2L Team Wins National Tax Law Challenge

Thomas Boland ’20 and Jordan Fruchter ’20 took home the championship for Albany Law School at the 18th Annual Law Student Tax Law Challenge, a high-profile national competition held in January at the ABA Tax Section Midyear Meeting in New Orleans. The only 2L team in the finals, Boland and Fruchter—coached by Professor Danshera Cords—went up against competitors from Georgetown Law, Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, University of Memphis School of Law, and University of New Mexico School of Law.

Boland and Fruchter joined rare company—past winners have gone on to become U.S. Tax Court clerks and partners in well-known tax departments. “The hard work they put in researching, writing, practicing, and competing is inspiring,” Cords said. “I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with Thomas and Jordan. They have very much earned this honor.”

Their win was the high point in a great year overall for Albany Law School’s travel teams. After winning regionals, Elizabeth Doerr ’20 and Charlene Joseph ’20 flew to Chicago to represent Albany Law School at the national finals of the ABA Negotiation Competition. Earlier, Jay Kindlon ’20, Dannaliz Mieses ’18, and Kieran Murphy ’20 advanced to the final round of NYSBA’s Judith S. Kaye Arbitration Competition in New York City, with Murphy winning the Judith S. Kaye Advocate Award.

Winners of the 2018-19 intraschool competitions were: Kyle Ishman ’20 and Jay Kindlon ’20 (Gabrielli Appellate Advocacy); Charlene Joseph ’20 and Catrina Young ’20 (Morse Client Counseling); Stephen Tomaro ’20 and Zena Zimmerglass ’20 (Morse Negotiations); and Julia Kosineski ’19 and Tara O’Donnell ’19 (McGovern Senior Prize Trials).