Moot Court Bench Member - Semester II, 2010

Chief Justice

james_pearse.jpgJames Pearse

 James Pearse is currently in his last year of a double degree in law and commerce majoring in finance. His mooting life began when he participated in the junior mooting competition. Since then, James has judged the junior mooting competition, competed in trial advocacy and was part of Murdoch’s 2009 William C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot team which competed in Vienna. James joined Moot Court Bench to return the favour to a system that has provided so many opportunities. Outside of university, James is a keen surfer, loves spending times with friends and family and is constantly trying to find the best eggs benedict in Perth.

Excutive Justice

daniel_harrop.jpgDaniel Harrop

 Daniel Harrop is in his second year of a double degree in Law and Politics. Through his success in the Francis Burt Mock Trial Competition, he was allowed to accompany Murdoch’s 2009 William C. Vis Arbitration Moot Team. In the same year, Daniel came second in the Torts Moot and won the Junior Mooting Competition. In 2010 Daniel competed in the Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition and in the International ADR Moot, where he was part of the winning team and was awarded the prize for Best Mediator. Daniel is also the competition representative for Murdoch Student Law Society. Outside of university, Daniel is also active in youth politics.

clare_mcKenzie.jpgClare McKenzie

 Clare McKenzie is in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) double degree. Clare first became involved in mooting in 2007, when she competed in the MSLS Junior Mooting Competition. In 2009, Clare represented Murdoch at the International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot (IMLAM) competition. She is currently assisting the 2010 IMLAM team prepare for the competition. Clare has completed the Clinical Legal Education unit at SCALES Community Legal Centre, and the Chinese Law Program. Clare works and volunteers at the Employment Law Centre of WA. Outside of university, Clare’s interests include live music, learning mandarin and quoting too much Seinfeld.

Associate Justice

michael_barnes.jpgMichael Barnes

 Michael Barnes is in his second year of a combined degree in Law and Politics. Through his success in Junior Trial Advocacy and the 2009 Torts Moot, Michael was chosen to represent Murdoch University in the 2010 Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition. The Murdoch team placed sixth in the Asia-Pacific Region while Michael was judged fifth-best oralist in the preliminary rounds. He has since been selected as a member of Murdoch’s 2011 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot team and is working to establish a Murdoch University Chapter of the International Law Students Association. Outside of university, Michael laments working weekends but enjoys playing tennis and Australian-Rules footy.

ashleigh_boyce.jpgAshleigh Boyce

 Ashleigh Boyce is currently in her third year of a combined Law/Politics degree. Her mooting experience began with junior mooting and since then she has competed in all the MSLS competitions at Murdoch University. She completed her competitions unit last year. Ashleigh joined Moot Court Bench to further her mooting experience and to help teach others about mooting and other competitions at Murdoch. Ashleigh has also recently returned from the Italian Summer program where she studied Comparative and European Law. Outside of university Ashleigh enjoys studying and playing hockey.

joshua_burton.jpgJoshua Burton

 Joshua Burton   is currently in his third year of a Law / Arts degree with a major in Politics and International Studies. He joined the Moot Court Bench to build upon his involvement in Law school competitions and to improve his mooting and advocacy skills. In 2009 Joshua was a winner of the Client Interview Competition and also made the semi-finals of the Negotiation Competition. Subsequently, Joshua represented Murdoch at the Australian Law Student Association national conference in Brisbane. He competed in Junior Mooting in his first year of study. Outside of university, Joshua keeps busy by participating in many forms of sport, engaging in social activities, reading and lives in hope of seeing Fremantle win an AFL premiership..

brendon-denkha .jpgBrendon Denkha

 Brendon Denkha  is undertaking a double degree in Law and Economics at Murdoch University. He is in his fifth year of study and will be concluding his tertiary education in 2011 with a Postgraduate Certificate in Chinese Law and Honors in Growth Economics. Brendon has always been interested in advocacy and since 2006 he has participated in both domestic and international mooting competitions. In 2009 Brendon was a member of the Murdoch team that ranked 7th in Australia in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. More recently, he was involved in the International Alternative Dispute Resolution Moot which was held in Hong Kong. The Murdoch team was announced overall winners in the arbitration and mediation categories and achieved runner up best written memorandum. Outside of University, he is a paralegal at Albert Wolff Chambers and also a member of the Vision Generation; a body which aims to inspire, educate and empower young people in the fight against global poverty and injustice.

brynn_horner.jpgBrynn Horner

 Brynn Horner is in her penultimate year of a Juris Doctor degree. In 2008 she completed a Bachelor of Commerce at UWA, majoring Investment and Corporate Finance. Brynn first experienced mooting in 2009 where she reached the semi-finals of the Torts Moot. Since then she has placed second in 2009 Junior Mooting, second in 2010 Senior Mooting, second in 2010 Inter-varsity Moot, and was a member of the 2010 ALSA Moot team. Brynn has joined MCB to help encourage other students to participate in mooting and other advocacy opportunities as she believes it is important to develop a practical application of their knowledge for life after uni. Outside of university Brynn competes in show jumping, and shops far too much.

kristina_krelska.jpgKristina Krleska

 Kristina Krleska is currently in her third year of a double degree in law and politics and international studies. Kristina was first exposed to mooting in 2008 when she competed in the Junior Mooting Competition. In 2009 Kristina won the McCusker Trial Advocacy competition. This inspired her to join the Moot Court Bench. Kristina enjoys travelling and studying foreign cultures and languages. This year Kristina finally combined her passion for law and her passion for travelling by participating in the Universita di Macerata summer program in Macerata, Italy. Kristina also enjoys hanging out at cafes and reading books on Bush Court.

vlada_lemaic.jpgVlada Lemaic

 Vlada Lemaic is currently in his second year of a combined LLB / BA(Psych) degree. He developed significant enthusiasm for mooting in semester one of 2010 where he competed in the MSLS Senior Mooting competition and progressed to the semi-finals. Since then, Vlada has been accepted onto the Vis Moot team and will be travelling to Vienna in April 2010 representing Murdoch University. Outside of university, he has recently been assisting defence counsel in the case of The Queen v Hadi Ahmadi. Vlada is also a keen photographer and is politically active.

blake_primrose.jpgBlake Primrose

 Blake Primrose is in his penultimate year of a combined Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in management). Blake has competed in a wide range of Murdoch Law competitions, including trial advocacy, client interview, negotiations and paper presentation. Blake (with his partner Stephen Petersen) won the 2008 Malcolm McCusker Mock Trials and the 2009 Jackson McDonald Negotiations competitions. Blake has also had the opportunity to study Chinese Law at the City University of Hong Kong. In 2010 Blake was a member of the Murdoch team that won the International ADR Moot, and was awarded the prize for Best Oralist in the Grand Final. Blake is an avid advocate of decreasing the size of footpaths in Wanneroo.

Stephen.Petersen .jpgStephen Petersen

 Stephen Petersen is in his final year of a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations). Stephen has competed in a wide range of Murdoch Law competitions, including; trial advocacy, negotiations, and client interview. Stephen was runner up grand finalist in the 2009 Blake Dawson Trial Advocacy competition. Stephen, (with his partner Blake Primrose) won the 2008 Malcolm McCusker Mock Trials, and the 2009 Jackson McDonald Negotiations competitions. Stephen represented Murdoch in the national Allens Arthur Robinson Negotiations competition at the 2010 Australian Law Student Association conference, where he placed 9th out of 32 universities. Outside of university Stephen has many interest, which include; spending time with friends, spear fishing, and saving his hard earned dollars for his next trip overseas.