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Moot Court & Advocacy Board Members

Kyle Attwood

Kyle is a 2L from Traverse City, Michigan and currently serves as In-House Counsel for the Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Competition Team. Prior to law school, Kyle received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Davenport University and his associate’s degreee in aviation – flight technology from Northwestern Michigan College. This past summer, he clerked for a state circuit court judge in northern Michigan. Outside of school, Kyle enjoys flying and playing both golf and tennis.

Whitney Baran

Whitney is a 3L and captain/advocate for the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition team. She was previously an advocate for the champion team in the Pepperdine Entertainment Law competition. Whitney is from Spokane, Washington where she graduated in 2005 from Gonzaga University. After graduation from MSU law, Whitney will be a member of the intellectual property litigation practice group at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, Preston Gates & Ellis, LLP ("K&L Gates") in Spokane.

Holly Battersby

Holly graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in Economics and Spanish. She then began a career at Abercrombie & Fitch's corporate headquarters as an Allocator. After leaving Abercrombie, Holly began law school and is currently in her third year. In addition to being a member of the Moot Court & Advocacy Board, Holly is also pursuing a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute. Holly has been a member of the Board since Spring of 2007, competing as a Briefwriter at the Fordham Securities Law Competition and serving as the Appellate Class Director. She looks forward to competing at the Prince Evidence Competition this semester as a Captain/Oralist. During law school, Holly clerked at two personal injury firms, Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. and Gursten, Koltonow, Gursten, Christensen & Raitt, P.C. When Holly isn't busy with law school, she enjoys running, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Ugo Buzzi

Ugo graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and then attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he obtained a Master of Science in Exercise Science with an emphasis in biomechanics and motor control. He then attended the University of Michigan where he completed a Master of Science in Human Motor Development investigating the development of walking in infants with Down syndrome and spina bifida. While attending MSU-COL, Ugo has externed with the Honorable David W. McKeague of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and was a law clerk at the East Lansing firm of Oade, Stroud & Kleiman. He has also externed with the Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. In his second year of law school, he competed at an AAJ Mock Trial Competition in Indianapolis. As a member of the Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board, Ugo served as a captain for the Lone Star Invitational in San Antonio, Texas and co-coached a team in the Stanford Invitational Mock Trial Competition. He is currently serving as the Trial Executive Assistant. Ugo is also a member of the Trial Practice Institute and a co-founding member of the Journal of Trial Practice & Advocacy.

David Caras

David is a 2L from Flint, Michigan and is currently serving as an In-House counsel for the Wagner 2008 Labor Law competition in New York. Prior to attending law school, he earned his Bachelors degree in Philosophy from the University of Michigan in 2005. David is currently clerking at White Law PLLC in Okemos where he has worked since the summer of 2007. In his spare time, David enjoys spending time with his friends, playing cards, and playing video games.

Amanda Deering

Amanda graduated from Austin Peay State University with a double major in chemistry and sociology. She attended graduate school at the University of Notre Dame where she studied physical chemistry and worked as a teaching assistant for general chemistry courses. Amanda is a second year law student currently pursuing both a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute and a concentration in Intellectual Property. She interned with the Hon. William Collette, the chief judge in the 30th Circuit Court. In her free time, Amanda enjoys knitting and politics.

Bradley Dizik

Bradley is a 2L and a member of the Stanford Invitational Trial Team. Prior to this semester, Bradley competed on the National Trial Advocacy Competition Shadow Team. Additionally, Bradley won the award for Best Closing Argument at the 2007 MSU College of Law All-School Moot Court Trial Competition and finished in Second Place. He is also President of the Law & Economics Society. Bradley is from Farmington Hills, Michigan where he attended North Farmington High School. He graduated in 2006 from James Madison College at Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy and a Specialization in Political Economy. During the summer of 2007, Bradley worked for Oakland County 6th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren and for the law firm Shifman & Carlson P.C.

C. Robert Dobronsk

Robert is a 3L from Dexter, Michigan. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in Public Policy and Government and a minor in writing. Previously, Robert was in-house counsel for the spring 2007 Mardi Gras Invitational Sports Law Competition at Tulane University Law School. He also captained MSU’s Pepperdine University School of Law National Entertainment Law Moot Court team to a 1st place finish in the Fall of 2007. Currently he is captain for the Robert F. Wagner National Labor & Employment Law Moot Court Competition.

