Brewer Foundation President Joins Northwestern University Counselor Advisory Board
June 17, 2025 — Brewer Foundation President Ian Shaw has been selected to join the Northwestern University Counselor Advisory Board (CAB), an initiative focused on supporting underrepresented student populations and guiding them through the college admissions process.
Hosted by Northwestern’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, CAB partners with high school counselors and college-access advocates to increase higher education opportunities for students facing systemic barriers. As a member of the program’s second cohort, Shaw will participate in a two-day program on Northwestern’s Evanston campus next spring, where he will collaborate with admissions staff and campus leaders.
In his role at the Brewer Foundation, Shaw oversees the Future Leaders Program (FLP), an academic and leadership development program serving more than 200 students, ages 12 to 18, from urban communities within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). The FLP provides year-round academic instruction, leadership training, and cultural enrichment to prepare its “future leaders” for success in college and beyond.
Currently, two FLP alumni from the Class of 2023—undergraduates Erica Salazar and Raul Lopez—are enrolled at Northwestern. They will be joined this fall by Lizbeth Ojeda, a 2025 FLP graduate.
“I’m excited to deepen the Brewer Foundation’s partnership with Northwestern University,” Shaw said. “Our commitment to expanding college access for FLP students advances the mission of Northwestern’s CAB initiative. One of the most rewarding aspects of the FLP experience is seeing our graduates go on to attend great universities such as Northwestern and realize their higher education aspirations.”
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Reports on North Allegheny High School Competing in IPPF Finals
May 8, 2025 — The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the North Allegheny High School speech and debate team beat out hundreds of other schools to make it as one of the top eight competitors in the 24th annual Brewer Foundation/NYU International Public Policy Forum Finals (IPPF) held May 3 in New York City.
“Reaching the world finals is incredibly difficult and requires being selected for the Round of 64 and then defeating teams from across the world in single-elimination bouts until reaching the top eight," said debate coach Dominic Moore. "This activity requires high-level research, writing and argumentation skills as each round’s essays are judged by experts.”
The Allegheny team included senior Kelly Tai, junior Samuel Xiao and sophomores Kaartic Muralidharan, Eric Peng and Aayushi Vardhan. The team placed as a Quarterfinalist and won $1,500.
“It’s not just a competition. It’s a proving ground for tomorrow’s policy thinkers and public voices,” said William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the IPPF.
Read more here.
Southlake Style Reports on IPPF Champion Carroll Senior High School Debate Team
May 6, 2025 — Southlake Style reports on Brewer Foundation/NYU International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) World Champion Carroll Senior High's victory in this year's debate competition.
The Dragons won first place at the 24th annual competition, held May 3 in New York. The team took home the “Brewer Cup” and the $10,000 grand prize.
Carroll's winning team of Tanya Kuriakose, Amber Lin, Nether Tummalapalli and Anushka Velala -- coached by Anthony Brown -- defeated DuPont Manual High School of Kentucky in the final round. Lin, a freshman, was awarded the John E. Sexton Award and a $1,000 prize for an exceptional performance during the final round.
William A. Brewer III, Brewer Foundation chairman and IPPF founder, said that "[Carroll] demonstrated a command of the topic and persuasive force that defines the art of advocacy. They earned their victory on a big stage, under the intense pressure of world-class intellectual competition."
He added, "The IPPF doesn't just build debaters -- it cultivates future leaders. At a time when civil discourse among those with opposing views seems nonexistent, this tournament annually engages students around the world in rigorous research, writing and oral advocacy on a topic of international importance."
Read more here.
Global Debate Champions Crowned: Carroll Senior High School Wins IPPF Title, $10,000 Prize
New York… May 3, 2025 – After eight months of fierce international competition, a team from Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas, has triumphed at the 24th annual Brewer Foundation / NYU International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) Finals — earning the coveted title of IPPF World Champion and a $10,000 grand prize from the Brewer Foundation.
The final debate, held Saturday, May 3, at the Harold Pratt House in Manhattan, concluded a journey that began in October 2024 with 283 teams from 26 countries and 30 U.S. states.
