Melbourne, 19 August 2013: A team from The University of Melbourne has emerged victorious at the 7th annual Castan Centre Human Rights Moot Competition, sponsored by Clayton Utz.
The winning team of Nick Boyd-Caine, Shawn Rajanayagam and Doug Porteous beat out Monash University's Katherine Moore, Stephen Moore and Nathan Van Wees at the competition grand final held last Friday evening in the Green Court of the Victorian Court of Appeal.
Clayton Utz Melbourne partner in charge Fred Prickett presented Nick, Shawn and Doug with a cheque for $3,000 at the post-event awards ceremony, held at the Essoign Club. As runners-up, Katherine, Stephen and Nathan took home a cheque for $1,000.
The grand final judging panel comprised The Honourable Justice Michael Croucher of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Her Honour Justice Pamela Tate of the Victorian Court of Appeal, and Clayton Utz Melbourne partner in charge, Fred Prickett.
This year's competition attracted 10 teams, with the preliminary rounds and the semi-final held over three nights at the Melbourne offices of Clayton Utz.
The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law seeks to promote and protect human rights through the generation and dissemination of public scholarship in international and domestic human rights law. Held annually, the Castan Centre Human Rights Moot Competition is an opportunity for law students who have a passion for human rights law to gain a greater understanding of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights by applying it to factual scenarios in a courtroom environment.
The Castan Centre is named after Ron Castan AM QC, a distinguished member of the Victorian Bar who was a passionate advocate for the recognition and protection of human rights.
Clayton Utz has been a Castan Centre supporter since 2007.