Dear Fellow Students:

An advance version of this year’s US News law school rankings has been posted on some websites. Even in advance of their formal release, it is exciting to review the rankings and see that our school has jumped forward significantly.

According to the version posted, which has since been substantiated, the University of San Diego has the distinction of making the greatest rankings increase of any school in the country. Advancing 21 places from 82nd to 61st, the improvement significantly improves our national recognition.

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2009/04/new-2009-us.html
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=111

USD Duberstein Moot Court Teams Place High in National Moot Competition

SAN DIEGO, April 13, 2009 – University of San Diego (USD) School of Law placed within the top 16 teams at this year’s Duberstein Moot Court Competition at St. John’s University in Queens, New York.

With more than 60 law schools participating, USD students Nicole King and Sherlin Tung (USD Team 1) reached the “Sweet Sixteen.” Todd Headden and Jackson Isaacs (USD Team 2) received an honorable mention award for their written brief.

The two teams were coached by Associate Dean and Professor of Law Mary Jo Wiggins; by attorneys from Procopio Hargreaves Cory and Savitch LLP: Geraldine Valdez, Jeffrey Isaacs, and Phil Giacinti; and by attorney Edward Silverman of Sandler Lasry Laube Byer & Valdez. Jeffrey Isaacs traveled to Manhattan to act as the teams’ advisor during the actual competition.

This year’s result was the highest finish for USD since it first entered the annual competition in 2003.

Special thanks to John Ryan, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge (Retired); John Hargrove, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge (Retired); Chief Judge Peter W. Bowie of the Southern District of California and Bankruptcy Judge Laura Taylor, who opened up their courtrooms and presided at oral argument practice sessions and provided valuable critique before the teams flew to New York to compete.

About Duberstein Moot Court
The annual Duberstein Moot Court Competition is a nationwide competition that attracts law school teams from around the United States each March at St. John’s University in Queens, New York. The competition involves appellate brief-writing and no less than two days of repeat oral arguments about a pressing commercial issue facing the Bankruptcy Bar as selected for argument by prominent bankruptcy practitioners.

About the University of San Diego School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law is a center of academic excellence focused on preparing its students for legal practice in the new century. One of the most selective law schools in the country, the School of Law's nationally recognized faculty create a demanding, yet welcoming environment that emphasizes individualized education. USD law school graduates consistently score higher than the state average on the California Bar Exam and go on to practice law throughout the country and abroad, forming an influential network of alumni. The USD School of Law is one of only 80 law schools in the country to have a chapter of the Order of the Coif, the most distinguished rank of American law schools. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, nonprofit, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.

USD Vis Moot Arbitration Teams Place High in Prestigious International Competition

SAN DIEGO, April 13, 2009 - University of San Diego (USD) School of Law's Vis Moot International Commercial Arbitration program recently sent two teams of students to Hong Kong and Vienna to compete in the Willem C. Vis Moot East and Willem C. Vis Arbitral Moot competitions.

The Hong Kong team—Steve Schinko, Larry Chae, Adriana Rodriguez and Seth McCutcheon—competed against approximately 65 schools from around the world, specifically teams from Germany, Japan, India and Australia. The team won an honorable mention award for its respondent brief. Out of the approximate 256 competitors, USD’s Seth McCutcheon won an honorable mention for his oral performance. Samuel Brotman was the Hong Kong team captain.

The Vienna team—Sherlin Tung, Jamaal Knight, Krystal Andersen and Diana Malhis—competed against more than 265 schools from around the world. The Vienna Arbitral Moot is the most prestigious international moot court competition in the world and is commonly referred to as the "Olympics of international trade law." USD defeated past-competition winner, University of Freiburg (Germany), before being surpassed by Columbia University in one of the championship rounds. Out of a field of approximately 1045 competitors, Sherlin Tung won an honorable mention for outstanding oral advocacy. Michelle Miller was the Vienna team captain.

