05) and Jim Lawrence (ret. BAI Exec. Director, UHLC ’07).
Phillips scored one of the event’s top distinctions: Best Cross Examiner of the Competition, an honor that includes a prestigious internship in Paris at Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes, an international law firm specializing in arbitration.
UH Law Center’s ADR team at the ABA Regional Arbitration Competition
UHLC’s mock trial team at the All-Star Bracket Challenge.
UHLC’s mock trial team at the St. John’s Peter James Johnson National Civil Rights Competition.
Hosted annually by Sciences Po Law School, the tournament drew more than 40 teams from universities across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Participants navigated multiple rounds involving rapid-fire cross-examinations, questioning both fact and expert witnesses under strict time limits —an experience designed to mirror high-stakes international arbitration practice.
“The most fundamental thing the Cross Moot taught me was effective time management,” said Phillips. “We had to know the packet like the back of our hand, and staying organized was crucial. I really enjoyed the art of learning how to properly conduct a cross-examination.”
This year’s case problem centered on the abrupt termination of contracts between private and state-owned entities, a dispute with far-reaching implications for the future of battery production and commercialization. The complex case file exceeded 300 pages, requiring competitors to master both technical and legal details.
For Phillips and Moinuddeen, the experience offered not only legal training but a cultural lesson in global advocacy.
“My biggest takeaway from competing abroad was understanding that the ‘American’ way of practicing law is not the only way,” said Phillips. “Seeing the variety of advocacy styles across the board has given me fuel to make myself a better advocate moving forward.”
Two UHLC mock trial teams successfully competed at Premier, an interscholastic competition for law students.
Two UHLC mock trial teams successfully competed at Premier, an interscholastic competition for law students.
National Success Across Disciplines
Other advocacy wins for UH Law students include:
Together, these accomplishments highlight the depth, dedication, and excellence of UHLC’s student advocates. The Law Center congratulates all competitors for their remarkable performance and exceptional representation of UH Law on the national and global stage.
