The Canadian National Negotiation Competition (CNNC) recently brought together law students from across the nation at Windsor Law on 7-8 March 2025. We are pleased to announce that two of our associates, Amanda Mustapha and Jacqueline Staley, participated as judges in this highly respected event that focuses on developing crucial negotiation skills in future legal professionals.
What Is the Canadian National Negotiation Competition?
The CNNC serves as an essential training ground for law students to hone their negotiation abilities outside traditional courtroom advocacy. Unlike most competitive moots that emphasise appellate advocacy, this event places students in realistic negotiation scenarios, challenging them to find solutions to complex problems in both bilateral and multi-party settings. A moot, for those unfamiliar with legal education, is a simulated court proceeding where law students present oral arguments before a panel acting as judges, mimicking real appellate court cases.
This year’s competition featured a timely focus on housing policy—one of Canada’s most pressing challenges. Participants engaged with complex issues requiring environmental, racial, Indigenous, gender, and disability justice perspectives. The competition underscored how skilled negotiation, rather than litigation, often drives effective housing policy solutions.
Windsor Personal Injury Lawyers Served as Competition Judges
Amanda, an associate lawyer at our firm who previously competed in the CNNC, served as a judge for the English stream of the competition. Her first-hand experience as a former competitor provided valuable insights to current participants.
Jacqueline, also an associate lawyer at our firm contributed her expertise by judging the French stream, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to legal excellence in both official languages.
The judging panels featured diverse expertise, including professors, practising lawyers, and sitting judges from across Ontario. This varied composition ensured participants received comprehensive feedback from multiple legal perspectives.
How the CNNC Prepares Future Legal Negotiations
Founded in 2017, the CNNC has grown to attract participation from law schools throughout Canada, including the University of Windsor, University of Toronto, McGill University, and many others. The competition features both English and French streams, creating unique cross-cultural learning opportunities.
The structure of this competition ensures continuous improvement through self-reflection and quality feedback. Each team participates in three rounds of realistic negotiation scenarios, receiving constructive criticism from experienced judges after each session.
Why Negotiation Skills Matter in Personal Injury Law
At Greg Monforton & Partners, we are proud of our associates’ contributions to this important educational initiative.
The negotiation expertise fostered through events like the CNNC supports what lawyers need as part of their comprehensive legal skillset, enhancing our ability to achieve optimal results for clients while working alongside our litigation expertise.