The competitions mark the first time USD School of Law has been selected to compete in championship rounds in Vienna, the first time USD's writing has been honored with an award, and the highest USD has placed since entering the competition in 2004.

Special thanks to the Vis Moot sponsors Michael Thorsnes, Jeff Krinsk, Howard Finkelstein and William Restis.

About the Willem C. Vis Moot Arbitration
Held annually in Vienna and Hong Kong, the goals of the Vis Arbitral Moot are to train law leaders of tomorrow in methods of alternative dispute resolution and to foster the study of international commercial law and arbitration for resolution of international business disputes through its application to a concrete client problem.

About the University of San Diego School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law is a center of academic excellence focused on preparing its students for legal practice in the new century. One of the most selective law schools in the country, the School of Law's nationally recognized faculty create a demanding, yet welcoming environment that emphasizes individualized education. USD law school graduates consistently score higher than the state average on the California Bar Exam and go on to practice law throughout the country and abroad, forming an influential network of alumni. The USD School of Law is one of only 80 law schools in the country to have a chapter of the Order of the Coif, the most distinguished rank of American law schools. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, nonprofit, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.

Frank Partnoy Appointed George E. Barrett Professor in Law and Finance

University of San Diego School of Law faculty member Frank Partnoy has been appointed to the newly created George E. Barrett Professorship in Law and Finance.

Since joining the USD faculty in 1997, Partnoy has become a nationally recognized scholar. His next book, The Match King: Ivar Kreuger, The Financial Genius Behind a Century of Wall Street Scandals (PublicAffairs, 2009), is due to be published this spring. His previous publications include Infectious Greed: How Deceit and Risk Corrupted the Financial Markets (Times Books, 2003), F.I.A.S.C.O.: Blood in the Water on Wall Street (Penguin Group, 1999) and more than 20 articles on various topics related to financial market regulation. Professor Partnoy has also recently been featured on 60 Minutes, NPR’s nationally distributed FreshAir and Newshour with Jim Lehrer as an expert regarding financial derivatives and has published an op-ed piece in the New York Times focusing on the same topic.

The professorship honors Nashville, Tenn., attorney George E. Barrett, senior partner at Barrett, Johnston & Parsley. Beginning in the late 1950's, Barrett gained a reputation for his courageous advocacy on behalf of those facing legal difficulties because of their involvement in the civil rights movement. His practice has spanned many areas of law, but the common theme has been advocacy on behalf of "underdogs" and "the underserved

Established through a generous gift from an anonymous donor who has admired Mr. Barrett's career for many years, the professorship recognizes an outstanding USD law faculty member with a demonstrated interest in protecting investors, consumers, workers, or others from fraud or other abuses of power.

"We are grateful for the establishment of this professorship," said Kevin Cole, dean of the law school. "We are proud to help honor Mr. Barrett and happy to be able to recognize Professor Partnoy's impressive work by appointing him to this professorship."

Partnoy is also the director of USD's new Center for Corporate and Securities Law, which helps to enrich the scholarly and popular debate on a wide range of issues related to corporate governance, financial regulation and other business law topics

About USD School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law is a center of academic excellence focused on preparing its students for legal practice in the new century. One of the most selective law schools in the country, the School of Law’s nationally recognized faculty create a demanding, yet welcoming environment that emphasizes individualized education. USD law school graduates consistently score higher than the state average on the California Bar Exam and go on to practice law throughout the country and abroad, forming an influential network of alumni. USD School of Law is one of only 81 law schools in the country to have a chapter of the Order of the Coif, the most distinguished rank of American law schools. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, nonprofit, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949. Please visit the Web site at www.law.sandiego.edu

Professor Orly Lobel Awarded Prestigious Southern California Innovation Project Grant

SAN DIEGO, March 24, 2009 — University of San Diego School of Law Professor Orly Lobel was awarded a grant from the Southern California Innovation Project. Lobel’s research titled, “Human Capital in Action: Post Employment Restrictions & Innovations,” studies employment intellectual property effects on innovation.

