Eighth Annual Ellen A. (Nell) Hennessy Employee Benefits Moot Court Competition's final round judges and teams

The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law (Catholic Law) proudly hosted the Eighth Annual Ellen A. (Nell) Hennessy Employee Benefits Moot Court Competition on March 7-8. This year’s event continued to grow, bringing together 16 teams from law schools across the nation to refine their skills in employee benefits appellate advocacy. Named in honor of the late Ellen “Nell” Hennessy ’78—a distinguished Catholic Law alumna and leader in employee benefits law—the 2025 competition was co-sponsored by Catholic Law and the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, Inc. (ACEBC). The event was co-chaired by ACEBC Fellows Jonathan Rose, a partner at DLA Piper, and Erin Riley, a partner at Keller Rohrback.

Teams competed by presenting briefs and participating in multiple rounds of oral arguments before ACEBC Fellows and experienced employee benefits practitioners. After several preliminary rounds, the field was narrowed to four finalists: Baylor University School of Law, George Washington University Law School, Villanova Charles Widger School of Law, and William & Mary Law School. The competition concluded with an exhilarating final round, judged by a distinguished panel featuring Judge John Rogers, Senior United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals; Judge Tana Lin, United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington; and Phyllis C. Borzi ’78—former Assistant Secretary of the Employee Benefits Security Administration—was a Catholic Law classmate, longtime friend, and colleague of Nell Hennessy.

The following law schools participated in the Eighth Annual Ellen A. (Nell) Hennessy Employee Benefits Moot Court Competition:

• Baylor University School of Law
• The George Washington University Law School
• William and Mary Law School
• Drexel Kline School of Law
• Penn State Dickinson Law School
• Villanova Charles Widger School of Law
• UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law
• Lewis and Clark Law School
• University of Virginia School of Law
• The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law

After the competition, Olivia Wolz (3L), Vice Chancellor of the Ellen A. (Nell) Hennessy Employee Benefits Moot Court Competition, expressed her gratitude: "I would like to thank the members of the Catholic Moot Court Association for their help and support, as well as Professor Regina Jefferson and ACEBC Co-Chairs Erin Riley and Jonathan Rose. I also want to thank the Office of Student Life, especially Renee Stack, Assistant Director for Student Life and Events, for their invaluable support."

This year, the competition awarded $4,500 in prizes to top teams and advocates, thanks to the generosity of sponsors. Special thanks go to LexisNexis (First-Place Team Sponsor and Saturday Award Ceremony Sponsor), DLA Piper LLP (US) (Platinum Sponsor), Keller Rohrback LLP (Platinum Sponsor), Palmeri & Eisenberg (Breakfast, Lunch, and Refreshments Sponsor), and Catherine A. Boozman and Howard Shapiro (Bronze Sponsors).

Catholic Law and the ACEBC remain committed to fostering excellence in advocacy and legal education through events like this, which inspire future leaders in employee benefits law.

Eighth Annual Ellen A. (Nell) Hennessy Employee Benefits Moot Court Competition Winners:

First place: Baylor University School of Law, Keegan Coon and Cagan Baldree 

Second place: The George Washington University Law School, Carolyn Jones and Christina Hitchcock 

Third place team: William and Mary Law School, Dylan Kochan and Trey Rodgers

Best Brief: The George Washington University Law School, Carolyn Jones and Christina Hitchcock 

Best Brief Runner up: The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Ileana Elder, Bradley Krause, and Trenton Shook

Preliminary Rounds Best Oralist: Albert Anaim, The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law