Widener Law celebrates its 25th-annual national interscholastic moot court competition this week as the school hosts students from 19 law schools for the event beginning Thursday.<br><br>The much-anticipated <a href="/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/MootCourtHonorSocietyDelaware.aspx">Ruby R. Vale Interschool Corporate Moot Court Competition</a> runs four days on the school’s Delaware campus.<br><br>Widener welcomes students from the following schools:<br><div style="text-align: center; margin: 15px;">
Brooklyn Law School<br>
Capital University Law School<br>
Florida State University College of Law<br>
Georgetown Law Center<br>
Louisiana State University<br>
Marquette University Law School<br>
Mercer University School of Law<br>
Michigan State University College of Law<br>
New York Law School<br>
Seton Hall University<br>
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law<br>
University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law<br>
University of North Carolina School of Law<br>
University of New Hampshire School of Law<br>
University of Wisconsin<br>
Tulane University Law School<br>
Villanova Law School<br>
William &amp; Mary Law School<br>
William Mitchell College of Law<br>
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<img width="235" height="200" alt="2013RubyValePromo235px" src="/site/files/oldnewsfiles/2013RubyValePromo235px.jpg" class="FloatRight">The competition introduces participants to the cutting edge of corporate law, an experience Widener is uniquely positioned to provide as Delaware’s law school. The school draws on the resources of its <a href="/Academics/Institutes/InstituteofDelawareCorporateandBusinessLaw.aspx">Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law</a>, and on the depth of the state’s distinguished corporate legal community, to provide an unparalleled experience for the law students who travel here to compete. The event is hosted by Widener Law’s <a href="/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/MootCourtHonorSocietyDelaware.aspx">Moot Court Honor Society</a> under the direction of the society’s executive board and competition chairperson Ryan Cox.<br><br>The Distinguished Scholar Lecture is an integral part of the competition and the society is honored to have as this year’s speaker Senior U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff of the Southern District of New York. Judge Rakoff is co-author of five books, more than 115 published articles, and more than 1,100 judicial opinions. He also teaches courses at Columbia Law School on white collar crime, class actions the interplay of civil and criminal litigation, and science and the courts.<br><br>Judge Rakoff will deliver a speech titled, “The International Commercial Court of Iraq: A Study in Heroism,” on Friday, March 15 at 4 p.m. in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom in the Main Law Building. All are welcome.<br><br>Associate Professor <a href="/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/ReganPaulL.aspx">Paul L. Regan</a>, associate director of Widener’s Institute of Delaware Corporate &amp; Business Law, authored this year’s competition problem. It presents two major legal questions. First, it examines the question of the permissible limits of a “don’t ask/don’t waive” provision in a merger agreement that prevents an unsuccessful bidder in a corporate auction process from making a subsequent competing bid, or even requesting a waiver of that prohibition, once the selling corporation selects the winner of the auction.  The second issue involves the determination of the applicable standard for judicial review when a controlling stockholder may be motivated by liquidity considerations not shared with stockholders generally.  These two issues have cropped up in a number of recent decisions by the Delaware Court of Chancery, but have not yet been squarely addressed by the Delaware Supreme Court.<br><br>“Now in its 25th year, the Ruby R. Vale Interschool Corporate Moot Court Competition draws some of the best and brightest students to compete in a premier corporate law moot court competition.  Delaware's reputation as the corporate hub makes this competition a unique opportunity for students with an interest in Delaware corporate law,” Cox said. “Our competition would not be possible without the generous support of the Delaware legal community as well as the alumni, faculty and Widener Law student body. This year, we are excited to host competitors from 19 law schools from around the country as they compete before some of the most pre-eminent members of the Delaware legal community.  We sincerely hope that this competition stands as a tribute to the memory of its namesake, Mr. Ruby R. Vale."<br><br>The final competition round will be judged by Judge Rakoff, Delaware Supreme Court Justice Jack B. Jacobs and retired Justice Joseph T. Walsh, and Delaware Court of Chancery Vice Chancellors J. Travis Laster and Sam Glasscock III.<br><br>The competition is named for Ruby R. Vale, who lived in Milford, Del. and practiced law in Philadelphia. He was a well-respected corporate practitioner and a prolific writer who penned law review articles, books about legal philosophy, justice and the foundations of society. He is best remembered for his multi-volume work, “Vale's Pennsylvania Digest.” Vale died in 1961. <br><br>“The law school is grateful to the Vale family and for the opportunities their generosity has made possible, such as this national competition,” Law Dean <a href="/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx">Linda L. Ammons</a> said.