Sopinka Cup

The Sopinka Cup trial advocacy competition was established to honor the memory of the late The Hon. John Sopinka, Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, who was a long-standing and devoted Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The American College of Trial Lawyers sponsors the competition and makes a substantial contribution to its funding.

After elimination at four regional competitions, teams from eight law schools are invited to compete at the bilingual Sopinka Cup. The purpose of the competition is to encourage law schools to train students in the art of oral advocacy.

Upcoming Competition

2025 Sopinka Cup
Dates and Location TBA

Competition Winners

2024
Winning School: Université de Montréal
Team Members: Alexandre Murdock D’Amour, Christophe Stril Olivares
Best Overall Advocate: Kathleen Hunter, University of Windsor

2023
Winning School: McGill University
Team Members: Julia Cerone, Rayan Tibiche-Dahmoune
Best Overall Advocate: Nassima Kaddoura, Western University

2022
Winning School: Université d’Ottawa
Team Members: Rayene Bouzitoun, Sophie-Anne Roy
Best Overall Advocate: Mark D. Browne, University of New Brunswick

2021
Winning School: Université d’Ottawa
Team Members: Jade Barrière, Ingrid Mavoli
Best Overall Advocate: Ingrid Mavoli

2020
Winning School: Lakehead University
Team Members: Justin Alexander Blanco, Justis Danto-Clancy
Best Overall Advocate: Justin Alexander Blanco

2019
Winning School: University of British Columbia
Team Members: Nathan Wells, Olivia Whynot
Best Overall Advocate: Nathan Wells, University of British Columbia

2018
Winning School: McGill University
Team Members: Kelsey Angeley, Dominique Verdurmen
Best Overall Advocate: Angela Pagano, University of Toronto

2017
Winning School: University of Saskatchewan
Team Members: Zachary Carter, Brady Knight, Sarah Loewen, Anita Yuk
Best Overall Advocate: Lisa M. Delaney, Dalhousie University

2016
Winning School: University of Alberta
Team Members: Jonathon Austin, Fraser Genuis
Best Overall Advocate: Caroline Humphrey, Université de Moncton

2015
Winning School: McGill University
Team Members: Fraser Dickson, Dov Whitman
Best Overall Advocate: Noémie Doiron, Université de Moncton

2014
Winning School: Université d’Ottawa
Team Members: Sarah Sullivan, Reem Zaia
Best Overall Advocate: Reem Zaia, Université d’Ottawa

2013
Winning School: Dalhousie University
Team Members: Michele Charles, Suzanne Kittell
Best Overall Advocate: Marie-Pier Emery-Rochette, Université d’Ottawa

2012
Winning School: University of Saskatchewan
Team Members: Jared D. Epp, Lauren M. Ignacz
Best Overall Advocate: Zoë Marszewski Paliare, Queen’s University

2011
Winning School: University of Saskatchewan
Team Members: Jason Demers, Evan Thompson
Best Overall Advocate: Evan Thompson, University of Saskatchewan

2010
Winning School: Université de Moncton
Team Members: Renee Blanchard, Richard Deveau
Best Overall Advocate: Ryan LePage, University of Saskatchewan

2009
Winning School: University of British Columbia
Team Members: Laura McPheeters, George Roper

2008
Winning School: McGill University
Team Members: Monika Rahman

2007
Winning School: Osgoode Hall Law School
Team Members: Karin McCaig, Donna Polgar

2006
Winning School: University of Manitoba
Team Members: Eric Hachinski, Lana Jackson

2005
Winning School: Dalhousie University
Team Members: Laura Marr, Krista Smith

2004
Winning School: University of Montréal
Team Members: Anne-Marie Lacoste, Marie-Pier Michon

2003
Winning School: University of Manitoba
Team Members: Kevin Toyne, Jennifer Malabar

2002
Winning School: University of Victoria
Team Members: Almira Esmail, Tim Livingston
Best Overall Advocate: Almira Esmail, University of Victoria

2001
Winning School: University of Manitoba
Team Members: Stephen Christie, Paul Grower

2000
Winning School: University of Toronto
Team Members: Katherine Hilton, David Armstrong