left to right: Joseph Matthews, L Andrew Riccio, Benjamin Keime, Abirami Ananthasingam
The University of Miami School of Law is already one of the top law schools in the State of Florida. On March 14 ,2014, Coral Gables, Florida, and the entire UM community, began celebrating it’s first place finish at the 7th Frankfurt Investment Arbitration moot competition.
The three UM law school students representing UM’s team, Joseph Matthews (3L), Benjamin Keime (2L), and Abirami Ananthasingam (3L), began preparing for the international competition in August 2013. The competition was held during March 10th through the 15th 2014 at the University of Frankfurt in Germany.
The competition was against 59 other international law school teams. The UM team was lead by Assouline & Berlowe attorney, and UM alumni, L Andrew Riccio (JD 2011).
The substance of this year’s moot court competition was entitled “The Perfumes of Arabia”, based in 12th century Yemen, relating to a new customs regime on merchants in Aden, the Yemeni port. Fictional claims were brought under a multilateral investment treaty comprised of countries of the medieval Ayyubid Empire.
In describing the substance of the moot court problem, “Coach” Riccio stated that “this year’s was the most complex and interesting of them all.” He was especially impressed by the caliber of students at the competition. Given the complexity of the problem, students invested considerable time preparing their arguments.
The moot court team competed against law schools from Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia, and ultimately tied for first place with the team from Sciences Po (Paris). The winners, both the UM and Sciences Po teams, will receive a three week placement at the Hague Academy of International Law.
The distinguished tribunal in the final round consisted of Charles Brower, Abby Cohen-Smutney, and Judge Awn Al-Khasaweh. The University of Miami is the only to twice make it to the final round of the competition, and twice win the competition.
This victory was extra special for Attorney Riccio, who participated on the team as a law student participant in 2011 , when UM won the competition for the first time. After this win, UM is the first repeat winner of the competition. When Riccio competed in 2011, it was under the guidance of his mentor, Assouline & Berlowe International Arbitration Partner Daniel Vielleville. Now, Riccio has taken the reins of UM’s team and as the coach, the student has proved himself as the master of UM’s second winning team.
Assouline & Berlowe was founded by University of Miami School of Law graduates Eric N. Assouline (JD 1996) and Peter E. Berlowe (JD 1998). Since that time, several other UM law graduates have joined the firm, including Sheri Alter (JD 1996), Meredith Gussin (JD 2001), as well as current partners Loren D. Pearson (JD 1996) and Daniel E. Vielleville (JD 2003).
For more information about the competition, or to discuss any business issues, please contact Mr. Riccio.
L. Andrew Riccio, Esq.
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Main: (305) 567-5576
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