Moot Report 2025: National Family Law Negotiation Competition

The National Family Law Negotiation Competition took place virtually on February 27 to March 1, 2025. Manitoba’s team of Sydney Reimer (2L) and Tahnee Hoff (2L) placed 4^th overall, with Reimer placing 2^nd as individual top negotiator. The team of Ethan Kemp-Wasylyk (2L) and Nicolle Golletz (3L) placed 8^th overall. Researcher, Eric Moon (3L), assisted the teams, which were coached by Tanya Keller [LLB/08] and Mikaela Bauerlein [JD/23] (both of Amica Law Corporation). Natasha Brown, Director of Access to Justice at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, was an organizer of the annual competition, which is co-hosted annually by the University of Manitoba and Osgoode Hall Law School, York University.

Sydney Reimer took 2nd place Top Negotiator for the National Family Law Negotiation Competition.

“This experience was incredibly rewarding, allowing me to learn, grow, and gain confidence in my skills,” said Reimer in a LinkedIn post.

Competitors were welcomed by Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law at the University of Manitoba, followed by a talk from keynote speaker Patricia Hebert, K.C.. A mediator, collaborative lawyer, child advocate and litigator for 30 years, Hebert was able to share words of wisdom and experience with the competitors.

Attendees were also treated to a conversation / discussion panel between Justice Sheilaugh O’Connell of the Ontario Court of Justice, with Professors Shelley Kierstead and Patricia McMahon of Osgoode Faculty of Law, York University.

The first-place winning team was from the University of Saskatchewan College of law, and the first-place student negotiator was Mackenzie Singer from U of S.

Story submitted by Faculty of Law.