Coaching Staff

Head Coaches

christopher doran, esq. (J.D.) 

This is Chris Doran’s thirteenth year coaching for ASU. During this time, the program has advanced out of Regionals every year except one, and has advanced to Nationals twice. Before becoming a coach, Chris competed in collegiate mock trial for all four years of college with Arizona State University. Chris went on to college at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, where he continued to compete in internal and external moot court, mediation, and mock trial competitions. Chris graduated from law school with various 1st place victories, a member of the exclusive Order of the Barristers, and as the top moot court / mock trial law student of his graduating class by receiving the Janet S. Mueller Oral Advocacy Award.Chris’s passion is in the courtroom, and speaking up for those who need a voice. Mr. Doran is a licensed attorney in Arizona at his own law firm, Doran Justice, PLLC.  He primarily handles criminal defense felony and misdemeanor cases, but he also practices in the areas of personal injury and family law. He is a strong believer in effective trial advocacy techniques and staying active with volunteer (pro bono) work. Chris recognizes that he (and many of us) are extremely fortunate for many of our blessings, and it is a moral duty to help others by giving back to the community.  Specifically, Mr. Doran has a soft spot in his heart for the homeless community and collegiate mock trial. When he is not on the clock, he volunteers his time providing free legal services at homeless shelters to individuals in need and coaching Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Mock Trial Team.

Tyler schwenke (j.D.)

Tyler graduated from the University of Arizona in 2016, where he competed on the undergraduate mock trial team. The following year, Tyler began coaching Sun Devil Mock Trial after moving to Phoenix to attend Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. During law school, Tyler competed on the Trial Team and was a member of the Moot Court Board. When Tyler graduated, he was selected as a member of the Order of the Barristers, a national honor society limited to individuals who demonstrate exceptional skill in trial advocacy, oral advocacy, and brief writing. Tyler also received the Pro Bono Service Achievement Award with the highest distinction.

Tyler currently works as a litigation associate at Jennings Haug Keleher McLeod Waterfall. Tyler represents both plaintiffs and defendants in various forms of litigation, including medical malpractice, personal injury and wrongful death, as well as financial and securities litigation. In 2023, Tyler attended the Arizona State Bar College of Trial Advocacy, and has since been asked to serve as a faculty member for the College of Trial Advocacy.

Tyler believes that much of his success comes from the incredible cast of role models and coaches that he has had in his life. Tyler coaches SDMT in hopes of providing to the students what his mentors gave to him.

“Be sincere, not serious” – Alan Watts

Assistant Coaches

Dana Brudvig

This is Dana’s sixth year coaching for ASU. Dana has been proud to watch her teams earn bids to the Opening Round Championship Series every year thus far. She is looking forward to the growth & success SDMT will experience during the 2024–2025 season!  

Dana was born and raised in Wisconsin. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.M. in Music Performance (Opera). She then attended the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she fell in love with The Bluebook as a law review editor, and also competed in mock trial and moot court. Since graduating from law school in 2015, Dana has worked as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice.

After law school, Dana lived and worked in Miami, Florida for two years before moving to Arizona. Dana lives in Tempe with her two rescue dogs and a kitten (now cat) that she found under the hood of a car. Her hobbies include cycling, fishing, listening to nonfiction audiobooks, and learning how to xeriscape her yard.

“Spaceships don’t come equipped with rearview mirrors.”-  André Lauren Benjamin

eddie lai

edward joseph nolan

Edward Joseph Nolan has been coaching SDMT for five chaotic years now. While not an attorney, Edward is an SDMT alumnus, competing for five years while also holding the offices of Treasurer and President. 

Edward is a molecular biologist by education and trade, but has since pivoted and is now training to be an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He is excited to lend a hand remotely whenever he has the chance. 

“You know you’ve made it in life when someone assassinates a rival in your name, and you didn’t even have to ask.” – Chinua Achebe, from the book, Man of the People

Madison Van Natter (j.d)

Madison is in her fourth year of coaching for SDMT. Prior to getting involved with SDMT, Madison was a mocker at Michigan State University winning several individual and team awards over her four years of competition. Madison also started the Undergraduate Moot Court Team for Michigan State which she competed in and helped teach. In 2021, Madison moved to Arizona to start law school and immediately got involved with SDMT. Madison has been able to help every team she has coached advance out of regionals since starting as a coach in SDMT. 

In 2024, Madison graduated from Sandra Day O’Connor of Law (ASU Law) with her Juris Doctorate. As a student at ASU Law, Madison was involved with the Trial Team where she competed in several mock trial competitions, winning awards such as best overall advocate, and was able to lead the program as their President. Madison was also the recipient of the Janet S. Muller Oral Advocacy Award from ASU Law, which recognizes one student every year as the top oral advocate of their class. Additionally, Madison graduated as part of the Order of the Barristers which recognizes the top twelve students in trial advocacy.  Currently, she is working at Doran Justice, PLLC and has been enjoying her time at the firm. She is excited to continue to work with the students and help them grow in their individual talents for trial advocacy!

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King Jr. 

