Law Student Writing Awards Program

The IIC sponsors an annual competition for full-time undergraduate students in Canadian Law Schools. The purpose of the IIC Law Student Writing Awards Program is to stimulate interest among law students in the research and development of papers based on corporate insolvency and restructuring topics and to recognize outstanding achievements in this endeavour.   

The awards program allows undergraduate students to research insolvency issues, develop ideas, and bring proposals for reform to the attention of the business and legal community.

Winning papers from past years are available by request.

Congratulations to the 2024 Award Winners!

The IIC Board of Directors and the Judges Panel are pleased to announce the following student winners of the IIC 2024 Law Student Writing Awards:

Sean Kimak
First Place - $7,500

University of Calgary
Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Jassmine Girgis
Paper: Tantalaus & Mandamus: Exploring Possible Justifications for Mandamus Relief in Insolvency Proceedings and Whether Jurisdiction Exists to Grant It

Sean will be a guest of honour at the Saturday Awards Dinner at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, in Scottsdale, AZ on September 29, 2024, where he will be presented his prize and recognized for his outstanding accomplishment. He will be joined by his faculty sponsor, Prof. Jassmine Girgis.

Ambreena Ladhani
Second Place - $5,000

Queen's University
Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Kevin McElcheran
Paper: The Exception Should Prove the Rule: Rethinking Corporate Attribution in Bankruptcy and Insolvency Law

Liam Byrne
Third Place - $2,500

University of British Columbia
Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Aminollah Sabzevari
Paper: Petrowest, Paramountcy and the Single Proceeding Model

Congratulations to Sean, Ambreena and Liam on their accomplishment!  Thank you to all the students who submitted their excellent papers for all their hard work, and to the faculty sponsors for their support of their students and the IIC Law Student Writing Awards Program. Information on the 2025 Law Student Writing Awards will be posted on the website in the coming weeks.

Thank you to the members of the Judging Panel for their hard work and dedication to the process.

IIC 2024-2025 Law Student Writing Awards - Opening Soon!

First, second and third prizes of $7,500, $5,000, and $2,500 will be awarded.  Judging of the papers submitted this year is underway and will be announced in September 2024!

Both the first-place winner and their faculty sponsor will be invited guests at the 2024 IIC Conference which will be held in September in Halifax, NS. Complimentary conference registration (including accommodations) and travel costs will be provided.

If a co-authored paper is selected for first place, the division of the prize and the reimbursed travel costs will be entirely at the discretion of the winners.

Eligibility

• The competition is open to law students in full-time undergraduate law programs at Canadian universities. Entries may be submitted in English or French.
• Each student is limited to one entry. There is no limit to the number of entries that may be submitted from one university, but each paper must bear the endorsement of a law faculty member.
• Papers must be no longer than 3,000 words (exclusive of footnotes) and must be typed. Papers may be jointly written.

• Papers must be submitted electronically to the Executive Director at the email provided in the entry form by the deadline.
• The paper must be focused on restructuring in an insolvency context.