Adam Fadley

Adam is a 2L from Okemos, Michigan. This is his first semester on the Moot Court and Advocacy Board. He is a brief writer and advocate for the Prince Memorial Evidence Competition Team going to Brooklyn Law School in April 2008. Adam is also an Associate Editor for the Entertainment and Sports Law Journal. He graduated in 2006 from Western Michigan University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration; he majored in Finance and Commercial Law. During the summer of 2007, Adam completed an externship with the East Lansing City Attorney’s Office. In addition, he will be clerking for the Michigan Supreme Court under the auspices of Justice Elizabeth A. Weaver during the summer of 2008. In his free time, Adam enjoys playing guitar and spending time with his family and friends.

Sean P. Gallagher

Sean entered MSU College of Law in the fall of 2006, after an eight-year professional career. Before his professional career, Sean earned a B.A. in Government and International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. His undergraduate study included a semester abroad in London, England. After graduation, Sean worked in the Management Trainee Program for Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Chicago, Illinois. He next took a position with SmithBucklin Corporation, the world's leading association management firm. During his 1L summer, Sean gained legal experience as a judicial extern for the Honorable William E. Collette, Chief Judge of the 30th Judicial Circuit Court, Ingham County, Michigan. Also a member of the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Program, he is planning for a litigation career. Sean is a member of the MSU Law Moot Court & Advocacy team competing at the 2008 Stanford Law School Mock Trial Invitational. Sean was raised in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He lives with his wife Katie in East Lansing. His interests include jogging and cheering on the Spartans.

Antonio F. Gerald

Antonio was born and grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He attended Indiana University /Purdue University at Indianapolis earning a BS in criminal justice. Before attending law school he was a certified personal trainer for many years. He also worked at the Marion County Juvenile Justice Complex as a program coordinator organizing all of the youths religious and athletic events. He is married and has a beautiful daughter. In his spare time Antonio enjoys working out and mentoring young men. After law school he plans to become a defense attorney.

Sheida Ghadiri

Sheida graduated from Penn State University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in History. During her undergraduate career she spent a semester in Maastricht studying European government and politics. Currently, Sheida is a second year student at the Law College and is pursuing a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute. Sheida is the programs director for the MSU chapter of the American Constitutional Society and is a member of the MSU Law Moot Court and Advocacy Board. Sheida competed in the ACS appellate moot court competition and has competed in the 2008 trial advocacy competition at Stanford University. This summer Sheida will be interning with the U.S. Army JAG Corps. In her free time she enjoys painting and following politics.

Lindsey Gorsline

Lindsey is a 3L and is currently serving as the Executive Director for the trial side of the Moot Court and Trial Advocacy Board. Prior to holding this position Lindsey was also the Executive Director for the appellate side and a member of a 2007 ATLA team. During law school she has worked for UAW-GM Legal Services and the Opinions and Municipal Affairs division of the State of Michigan Attorney General's Office. Prior to attending law school, Lindsey worked in the areas of human resources, organizational development and international trade. Lindsey graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in International Business and Spanish, and from the Aquinas College with her Masters in Management in Organizational Development.

Justin M. Hardy

Justin hails from the unique combination of St. Charles, Michigan and Franklin, North Carolina. It is this fusion of cultures which accounts for his southern hospitality and his northern ingenuity. Justin earned his undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University, where he studied Sociology, Mathematics, and Political Science. In addition to his position as Trial Advocate on the Moot Court and Trial Advocacy Board, Justin is a Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Business and Securities Law and is completing MSU-COL's Tax Concentration. Along with Kristen Maurer, Kelly Heos, and Matt Hodges, Justin was a member of the Board's 2007 Puerto Rico team. In addition, he and Matt Hodges compose one of the two 2008 TYLA teams.

Kelly Heos

Kelly graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science-Pre Law. She is currently a third year law student pursuing a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute. Kelly is also a member of the Inns of Court and the State Bar of Michigan Law Student Section Governing Council. Kelly participated in the Study Abroad Program in Ottawa, Ontario, where she externed for the Library of Parliament as a Research Assistant. For the past two years she worked for Church, Kristelis & Wyble P.C., a personal injury law firm. Currently, Kelly is active in the Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board. She competed in the University of Puerto Rico’s Trial Competition and will be attending the National Student Trial Advocacy Competition later in the semester.

