A New Champion and a New Challenge: McMaster University Wins the 2025 Osgoode Cup!
The results for the 2025 Osgoode Cup are in.
The 2025 Osgoode Cup continued the proud tradition of excellence, collegiality, and fierce advocacy that the tournament has come to embody over more than two decades. This year’s competition saw outstanding performances from schools across Canada, and McMaster University rose to the top — with Helen Wu and Mikayla Mifsud claiming the national championship.
Once again, we were thrilled to see a strong turnout of talented students, supportive coaches, and experienced judges, including many former Osgoode Cup competitors who have gone on to distinguished careers. Mooting veterans and first-time participants alike helped make this year’s tournament a memorable one.
Competitors tackled the challenging case of R v. Campbell, 2024 SCC 42, a recent Supreme Court of Canada decision dealing with critical questions of criminal procedure and Charter rights. Participants were tasked with appealing the decision to the fictional “Court of Osgoode Hall,” taking either the side of the appellant (seeking to overturn the decision) or the respondent (defending it).
In R. v. Campbell, 2024 SCC 42, the Supreme Court of Canada examined whether police actions violated Section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure. After arresting a known drug dealer and seizing his cellphone, police observed incoming text messages on the lock screen that appeared to arrange a drug transaction. Without obtaining a warrant, officers responded to these messages, impersonating the dealer, and coordinated a meeting with the sender. Dwayne Campbell arrived at the arranged location and was arrested in possession of heroin laced with fentanyl. Campbell argued that the warrantless search of the text messages infringed upon his Charter rights. While the Court acknowledged that Campbell had a reasonable expectation of privacy in his text communications, it concluded that the exigent circumstances—specifically, the immediate risk posed by the distribution of fentanyl—justified the warrantless search under Section 11(7) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Therefore, the appeal was dismissed, and the conviction upheld.
The undergraduate students took on this formidable test and handled it in an amazing way!
Every year, the Osgoode Cup organizing team selects a real Canadian decision to serve as the tournament case. Historically, cases have focused on high-profile criminal or constitutional law matters from the Supreme Court or Courts of Appeal across Canada. This year continued that tradition with a deeply relevant and timely criminal law issue.
We look forward to seeing who will take home the cup in the upcoming year!
Special Thanks
The 2025 Osgoode Cup would not have been possible without the support of our incredible judges, Board of Directors, 2024 Student Steering Committee, and our generous sponsors. A special thank you to all the competitors who demonstrated professionalism, advocacy, and collegiality throughout the weekend.
We look forward to seeing the continued success of this year’s participants and to welcoming a new cohort of talented mooters at the 2026 Osgoode Cup!
Missed the finals?
Don’t worry—you can watch the final round anytime at this link:
Watch the Finals
Tournament Photos
Browse moments captured throughout the event by iOptix Studio:
View the Gallery
Full press release coming, second day results are:
Round of 16
Ottawa – Katie & Qing
York – Noor Sethi & Guneet Kaur
Humber – Maria Rausch & Dion Desserre
McMaster – Esther Sowunmi & Selina Qiu
Wilfred Laurier – Jonathan Kagal & Jack Newby
Seneca – Jing Qian & Ruhi Kazmi
McMaster – Franco Salapare & Georgia Giorno
UofT – Arnav Bandekar & Ashvini Giridaran
Quarter Finalists
U of Western Ontario – Ethan & Megan
McMaster University – Arjun Thayaparan & Priyanka Patel
University of Guelph – Madison Culakovski & Alexandra Dudink
McMaster – Blossom Okoh & Nancy Mancino
Semi-Finalists
Wildren Laurier – Hailey & Griffin
UofT – Atrooba Shahid & Neha Gupta
Finalists
Western – Nolan Calderwood and Dylan Thompson
Champions
McMaster – Helen Wu & Mikayla Mifsud
Top Advocate: Helen Wu
Distinguished Oralists (in alphabetical order by first name)
Ashvini Giridaran |
Dylan Thompson |
Griffin Spylo |
Jack Newby |
Jonathan Kagal |
Maria Rausch |
Mikayla Mifsud |
Nolan Calderwood |
Ruhi Kazmi |