Moot Report 2025: Harold J. Fox Moot – Canadian Intellectual Property Moot

This year’s Harold J. Fox Moot team demonstrated excellence in advocacy, collegiality and respect, as demonstrated by the awards they brought home following the February 21 and 22 competition on Intellectual Property, held in Toronto. Maria Pepelassis was the Runner Up (2nd place) for the Donald F. Sim Award for Best Oral Advocate, which recognizes the importance of the finer qualities of exceptional oral advocacy, including quick-thinking, effective delivery, and convincing argument.

The full team of Steven Csincsa (3L), Marianna Pozdirca (2L), Maria Pepelassis (2L), Jordan Wagner (3L), was awarded the inaugural Ronald E. Dimock “Spirit of the Moot” Award, given to a team or individual who furthers the objectives of the Harold G. Fox Moot by combining persuasive IP advocacy with collegiality, positivity, and respect throughout the competition and its associated events. As Pozdirca explained, “This was the first year the Fox Moot did a Spirit award, and the organizers shared how they feared it would be hard to decide which team to award it to, but instead Manitoba stood out as the clear winner. It was really remarkable recognition for “friendly Manitoba”.”

The team was coached by Julia Rykman (Fillmore Riley), and Kelsey Desjardine (Justice Canada), who Pozdirca thanked in a LinkedIn post, along with former coach John Myers who continues to support the team after serving as coach for many years. “We stand on the shoulders of so many members of the legal community, from last year’s University of Manitoba team to members of the judiciary, all volunteering their time to help us prepare for this competition, to the Honourable Justice Marshall Rothstein for his financial support of the Robson Hall Team each year since joining this Moot,” said Pozdirca.

“The Fox Moot honed my advocacy, research, and adaptability skills while underscoring the value of precision and teamwork,” said Wagner. “It was a demanding yet rewarding experience, made possible by the dedication of our coaches. To future students: start early, practice relentlessly, and welcome feedback – it makes all the difference. I couldn’t be prouder of my team and the effort we poured into this competition.”

The Harold G. Fox Moot is intended to promote the furtherance of education in the intellectual property field, and to provide participants with the opportunity to interact with jurists of the Supreme, Ontario, and Federal Courts and experienced practitioners of intellectual property law.

Story submitted by Faculty of Law.