Matthew Hodges

Matt is a 3L from North Branch, Michigan. Matt competed in the fall semester of 2007 in Puerto Rico and is currently he is the captain of a team competing in the National Trial Competition, hosted by the Texas Young Lawyers Association. Matt is a 2002 graduate of Michigan State University, where he received a degree in Political Theory from James Madison College. Matt is also involved with the Family Law Society and the Student Bar Association.

Jordan Jackson

Jordan is originally from Clarkston, Michigan. He graduated from Grand Valley State University Honors College with a degree in Finance in 2006. Jordan then went directly to Law School at Michigan State, where he is a second year student, and in addition to his membership on the Moot Court & Advocacy Board, is pursuing a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute. He is currently working as a law clerk for Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton & McIntyre, P.C. in Lansing, a mid-size firm which focuses most of its practice in the field of personal injury law. In his free time, Jordan enjoys golf, basketball and traveling.

Janetta Ksar

Janetta is a 3L from Troy, Michigan. After competing in the Atlanta William Daniel Trial Competition in Fall 2007, she was elected to serve as the Director for the MSU College of Law National Trial Advocacy Competition. In addition to being on the Executive Board for Moot Court, she is a mentor and volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Janetta earned her undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor and was on the Debate team there. During the summers, she has assisted in the Prosecutor’s Office at the 36th District Court and has also worked in contract law with the City of Detroit. After graduation, Janetta plans to practice Corporate Law.

Maureen Lorincz

Maureen was born and raised in Ohio and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from Syracuse University. While at SU, she also minored in political science and philosophy and competed nationally for the school's mock trial team. Her first summer in law school, Maureen did an externship at the District Attorney's Office of Onondaga County in Syracuse, New York. She currently works as a law clerk at Foster & Harmon, P.C. in East Lansing and has since February of 2007. Maureen is the captain of one of MSU's Moot Court trial teams. She will be competing at the Texas Young Lawyers Association Regional Competition in Dayton, Ohio this Spring. Aside from being part of MSU's Moot Court team, Maureen is also a member of the Geoffrey Feiger Trial Practice Institute.

Katie Lynwood

Katie is a third year student from East Lansing, MI. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Inter-Disciplinary Studies with a focus on law and society. She is a member of the Moot Court Advocacy Board and is competing in Philadelphia at the AAJ Trial Advocacy Competition in March. She is also part of the 2-year Trial Practice Institute program. Last summer she worked as a law clerk in Brighton, MI for a firm that specializes in mortgage and bankruptcy law. The previous summer she was a law clerk at a firm in Lansing, MI and worked on real estate and family law cases. She was also a judicial extern for Chief Judge William Collette of the Ingham County Circuit Court in Michigan. In her spare time she likes to golf, travel and spend time with family and friends.

Kyle Matucha

Kyle is a 3L and advocate for the ATLA Student Trial Advocacy Competition. He is originally from Munster, Indiana, and earned his bachelors degree at Purdue University in Management with minors in Economics and Psychology. This past summer, Kyle worked for the United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Indiana. Currently, he is the Justice for Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and a member of the Student Bar Association.

Megan McCarthy

Megan is a 2L from Gurnee, Illinois. Megan majored in theatre with a minor in dance from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After working as a paralegal in Chicago, she decided to attend law school. Megan is an oralist on the Moot Court Trial Team that is traveling to Philidelphia this semester. She is also in the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Program, and hopes to continue her legal career in litigation.

Eric Misterovich

Eric is a 2L from Clinton Township, Michigan. He currently serves as an in-house counsel for the 2008 Robert F. Wagner National Labor & Employment Law Moot Court Competition in New York City. He also works as a clerk for Hubbard, Fox Thomas, White and Bengtson P.C.in Lansing, Michigan. Prior to law school, Eric graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in general business management.

