ELP is proud to introduce our 2017-2018 International Environmental Moot Court Team: Natalie Moreland (’18), Karen Smith (’18), Kevin Morris (’19).

The team will submit a memorial in the North American Regional competition, with the goal of advancing to oral arguments in the Final Round. The Finals will be hosted by the Stetson University College of Law (Gulfport, FL) in March 2018. The team will be addressing a problem related to responses to highly pathogenic avian flu and transboundary wetlands. Meet the team below!

Natalie Moreland (’18)

Natalie is a third-year law student and is pursuing a certificate in Environmental Law. This will be her second year participating as a member of the International Environmental Law Moot Court team. Natalie is also involved on campus as the Executive Editor of the University of Hawaii Law Review, the Teaching Assistant for Contracts, a Research Assistant for Professor Freeman, and a wide receiver for the law school’s Ete flag football team.

Natalie joined IELMC to gain oral advocacy experience and learn more about international environmental law. This year, she hopes to continue building her written and oral advocacy skills and lead the team to the final rounds of the competition (and win!). She looks forward to working with Karen and Kevin this year and is excited to see what the team can accomplish.

Karen Smith (’18)

Karen grew up in Hawaii and Tennessee, attended the United States Naval Academy from 2006-2010, and moved back to Hawaii following graduation in 2010. She is currently an active duty Navy Lieutenant transitioning into the JAG Corps. She has one son, Sebastián (Bash) who is 16 months old.

Karen joined IELMC to gain additional experience in both the international and environmental areas of law. She wants to continue developing her writing style and technique and continue to develop her public speaking skills.

Kevin Morris (’19)

Kevin is originally from Southern California and is a veteran of the US Coast Guard where he conducted many fisheries patrols throughout the Pacific, as well as working at the Search and Rescue Command Center in Honolulu. After separating from the USCG, Kevin graduated in 2016 with a BA in Geography and a Certificate from the Marine Option Program at UH Manoa where he focused on maritime policies and seafood sustainability. 

Kevin joined the IELMC team because of its outstanding reputation for success, as well as the ability to improve his oral advocacy skills and learn a great deal more about the complexities of environmental law on the international level vis a vis dispute resolutions and policy making.  

We wish our team good luck on this year’s competition!