News of Note

Four Pitt third-year law students were members of a University of Pittsburgh School of Law moot court team that placed second in the overall team ranking at the 2012 Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot Team competition, which was held Nov. 2-4 in Boston. Three of the four Pitt students placed among the top 50 advocates who competed from across the globe: Gregory Graham ranked third, Joseph Parsons ranked eighth, and Matthew Smith ranked 23rd. A fourth student, Yurly Vilner, rounded out the successful team.

Moot competitions involve a mock court where law students argue hypothetical cases to gain practice in courtroom skills prior to becoming practitioners. The Foreign Direct Investment International Moot Team competition engages students in a relatively new field of international law—one that addresses questions surrounding a host country’s obligation to foreign investors. The competition also promotes an understanding of international investment laws and arbitration as an effective means for resolving disputes.

David A. Harris, University of Pittsburgh School of Law professor and associate dean for research, received special recognition from the Law Enforcement Agency Directors of Western Pennsylvania during the organization’s 15th annual awards ceremony on Nov. 9 at Pitt’s School of Law. Harris was honored for his work with the Western Pennsylvania Community-Police Relations Group.

Members of the Law Enforcement Agency Directors of Western Pennsylvania include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, among other enforcement agencies, and their representatives.