Travis Montgomery

Travis is a 3L and an advocate on the AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition team led by Aryn McCumber. After earning his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL, Travis spent time teaching high school students with the Close Up Foundation in Washington, D.C. where he had the opportunity to meet most of the 108th Congress and to visit the embassies of Saudi Arabia and Brazil. After his first year of law school, Travis clerked for the Michigan Poverty Law Program in Ann Arbor and began his work as a research assistant at MSU Law. Currently, Travis works as a research assistant for Professor Staszewski. After graduation in May, Travis plans on moving to Chicago or back to his original hometown of Indianapolis.

Scott Morgan

Scott graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis and received a degree in Political Science. Throughout college, he worked for Brown & James, a law firm in St. Louis, Missouri. Last summer, he stayed in East Lansing to work for the law firm of Oade, Stroud & Kleiman. He is active in moot court and a member of the Trial Practice Institute. Scott lived in Brazil for two years doing volunteer service, speaks Portuguese, and is married. He also has a young son who is learning how to say “directed verdict” and “objection your honor, hearsay."

Kevin Morrow

Kevin is a 3L from Northville, MI and graduate of Western Michigan University. This semester Kevin is serving as an oralist on the Cardozo Entertainment and Media Law Appellate Moot Court Team. Kevin has externed with both the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Honorable Judge David W. McKeague, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Almost as much as Moot Court, Kevin loves pants, making crossword puzzles and then solving them, and pondering the age old question of where the beef actually went.

Jennifer O’Reilly

Jennifer is a 2L and an advocate for one of the AAJ trial moot court teams this Spring. She also competed on the NTAC shadow team last Fall. Jennifer is from Hardinsburg, Kentucky where she graduated in 2006 from University of Louisville with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. While at the University of Louisville, she worked at Phillips, Parker, Orberson, & Moore P.L.C., a civil defense litigation firm. During the summer of 2007, Jennifer interned with the Washtenaw Public Defender's office and is currently working for Josh Fields & Associates. She is also a member of the Trial Practice Institute at MSU Law. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys watching sports and training for marathons.

Nathan Passavant

Nathan is a third year law student from Tecumseh, Michigan. Prior to law school, Nathan earned two bachelor’s degrees in History and English from the University of Michigan. Nathan was also the brief writer for the John Marshall team in the fall of 2007. During law school, Nathan has worked for the pre-trial division of the Michigan Court of Appeals where he assisted the court in researching and deciding cases on appeal. Nathan currently serves as the Law Clerk for Great Lakes Legal Team P.L.C. in Almont, Michigan, where he performs research, motion practice, and appellate brief-writing in personal injury, family law, criminal defense, bankruptcy, and other areas of law. Nathan is also an avid college football fan.

Jennifer Robbins

Jenny is a 2L from Grand Blanc, MI and is currently serving as In-House Counsel on the Cardozo Entertainment and Media Law Appellate Moot Court Team. Jenny graduated from a Catholic women’s college, Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame, in 2006 with a double major in Religious Studies and Political Science. She is currently a legal research assistant, a member of the Women’s Law Caucus, and an extern at the Ingham County Friend of the Court. Depending on the season, Jenny enjoys sailing and downhill skiing, and she looks forward to resuming those hobbies after law school.

Elizabeth Rohl

Liz is a 3L currently serving as the Appellate Executive Director for the Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board. During the Spring of 2007, Liz was in-house counsel for the ABA NAAC competition team. In Fall 2007 Liz served as the captain and oralist/briefwriter for one of the two teams attending the San Diego Criminal Procedure Tournament. Prior to coming to law school, Liz graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in Psychology and Legal Studies with a Certificate in Criminal Justice. Liz is also a member of the MSU-COL’s Trial Practice Institute.

Ellen Sluka

Ellen is a 2L from Clinton Twp., Michigan. She currently serves as the brief writer for the Wagner Appellate Team. Prior to coming to law school Ellen worked in the areas of community and economic development. This semester she is completing an externship with the Michigan Court of Appeals, Research Division. Ellen received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Michigan State University. In her free time, Ellen enjoys traveling, watching movies, and yoga.