The research will include both lab and field studies aimed to offer fundamental insights on how to configure optimal incentive structures for R&D and market innovation. While companies increasingly demand from their creative workers to sign non-disclosure and non-compete agreements, there is currently little knowledge on how such contracts affect levels of innovation, creativity, and competition. Moreover, there is great variation among jurisdictions in the interpretation of such contracts. Understanding the likely effects on information control and dissemination in the context of employment relations is critical for market innovation and development. The project will investigate how different contractual and legal arrangements affect individual decision-making to compete with former employers, to act strategically in inventive ventures, and to share information with others in lab-based simulations.

Orly Lobel writes and teaches in the areas of employment law, administrative law, legal theory, torts, consumer law and trade secrets. Prior to coming to USD, she taught at Yale Law School and served as a fellow at the Harvard University Center for Ethics and the Professions, the Kennedy School of Government's Hauser Center for Non-Profit Research, and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. A graduate of Tel Aviv University Law School, she clerked on the Israeli Supreme Court and did her graduate studies at Harvard Law School. Prior to law school, she served as an intelligence commander in the Israel Defense Forces. Her current research focuses on new models of law and governance in the context of the new economy, the labor market, privatization and new public management techniques.

About the University of San Diego School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law is a center of academic excellence focused on preparing its students for legal practice in the new century. One of the most selective law schools in the country, the School of Law's nationally recognized faculty create a demanding, yet welcoming environment that emphasizes individualized education. USD law school graduates consistently score higher than the state average on the California Bar Exam and go on to practice law throughout the country and abroad, forming an influential network of alumni. The USD School of Law is one of only 80 law schools in the country to have a chapter of The Order of the Coif, the most distinguished rank of American law schools. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, nonprofit, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949. Please visit the Web site at www.law.sandiego.edu for more information.

Hello all,
USD Law has set up links to student and faculty blogs - http://www.sandiego.edu/law/news/blogs_publications/blog/

If you write for, or know of any other related blogs, let us know at lawpub@sandiego.edu.

USD: Law: News Center: Web Logs
Source: www.sandiego.edu
The Right Coast - Edited by USD School of Law Professors Gail Heriot, Mike Rappaport, Tom Smith and Maimon Schwarzschild, this blog includes thoughts from San Diego on law, politics and culture.

Three USD Alumni and Two USD Faculty Are Named to Judicial Nominations Committee

SAN DIEGO, February 10, 2009 – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif) has appointed three University of San Diego School of Law alumni and two USD law professors to California's Judicial Nomination Committee. Alumni include Erika Hiramatsu, '97, Sister Sally Furay, '72, and Tina Thomas, '79. Hiramatsu and Sister Furay will join USD Price professor of Public Interest Law Robert C. Fellmeth on the Southern district, which adjunct professor of law Candace Carroll will chair. USD Law alumna Tina Thomas has been appointed to serve on the Eastern District committee. Nomination committees make recommendations to President Obama for U.S. District Court Judges, U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals.

Erika Hiramatsu is a deputy attorney general in the San Diego office of the Attorney General. She also served as a deputy alternate public defender. Ms. Hiramatsu is a former president of Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego and has served on the state Commission for Judicial Nominees Evaluation. She has won awards such as the California Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services and the 2008 San Diego County Bar Association’s Diversity Award for her service.

Sister Sally Furay is an attorney at law and a consultant in higher education. She is provost emerita and former academic vice president of the University of San Diego. Sister Furay has received the California Governor's Awards of Merit for achievement in education and women's rights, among other awards.

Professor Robert C. Fellmeth is the Price Professor of Public Interest Law at the University of San Diego School of Law. A former assistant U.S. attorney, he founded both the Children's Advocacy Institute and Center for Public Interest Law at USD School of Law. Professor Fellmeth serves on the boards of numerous child advocacy organizations.

