Bottom row: 2L Pyry Koivula
Two Temple Law teams turned in strong performances in regional rounds of the Giles Sutherland Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court competition, with one team advancing to the national competition. Named for the late Honorable Giles Sutherland Rich, Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the prestigious competition is an annual inter-law school event sponsored by the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).
Temple Law’s 3L team, which included Brandon Newton and Gabrielle Gosciniak, prevailed in the opening round of the competition against the University of Minnesota. Professor Paul R. Gugliuzza, who coached both teams, noted how well they represented Temple Law. The teams were also supported by the collective efforts of coaches Professor Erika Douglas and Associate Dean Donald Harris. “They provided invaluable assistance in getting the teams ready for the competition,” said Professor Gugliuzza.
The Law School’s 2L team, which included Anna Johnson and Pyry Koivula, finished second out of 12 teams in the region and will represent Temple Law in the national competition in mid-April. “Their performance was truly exceptional,” said Professor Gugliuzza.
For the student advocates, the competition was an opportunity to showcase the valuable skills they’ve learned and was a highlight of their law school experience. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Giles Rich Patent Law Moot Court competition as a capstone to my time at Temple Law,” said 3L Gosciniak. “It was an invaluable chance to practice the type of work done by first-year patent litigation associates, including legal research and writing and oral advocacy.”
3L Newton shared his teammates enthusiasm in participating in the rigorous IP moot court, saying that the experience gave him and his teammates “a really great opportunity to get a feel for patent litigation as a career.” He added advice for current and prospective law students, saying, “Any student interested in patent litigation, legal research, or oral advocacy would greatly benefit from participating.”
“Participating in the competition has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me at Temple Law,” 2L Koivula noted. “I highly recommend this moot court competition for anyone interested in a career in patent law. The competition gives students an opportunity to work in a highly collaborative “real world” environment, writing briefs and arguing complex patent issues in front of experienced patent attorneys.
3L Anna Johnson emphasized the positive experience she and her teammates shared, remarking that the competition “not only strengthened my legal skills (researching, brief writing, argument drafting and delivery) but it has also provided me with the opportunity to work closely with a wonderful team. My partner Pyry and I have learned so much through our work with Professors Gugliuzza, Douglas, and Dean Harris. I highly recommend this experience to all students interested in IP and appellate advocacy.”
