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On Sunday, September 21, almost 40 FIU Law students and more than 20 attorneys gathered at Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall for the 11th Annual Board of Advocates Intramural Negotiation Competition.  After two long preliminary round negotiations, the attorneys and Board of Advocates judges selected the top eight students who moved on to the final round negotiations.

The final rounds were close, with the two final round negotiations ending in a tie for the championship. Competition director, Sarah Valdés, turned to the ABA Competition Rules to break the tie.  Jimmy Paul emerged as Champion Negotiator, with Marina Veiga named Runner-Up NegotiatorCarla Pacheco finished as Second Runner-Up, and Kathleen Pfahlert finished as Third Runner-Up.  Rounding out the top eight were Christopher Pina, Omar Ali-Shamaa, Nick Neville, and Linda Valdes

Many preliminary and final round judges commented about the competitors’ exceptional negotiation skills, professionalism, and level of preparation. Stephanie Casey (Colson Hicks Eidson) commented that the students she saw were, “just exceptional.”

The final round competitors were judged by Craig Leen (City Attorney, Coral Gables), Annie Hernandez (Legal Services of Greater Miami), Amanda Braun (Children’s Trust), and Esther Garcia. Ms. Braun and Ms. Garcia are both FIU alumnas, former FIU Negotiation team members and team coaches.  Mr. Leen is also an adjucnt professor at UM and FIU law schools.

The top competitors from the Intramural Competition will begin preparing for the ABA Southeast Regional Negotiation Competition to be held in November 2014.  FIU Law has performed exceptionally well at the ABA Southeast Regional, bringing home the Regional Championship five times in the last sixyears, and then advancing to the ABA National Negotiation Finals seven times in the last eight years, placing third in 2009, fourth in 2010, seventh in 2012, tenth in 2013 and fifth and 18th in 2014.

Congratulations to all eight finalists, as well as the other competitors, for a job well done!