Chris Shanley

Chris is an associate attorney with Quarles & Brady in their Phoenix office. His practice focuses on securities litigation, corporate malfeasance, and appeals. In his first year of practice, Chris was nominated and selected for the Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” list. His work has ranged from negotiating settlements, to preparing for oral argument before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on a $3 million lawsuit.

Chris attended the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where he was selected into the Order of the Coif and the Order of Barristers, a national honor society for those who demonstrate exceptional trial advocacy. Before law school, Chris attended Michigan State University, where he competed in mock trial and moot court. His mock trial teams made it to ORCS in every year of competition, and in his time doing moot court, Chris won multiple awards and even placed 20th in the nation at the 2020 National Championship.

Outside of work and mock trial, Chris can be found on the nearest golf course or sat on his couch on Sundays watching NFL Redzone. One day, Chris hopes to compete in a U.S. Open qualifier. He is also an avid Michigan State sports fan and can be found watching every single Michigan State basketball game. He once even camped out for 14 hours in sub-freezing temperatures to sit front row to watch Michigan State take on Duke at the Breslin Center.

Chris credits a lot of his success as an attorney to his time in mock trial and the friends he’s made along the way. After last season’s historic two-bid Nationals run, Chris is hoping to make that a trend and get two teams back to the NCT field this year.

“I don’t have dreams, I have goals.” – Harvey Specter, Suits

Parker dippel

Asha Mahajani

Asha Mahajani is going into her fourth year of coaching with Sun Devil Mock Trial. Asha first became involved with SDMT as a competitor, where she frequently worked with expert witnesses. Asha’s hard work would go on to earn her both the All-Regional Witness and the All-Regional Attorney awards. After competing for four years, Asha began working as a coach for the program. Asha uses her experience in undergraduate mock trial to help teach competitors to remain calm and confident, bringing out their best performances in the courtroom.

During her time at Arizona State University, Asha earned her undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering. She now works as a process engineer where she designs semiconductor manufacturing facilities. In her free time, you can find Asha reading sci-fi and fantasy books.

“The most important step a [person] can take. It’s not the first one, is it? It’s the next one. Always the next step.” – Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

leena darwish

dheeti deliwala

Dheeti Deliwala has been with Sun Devil Mock Trial since 2019. She first competed with the program for all four years of undergrad, trying every witness type and attorney role possible. By experiencing all roles, Dheeti was able to find her specialty as an Opener, as well as an occasionally-accented character witness. SDMT taught Dheeti how to advocate for herself and hold confidence in a competitive environment. This will be Dheeti’s second year of coaching, and she cannot wait to share her love for mock trial with our new competitors. 

Dheeti spends her time outside mock trial preparing for graduate school. Dheeti’s commitment to furthering her education is also demonstrated in her pursuits to learn Japanese and Italian. You can find Dheeti outside running as she prepares for her first half marathon with her favorite running buddy, her dog. 

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Unknown

Jackson Manship

Adam scarborough

Adam Scarborough has been with SDMT for the past seven years. Adam was a competitor for four years before graduating in 2023 with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice. During his time in undergraduate mock trial, Adam found joy in finding his own unique voice in the courtroom, and now works as a coach helping competitors find theirs. Adam is going into his third year of coaching with SDMT and is beginning his first year of law school this fall. Adam is a 2L at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.

As a Houston, Texas native, you can always find Adam rooting for the Houston Rockets. In his free time, Adam enjoys going to the gym, challenging other SDMT members to games of chess, and watching reality television. 

“Fortune favors the bold.” – Virgil

LORENA IVAN ANANIEVA

Lorena Ananieva is an ASU alumni with undergraduate degrees in Supply Chain Management and Economics. She is a 2L at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and this is her second year coaching SDMT! Her passion for mock trial began in high school and continued through her four years of undergrad. In her time as an SDMT competitor, she served as a captain of several teams, competed at ORCS, and earned All-Regional Attorney and Witness awards– which her cat, Oatmeal, has a habit of chewing on in his free time. Professionally, she currently works as a purchasing contract analyst at SRP and functions as the procurement departments’s sustainability subject matter expert. Prior to SRP, Lorena was a senior strategic buyer at Raytheon, purchasing things as small as screws to injection molding equipment!

In her personal life, aside from constantly trying to keep Oatmeal entertained, Lorena is a certified figure skating coach with almost 18 years of skating experience under her belt. She loves rock climbing and crafting.

“It’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world.” – Dolly Parton

riley brock

Maya Morken

Zacarias valencia

Zacarias Valencia will be going into his first year as a coach for the 2024-25 season. Before graduating from Arizona State University in 2024, Zacarias competed with Sun Devil Mock Trial for three years. He competed as an attorney and a witness, and he was also a captain during his time in undergrad. Using the knowledge he learned from his time as a competitor, Zacarias is excited to help the program on its journey to Nationals! 

Zacarias currently works for Beus O’Connor McGroder law firm as he prepares to apply to law school next Fall. Over this gap year, Zacarias will be studying for the LSAT. Going into this competitive season, Zacarias is excited to meet new competitors, show them the ropes of mock trial, and help SDMT be the best it can be.

“Somebody has to start. Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right.” – The Way of Kings