White Plains, N.Y., August 4, 2004 -- Pace University Law School’s competitive negotiation team led the United States to a second place finish in the International Negotiation Competition held July 7 through 10 in Paris, France. Michael Maggi ’04 and Robert Stout ’05 competed against 14 other teams representing, among others, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, India, New Zealand and Canada. First place went to the team from Denmark.

Chair of the International Negotiation Competition Organizing Committee and Creighton University professor Larry L. Teply said, “In the years ahead, there is no doubt that we will live in an even more global environment than today. In such an environment, the value of international negotiating skills will only increase. The International Negotiation Competition gives the students the opportunity to hone those skills in a unique way.”

The International Negotiation Competition is a law student competition in which opposing teams of students, representing a party or client, negotiate either an international transaction or the resolution of an international dispute. This year’s competitors represented various parties in a simulated international entertainment contract. Pace successfully represented the producers against India, Great Britain and Hong Kong. The team was able to reach an agreement with favorable terms in each round.

A panel of three judges, drawn from around the world, as well as members of the bar in the locality in which the competition is held, judged the teams on their apparent preparedness; their flexibility in deviating from plans or adapting a strategy; the outcome of the negotiation as it relates to serving the client’s interests; teamwork; relationship between the negotiating teams; ethics; and self-analysis.

Faculty advisor Louis V. Fasulo, a 1983 Pace Law graduate who directs the Trial Advocacy and Moot Court programs at Pace Law School, said, “This was a great opportunity for our students to compete on an international level and to display their intellect as well as strategy in negotiating this entertainment contract. Their effort helped to catapult the reputation of Pace Law School as a preeminent educator of lawyering skills.”

The Republic of Ireland is set to host the 2005 competition. An internal competition will be held in the fall to select Pace Law’s regional representatives, who will then go on to compete in the American Bar Association’s negotiation competition. Maggi and Stout will be honored at the school for their second-place finish this fall. 

Founded in 1976, Pace Law School is a New York Law School with a suburban campus in White Plains, N.Y., 20 miles north of New York City. Part of Pace University, the school offers the J.D. program for full-time and part-time day and evening students. Its postgraduate program includes the LL.M. and S.J.D. degrees in Environmental Law and an LL.M. in Comparative Legal Studies. Pace has one of the nation's top-rated Environmental Law programs and its Clinical Education program also is nationally ranked, offering clinics in domestic violence prosecution, environmental law, securities arbitration, criminal justice and disability rights. www.law.pace.edu 

Pace is a comprehensive, independent university with campuses in New York City, Pleasantville and White Plains, N.Y., and a Hudson Valley Center at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, N.Y. More than 14,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lubin School of Business, School of Computer Science and Information Systems, School of Education, Lienhard School of Nursing and Pace Law School. www.pace.edu