Maryland Carey Law’s Business Law Program held its third annual Bankruptcy+ Counseling Competition. The competition offers students a unique opportunity to navigate the complexities of bankruptcy law while working with clients under real-world pressures. Unlike traditional moot court competitions that focus on written advocacy or oral argument, the Bankruptcy+ Counseling Competition centers on client interaction and counseling.
This year’s hypothetical revolved around a distressed biotech company, facing a confluence of issues that made bankruptcy a very real possibility. The company was struggling with imperfect creditors, the impending divorce of its owner, and the FDA's refusal to approve its crucial drug results. These interconnected challenges presented an intricate legal puzzle for the student teams who had to navigate the interests of multiple stakeholders, while considering both legal strategies and practical outcomes for the company’s future.
Teams of law students were tasked with counseling multiple clients in the midst of these crises, including the biotech company’s owners, creditors, and other involved parties. Each team worked under the guidance of experienced practicing attorneys who served as coaches, offering mentorship and feedback throughout the competition. The teams were required to demonstrate their ability to listen to client needs, empathize with client concerns, and guide clients through tough legal scenarios. The students were tasked with making difficult decisions while juggling legal strategy, client interests, and emotional sensitivity. The competition highlighted the importance of communication skills, with judges paying particular attention to how well the teams could explain complex legal concepts and offer strategic advice that was not only legally sound but also tailored to the unique needs of each client.
The competition involved several volunteer attorneys who served as both clients and judges. This year’s competition would not have been possible without the assistance of volunteers Joe Selba, Jodie Buchman, Lisa Stevens, John Schropp, Pete Terech, John Roberts, Bud Stephen Tayman, Rebekah Paradis, and Patricia Jefferson. These experienced practitioners provided feedback and evaluated each team’s client counseling abilities based on how effectively they interacted with the clients, analyzed the situation, and communicated possible solutions.
The competition concluded with the presentation of awards. Every practitioner involved lauded the students for their outstanding legal skills and client counseling abilities. Idean Marvastian ’25 and Sophia Fodor ’26 received first-place recognition while second place was awarded to Henry Jones ’26 and Ian Hill ’26. Rounding out the awards, third-place honors were given to Ikenna Mbaruguru ’26 and Alen Dzaferagic ’26.