Phillips Lytle LLP Attorney Nickolas Karavolas Participates as a Volunteer Judge in Justice Resource Center’s 2017 High School Mock Trial Competition

PHILLIPS LYTLE LLP ATTORNEY NICKOLAS KARAVOLAS PARTICIPATES AS A VOLUNTEER JUDGE IN JUSTICE RESOURCE CENTER’S 2017 HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION

New York, N.Y. – Phillips Lytle LLP Attorney Nickolas Karavolas participated as a volunteer judge in the Justice Resource Center’s 2017 High School Mock Trial Competition. Mr. Karavolas was a judge at the March 16th event between two Brooklyn high schools (Midwood High School and Xaverian High School) who faced each other in an elimination match at the U.S. District Courthouse for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn, New York.

The Justice Resource Center (JRC), in partnership with the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), provides high school students the opportunity to participate in a citywide Mock Trial competition, with the winning team moving to the state finals. Teams of eight or more students compete at least twice in a multiple-elimination round tournament. Schools are assigned a lawyer-coach, who works with the assigned teacher-coach from the school. The JRC has been running this tournament for 35 years. The State Finals are scheduled to take place in Albany in late May.

The program is an educational program designed to teach high school students basic trial skills, including direct and cross examinations, how to present opening and closing statements, how to think on their feet, and learn the dynamics of the courtroom. Students also learn how to analyze legal issues and apply the law to the facts of the case. Also, importantly, the students learn professionalism, which is a key focus of the program. Students learn ethics, civility, and how to be ardent but courteous advocates for their clients. Good sportsmanship and respect for all participants are central to the competition.

Mr. Karavolas practices in the area of bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, including representation of secured and unsecured creditors, indenture trustees, and committees. He has experience in various in-court and out-of-court financial restructurings. He also has experience in secured and asset-based financings as well as real estate commercial transactions. In addition, Mr. Karavolas has experience representing defendants in complex commercial litigation matters.