NEWS & EVENTS - Press Releases

 New York, NY—April 2, 2026—The New York State Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section held its 2026 Mediation Tournament at the Manhattan offices of Dechert LLP, with fifteen teams from across the country participating.  A team from the Cardozo School of Law (Jasmine Rosario, Sasha Berniker and Leora Schwadron) was announced as the winners, with the teams from Penn State Law (Elian Martinez, Marissa Jason and Gianna Igoe), St. John’s Law (Walter Szczech, Julia Berkowitz and Juliana Brivio) and Pace Law (Kaylynn Klopp, Troy Edwards and Sarah Trbovich), achieving second, third and fourth place, respectively.

The Tournament offers a unique opportunity for the three-member teams of law students to develop and display both advanced mediation and advocacy skills while participating as mediators, advocates and in-house client representatives. The final round of the event was judged by a respected group of experienced members of the judiciary, including:

• The Honorable Anthony Cannataro, Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals
• The Honorable Elizabeth Emerson, Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Commercial Division (Ret.)
• The Honorable David S. Jones, Bankruptcy Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
• The Honorable Robert R. Reed, Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Commercial Division
• The Honorable Edwina G. Richardson, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, Office for Justice Initiatives
• The Honorable Elizabeth S. Stong, Bankruptcy Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York

A variety of cash prizes are awarded to the winning team and the best mediator, as well as an award for the best mediation statement. Troy Edwards from Pace Law was awarded a prize for Best Mediator and Brianna Fradin, Brooke Schwartz, Matthew Meneses from Fordham Law were awarded the prize for Best Mediation Statement.

“This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for students to earn valuable mediation experience, receive evaluations on their skills from some of the most respected experts in the field, and to network with top industry legal talents”, said Leslie Berkoff, the Tournament’s Executive Director (and creator), Partner and Chair of the Dispute Resolution Department of Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, and the former Co-Chair of the Mediation Committee of the Dispute Resolution Section of the New York State Bar Association.

About Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP:

Founded in 1980, Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP is a 100-attorney full service commercial law firm that provides a wide range of legal services to businesses, corporations and individuals worldwide from its offices in New York City, on Long Island and in Florida.

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