RWU Law Teams Earn Top Honors at National Admiralty Moot Court Competition

Roger Williams University School of Law delivered an impressive performance at the 2025 Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition, held in New Orleans. Coached by Professor Jonathan Gutoff and Adjunct Professor Brody Karn L’19, RWU Law’s 3L and 2L teams stood out in this well-regarded national competition focused on admiralty law and designed to test students’ written and oral advocacy skills.

The event drew 32 student teams from across the country, including law schools from the West, Gulf, and East coasts—as well as inland institutions such as the University of New Mexico School of Law. Notable participating schools included the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and the University of Michigan Law School. Rounds were judged by federal and state judges, leaders of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, and distinguished professors in admiralty law.

RWU Law’s 3L team—Isaac Berlau, Rafael Rodriguez, and Michael Pluhowski—earned a perfect 3-0 record in the preliminary rounds, advanced to the quarterfinals, and received the Second-Best Team Oral Advocacy Award. The 2L team—Kaely Larkin, Max Schapfel, and Caroline Stanton Chlaupek—posted a 2-1 record and was awarded Best Brief, while Caroline Stanton Chlaupek earned individual honors as Best Oral Advocate.

“For the brief, the students—without any help—had to master issues of admiralty and federalism that have been troubling the bar, courts, and scholars for over 100 years,” said Professor Gutoff. “For the oral argument, students practiced twice a week and were mooted by numerous alumni and faculty members, all of whom were incredibly generous with their time.”

The teams’ achievements reflect the strength of RWU Law’s maritime and admiralty curriculum, as well as the school’s continued focus on experiential learning and legal writing excellence.