Sara Spratt

Sara is originally from Chesterfield, Michigan. She attended Central Michigan University where she received a bachelors degree in Psychology in 2005. Currently, Sara is a third year law student at Michigan State University where she is a member of the Moot Court Board and on the Executive Board of the Business Law Society. Additionally, she is a law clerk for the Lansing law firm, Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton & McIntyre. In her spare time, Sara enjoys running and attending Detroit sporting events.

Leigh Stewart

Leigh is a second year law student from Traverse City, Michigan. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Michigan State University in 2006 with a B.A. in Political Science. Leigh is part of the Intellectual Property Law Society and a member of the Michigan State Law Review. During the summer of 2007 she clerked for an Administrative Law Judge in Lansing, MI, and she is looking forward to the new job opportunities summer 2008 will bring. She earned the “Most Outstanding Petitioner” award for the 2007 Moot Court Competition Class, and is now serving as in-house counsel on the ABA Appellate Team, headed to Washington D.C. in March. When not otherwise involved in law school, Leigh enjoys boating, pleasure reading, and spending time with her fiancé, Zach.

Stephanie Tuttle

Stephanie is a 2L and is serving as in-house counsel for the Cardozo Entertainment Law competition. She is currently working in the Kent County Prosecutor's office conducting pre-trial and settlement conferences with criminal defendants. Prior to law school, she served as Director of Outreach at a large church in Grand Rapids where she had the chance to lead teams of people around the world to facilitate humanitarian relief in developing and war-torn countries. Stephanie enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her husband and two kids.

Katie Verb

Katie is a 3L from Grosse Pointe, Michigan and an advocate for the Cardozo Entertainment and Media Law Competition. Katie graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. During this past summer, Katie interned at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. After law school, Katie hopes to earn her L.L.M. in Health Care law from Loyola.

Adrianne K. Whitehead

Adrianne graduated from Michigan State University, James Madison College with a Bachelors of Arts in Social Relations and Policy. Adrianne also was the first student to participate in the James Madison College/MSU College of Law Three Plus Three Program. Adrianne was a law clerk at Legal Services of South Central Michigan from 2006-2007, and more recently, she was a law clerk at the Board of Veteran’s Appeals in Washington, D.C. She is currently a third year law student and is pursuing a certificate in the Trial Practice Institute. Adrianne is also the treasurer of Women’s Law Caucus and a senator on the Student Bar Association at MSU College of law. She is currently working as a research assistant for Professor Frank Ravitch, who is working on a treatise regarding law and religion. Last semester, Adrianne competed on the Buffalo/Niagara Mock Trial Team, where she took on the role of a defense attorney in a murder trial. This semester, Adrianne is a captain of one of the AAJ Mock Trial Teams and will be competing in the Philadelphia Regional Competition. In her free time, Adrianne enjoys playing tennis and going to Michigan State sporting events.

Kent Young

Kent is a third year law student at MSU College of Law. In the Spring of 2007, Ken was an in house counsel for the Wagner Appellate Moot Court team when the team won the national championship. In the Fall of 2007, Kent was a captain for a moot court team at the San Diego National Criminal Procedure Tournament where he received an award for 4th Best Advocate out of 82 competitors. His team also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Criminal Procedure Tournament, placing tenth out of forty-one teams. Kent is currently a member of the ABA Appellate Moot Court Team. He has an avid interest in criminal procedure, and received the jurisprudence award for the Advanced Criminal Procedure Course in the Spring of 2007. Kent hopes to work in criminal law after he graduates from law school.

Jessica Zimbelman

Jessica is a 3L, originally from Stanton, MI. She went to undergarduate at Hope College, where she majored in Political Science and Spanish. Last summer she worked at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. and is currently a Law Clerk at the UAW International Union in Detroit. Jessica is also a member of the Michigan State Law Review, and loves all things political. As a board member, she is an oral advocate for the Wagner National Employment & Labor Law Moot Court Competition.

Maya Ziv-el

Maya is a 3L from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the captain and brief writer for the Cardozo Entertainment and Media Law Appellate Moot Court Competition. Maya graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2003 with a double major in journalism and political science. When she is not spending time with her moot court teammates, Maya serves as the Co-Editor in Chief of the Journal of Business and Securities Law, co-chair of the Student Bar Association’s Community Service Committee, and is a part-time law clerk at a local law firm. Maya looks forward to moving to Chicago when she graduates.