Professor Candace Carroll is of counsel to Sullivan Hill Lewin Rez & Engel. She is a former president of California Women Lawyers. Ms. Carroll has also served as an attorney in the Appellate Court Branch of the National Labor Relations Board.

Tina Thomas is a founding partner of Remy, Thomas, Moose and Manly LLP. She has served on the faculty of California State University-Sacramento and co-authored Guide to Environmental Quality Act CEQA (Solano, 2006), a textbook on environmental law. She received the Distinguished Lawyer Award from the Sacramento County Bar Association in 2005.

“These committee members,” said Senator Boxer, “will ensure that my recommendations for judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals will be highly qualified and worthy of the enormous trust that Californians will place in them.”

About the University of San Diego School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law is a center of academic excellence focused on preparing its students for legal practice in the new century. One of the most selective law schools in the country, the School of Law’s nationally recognized faculty create a demanding, yet welcoming environment that emphasizes individualized education. USD law school graduates consistently score higher than the state average on the California Bar Exam and go on to practice law throughout the country and abroad, forming an influential network of alumni. USD School of Law is one of only 81 law schools in the country to have a chapter of the Order of the Coif, the most distinguished rank of American law schools. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, nonprofit, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949. Please visit the Web site at www.law.sandiego.edu for more information.

USD School of Law Unveils New Center on Intellectual Property Law and Markets

SAN DIEGO, January 20, 2009 - University of San Diego School of Law has launched a new Center on Intellectual Property Law and Markets. The center will train students in the fundamentals of intellectual property laws and in the ways clients use intellectual property (IP) rights to compete in real-world markets. It will also provide a forum where lawyers, clients, judges and policymakers can share ideas about IP doctrines and policies.


The center will be intellectually rigorous and intensely practical, according to USD School of Law Dean Kevin Cole. "It's not enough to train students in theory and doctrine," he explains. "Students need to know how patent, copyright, trademark and trade-secret laws work, and why they work as they do; but it's just as important that they understand how clients use these rights to develop and run businesses."


USD's focus on the role of IP rights in markets will distinguish it from other, more traditional IP centers. "Take open-source software, for example," said David McGowan, the Lyle L. Jones Professor of Innovation and Competition Law at the law school, who will head the center. "Understanding how the licenses work presents some nifty copyright issues in the abstract, and we'll teach those. But our students will also learn how different firms use open-source projects as a complement to a consulting business model or a hardware business model."


Providing opportunities for students and community members to engage current IP policy issues, the center's policy workshops will focus on the intersection between economic analysis and IP policy. "Economic analysis is as central to IP policy now as it has been to antitrust law for the past 30 years. This means scholars who study law and economics can add value to the work of lawyers and clients," McGowan said. "The people you will see at our workshops will be the people you might see as experts or amicus counsel."


The Center on IP Law and Market's first workshop, to be held in March, will focus on the question whether current patent doctrine imposes excessive royalties on defendants whose products may be the subject of multiple patents. "It's called the royalty-stacking debate," McGowan said. "It raises questions such as whether courts should prefer damages to injunctions if infringement is found and, if so, how the damages should be calculated. Those are the types of questions that determine what your patents are worth once you get them."


The royalty-stacking program will feature scholars from Harvard, Stanford, Chicago and other leading universities as well as lawyers who work in the industries affected by this issue. Future programs will focus on such issues as reverse-payment settlements in pharmaceutical cases, antitrust and IP policy regarding conduct in standard-setting organizations, and inequitable conduct doctrine.


About the University of San Diego School of Law

The University of San Diego School of Law is a center of academic excellence focused on preparing its students for legal practice in the new century. One of the most selective law schools in the country, the School of Law's nationally recognized faculty create a demanding, yet welcoming environment that emphasizes individualized education. USD law school graduates consistently score higher than the state average on the California Bar Exam and go on to practice law throughout the country and abroad, forming an influential network of alumni. The USD School of Law is one of only 80 law schools in the country to have a chapter of The Order of the Coif, the most distinguished rank of American law schools. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, nonprofit, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.