This year’s resolution challenged teams to weigh equity against intellectual property, with teams debating the topic: “Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over protecting intellectual property rights.”
From the original pool of 283 teams, 64 advanced into a rigorous single-elimination written debate tournament. The top eight — the “Elite Eight” — earned an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City as guests of the Brewer Foundation to engage in high-stakes, in-person debates before a panel of global experts.
The final debate was attended by more than 100 contest participants, NYU representatives, and professional staff from the Brewer law firm.
“This team demonstrated a command of the topic and persuasive force that defines the art of advocacy,” said William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the IPPF. “They earned their victory on a big stage, under the intense pressure of world-class intellectual competition.”
Brewer added, “The IPPF doesn’t just build debaters — it cultivates future leaders. At a time when civil discourse among those with opposing views seems nonexistent, this tournament annually engages students around the world in rigorous research, writing, and oral advocacy on a topic of international importance. By doing so, the IPPF equips them with the tools to lead, to question, and to speak with purpose. It’s not just a competition; it’s a proving ground for tomorrow’s policy thinkers and public voices.”
The winning team — coached by Anthony Brown and composed of students Tanya Kuriakose, Amber Lin, Nethra Tummalapalli, and Anushka Velala — bested top contenders in the quarterfinals and semifinals before defeating duPont Manual High School of Louisville, Kentucky, in the final round.
In addition to being named a world champion, debater Amber Lin, a freshman at Carroll Senior, was awarded the John E. Sexton Award and a $1,000 prize for exceptional performance during the Final Debate.
Additional Awards:
· Runner-Up: duPont Manual High School from Louisville, Kentucky ($5,000 prize)
· Sexton Award Winner: Amber Lin of Carroll Senior High School received the John E. Sexton Award and a $1,000 prize for exceptional performance during the Final Debate.
· Semifinalists: Blue Valley High School of Stilwell, Kanas, and Westwood High School of Austin, Texas ($3,000 each)
· Quarterfinalists: Alpha Co of La Cresenta, California; Kealakehe High School of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; North Allegheny Senior High School of Wexford, Pennsylvania; and Peak to Peak Charter School of Lafayette, Colorado ($1,500 each)
Judging Panel:
The proceedings were judged by a panel comprised of NYU President Emeritus John Sexton; Miha Andric, an international debate coach and Director of Education Center Argument based in Slovenia; Will Baker, Director of the NYU Global Debate Fund; Trey Smith, Executive Director of East Mountain High School; and Alex Pouille, Zone Europe Chief Financial Officer for Anheuser-Busch InBev. The debate moderator was David Baker, famed debate coach and Director of Admission & Financial Aid at St. Mark’s School of Texas.
About the IPPF and the Brewer Foundation:
The IPPF was founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation and is now jointly administered with New York University. The program is available to all high schools around the world – public and private – for free. The IPPF is endorsed by leading forensic agencies, such as the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, the International Debate Education Association, the Impact Coalition, Associated Leaders of Urban Debate Leagues, and the National Debate Coaches Association.
The Brewer Foundation is a private, non-profit organization funded by companies, individuals and the national litigation firm of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. With offices in New York and Dallas, the Foundation has achieved widespread recognition for its efforts to create, fund and manage a variety of educational outreach programs.
Texas Lawyer, Above The Law Report on Brewer Firm Boosting First-Year Associate Salaries to $300,000
April 29, 2025 — Texas Lawyer and Above The Law report that Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors announced it will raise first-year associate salaries to $300,000, effective Sept. 1, up from the current $250,000, "as the Dallas-founded trial boutique strives to take on more litigation under alternative billing arrangements."
Firm founder William A. Brewer III told Texas Lawyer the firm wants to hire creative, superstar first-year associates as the firm leverages the efficiency of AI to meet increased demand, as clients are increasingly focused on outcomes instead of hours.
"We don’t want to pound clients with lots of hours. What you want to get to is value," Brewer told Texas Lawyer. "We are desperately trying to flip the script and reduce our hourly fee business to 20% or a little lower and have most of our work be based on an alternative arrangement."
