Moot Court
Year 2015: Where is the Corporate Travel Manager?

What is a Moot Court?

The Moot Court is a recreation of the trial process originally used by law schools around the world as a means to teach law students the art of advocacy. The process is modeled after appellate advocacy, where attorneys prepare presentations and are questioned by judges (rather than the standard interrogatory process of a trial). In the moot court process, attorneys from each side receive a case in advance, research and prepare their argument, and then present their argument to the panel of judges. Like an appellate proceeding, the Moot Court experience is often challenging and unnerving for advocates, as the advocates must concentrate on presenting their arguments while facing constant interruption by judges asking difficult questions.

Will you have a job in 2015?

This question directed at corporate travel managers in attendance was under examination and debate during the Moot Court at ACTE Global Education Conference in Atlanta.  Through the moot court exercise, two distinguished industry professionals, trained as attorneys advocated each side related to the future viability of the role of corporate travel manager. They were supported by expert witnesses who provided compelling testimony for each side. On the witness stand arguments were made related to whether the role of travel manager would continue to deliver a unique and irreplaceable value.  In the end the verdict was split among the three magistrates who heard the arguments and rendered an equivocal decision, and thus setting the stage for the continuing discussion on this thorny question.

Moderator:
Keith Taylor
Senior Vice President
TQ3 Travel Solutions

Tom Lacny, Esq.
Advocate for Respondent
Sr. VP Global Markets
HRG North America

Tom Wilkinson, Esq.
Advocate for Petitioner
President, TRW Travel Consulting, LLC

Witnesses for Petitioner:

John Guarneri
Global Travel Manger
Philips International B.V.

Lea McLeod,
Director of Global Travel & Meeting Services
Hewlett-Packard Company

Witnesses for Respondent:

Tony D’Astolfo
Vice President, Travel Services
Rearden Commerce

Harriet Washburn
Global Services Delivery Manger
IBM Consulting Services

Magistrates:

Ian Flint (Chief Magistrate)
Consultant
Ian Flint & Associates, UK

David Meyer
Editor in Chief
Business Travel News

Mark Walton
Principal
Consulting Strategies