The Gale Cup, which is being renamed the Lenczner Slaght-CBA Gale Cup Moot, was founded in 1974 to provide top law students across the country the chance to argue a Constitutional law case before three judge panels hearing an appeal from the Supreme Court of Canada. Judges from across Canada make up the judging panels. The 2011 Gale finalist panel was made up of Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Kathryn Feldman and Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Nicole Duval Hesler.

“The Gale Cup Moot is one of Canada’s premiere advocacy events which we are delighted to support,” said Peter Griffin, Lenczner Slaght’s managing partner. “The development of young advocates is a key element of our firm culture. Extending our support to developing advocacy excellence in the law student community is both a natural and exciting opportunity for us.”

“The future of the legal profession rests with our law students and young lawyers,” says John Hoyles, chief executive officer of the Canadian Bar Association. “The CBA is proud to support the world-renowned, bilingual Gale Cup and to encourage engagement by law students across the country.”

The 2012 Lenczner Slaght-CBA Gale Cup Moot will be held at Osgoode Hall in Toronto Feb. 24-25. In addition to the Gale Cup and other team and individual awards, the McLachlin Prize will be awarded to the best female mooter. Supreme Court Justice Thomas Cromwell will deliver the after dinner keynote address at the gala awards banquet and will also preside over the 2012 finalist judging panel, with the remaining members announced in January.

This year’s case is R. v. Sinclair, 2010 SCC 35, [2010] 2 S.C.R. 310, the leading Charter decision on the rights of an accused to have counsel present, or to make repeated calls to counsel, while being questioned by police. Sinclair split the Supreme Court of Canada 5-3 and resulted in two dissenting opinions.

The Gale is one of Canada’s highest-profile litigation competitions and students taking part are permitted to moot in either English or French with simultaneous translation provided for oral arguments.

Canadian law schools fielding teams this year are Dalhousie University, Osgoode Hall Law School, Queen’s University, Université de Moncton, Université de Montréal, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of New Brunswick, University of Saskatchewan, University of Toronto, University of Victoria, University of Western Ontario and University of Windsor.

Full details are available at www.galecupmoot.com.

About Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP

Lenczner Slaght is widely recognized as Canada’s leading litigation practice. The firm has successfully represented clients’ interests in complex, high profile cases across the country. Lenczner Slaght’s lawyers are distinguished by their depth of courtroom experience, appearing regularly at all levels of the federal and provincial courts and before professional and regulatory tribunals, as well as in mediation and arbitration proceedings. The firm is also known for its wealth of talent: the firm’s partners, ranked among the best of their peers nationally, lead a recruitment and mentoring program that attracts gifted litigators who are committed to upholding the highest professional standards. From commercial disputes, class actions and cross-border disputes to administrative law and professional regulation, Lenczner Slaght brings expert strategy and tactics – backed by rigorous research, skilled data management and solid administrative support – to demanding cases in all areas of litigation.

About the Canadian Bar Association

The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) is dedicated to supporting the rule of law, protecting the core values of the legal profession and improving the administration of justice, in Canada and around the world. With approximately 38,000 members including lawyers, law teachers and law students across Canada, and offices in each Province and Territory, the CBA enhances the influence of the profession by providing a platform to showcase talents through participation in legislative and legal reform. In its leadership role, the CBA serves the business interests of lawyers through the delivery of accredited Professional Development programs and as voice and advocate for the legal profession.