2010 has been a very successful year for Mooting at Birmingham with success in the OUP and BPP National Mooting Competition and strong competition in the internal Camm Cup.
On 1 July the team from Birmingham, consisting of Rupert Jones (GDLS) and Jonathan Jackson (LLB, second year), reached the final of the OUP and BPP National Mooting Competition 2009-2010, having beaten Ulster, Oxford Brookes, Reading and King's College, London along the way. His Honour Judge Charles Gratwicke of Chelmsford Crown Court presided over one of the closest finals of recent years, held at BPP Law School, Holborn. The OUP and BPP National Mooting Competition is one of the largest in the country drawing over 60 teams each year. After four rounds of knock out competition four teams compete in the final; this year, Birmingham was pitted against Chester, and Oxford took on the defending champions, Sheffield Hallam. In a tense final, Oxford was declared the winner, and Birmingham was awarded second place - just one point separated the two teams. Rupert and Jonathan, as Runners-Up for the 2009-10 competition, were awarded £350 each.
The fictitious mooting problem, devised for the competition by Dr Kirsty Horsey from Kent Law School, was in the Court of Appeal, Slade v Trowell Entertainment. It focussed on "You've Got Talent" contestant Dave Slade fluffing his audition and running off only to be forced back on stage to perform by the show's presenters Pant and Deck; much to his embarrassment but the audience's entertainment. Dave sues Trowell Entertainment, alleging assault, battery, false imprisonment, intended emotional harm and loss of the opportunity to win the show's £500,000 prize.
This year’s Camm Cup final at Birmingham was judged by Lord Hope of Craighead, Deputy President of the Supreme Court and President of the Holdsworth Club 2009-10. The competition is open to second and final year law students and is sponsored by No5 Chambers. Held in February on the same day as the Holdsworth Presidential Address, the finalists were second year students Harriet Drury, Misbah Rahman, and Michael Young, and third year student Abisola Latunji. On a proud day for Birmingham Law School, his Lordship was joined by Professor Nelson Enonchong, Barber Professor of Law and barrister at No 5 Chambers, and by David Williams QC, also from No 5. The moot problem was based on contract law and the legal position surrounding the part payment of a debt. After careful deliberation, the judges declared Harriet Drury to be the winner and Michael Young to be the runner-up. Harriet was awarded a cheque for £100 and Michael received £50. Afterwards, a buffet reception was held where audience members had the opportunity to discuss the moot with the judges and the competitors.