Read the Texas Lawyer article here and Above the Law here.
Brewer Foundation Celebrates Graduates of Its Future Leaders Program
April 28, 2025 – The Brewer Foundation honored its 2025 Future Leaders Program (FLP) graduates this weekend, celebrating a milestone achievement for 18 seniors, including two students awarded the prestigious QuestBridge National College Scholarship and one student awarded the Gates Scholarship.
Founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation, the FLP provides year-round academic courses, leadership training, and cultural enrichment to more than 150 Dallas Independent School District (DISD) students, ages 12 – 18, at no cost. Designed for students, many of whom are the first in their families to pursue college, the FLP prepares future leaders to succeed in school, excel in college, and become pillars of their community.
The 2025 FLP graduates were recognized in a special ceremony on Saturday, April 26, at the Episcopal School of Dallas, attended by FLP faculty, families, and professional staff from Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors.
“We created FLP to help promising students reach their full potential,” said William A. Brewer III, FLP founder and Brewer Foundation Chairman. “Seeing these students achieve this extraordinary graduation milestone is incredibly rewarding – proof that hard work and educational access can transform lives."
A Vision for Success
Students are selected for the FLP based on scholastic aptitude, civic engagement, and leadership potential. The curriculum supplements the education students receive at their home schools, with coursework that includes humanities, advanced mathematics, and psychology. Each class is co-taught by both a private school and public-school teacher — a unique collaboration designed to bring together diverse ideas and perspectives.
The program partners with DISD several of Dallas’ top private schools, including St. Mark’s School of Texas, The Hockaday School, Greenhill School, and the Episcopal School of Dallas.
Since 2009, FLP seniors have received more than $20 million in scholarship offers. FLP alumni are graduates of many elite colleges and universities, including New York University, Yale University, Northwestern University, Pomona College, The University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, and Texas Christian University.
2025 FLP Graduates
Maya Alvarez
Juan Cabellero
Marian Cuenca
Elizabeth Espinoza
Alfredo Fuente, QuestBridge Scholar
Estrella Garcia, Gates Scholar
Madison Johnson
Andres Juarez
Juan Leos-Reyna
Anaya Martinez
Jonathan Martinez
Isaac Molina, QuestBridge Scholar
Lizbeth Ojeda
Lindsey Rodriquez
Jazmine Salinas
Shruti Sharma
Evelyn Sida
Julissa Zuniga
Learn more about the QuestBridge National College Scholarship here.
Explore the Future Leaders Program here.
Support our mission to expand opportunity for promising students here.
International Public Policy Forum Announces Advancing “Sweet 16” Teams
February 24, 2025 – The Brewer Foundation and New York University recently announced the advancing "Sweet 16" teams competing in the 2024-25 International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) — the first and only debate contest that gives high school students the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
By advancing into the "Sweet 16" round, the teams remain eligible to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City, where the IPPF World Champion will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize. The 2024 – 25 IPPF topic resolution is: “Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over protecting intellectual property rights.”
"These teams dedicated months to analyzing a complex public policy issue and crafting written advocacy on both sides of the question," says William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the IPPF. "The upcoming round is pivotal, as it decides which teams earn the opportunity to travel to New York and face off in the ultimate test of oral advocacy.”
The advancing teams are:
AfterSkool Learning Centre from Singapore, Singapore
Akademeia High School from Warsaw, Poland
Alpha Co from La Crescenta, California
Alpharetta High School from Alpharetta, Georgia
Blue Valley High School from Stilwell, Kansas
Carroll Senior High School from Southlake, Texas
duPont Manual High School from Louisville, Kentucky
Ethos Academy from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Kealakehe Public High School from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
North Allegheny Senior High School from Wexford, Pennsylvania
Peak to Peak Charter School from Lafayette, Colorado
Rowland Hall from Salt Lake City, Utah
Slovak Debate Association from Bratislava, Slovakia
The Westminster Schools from Atlanta, Georgia
Westwood High School from Austin, Texas
William Mason High School from Mason, Ohio
The IPPF's 24th annual contest began in October 2024, when 283 teams representing schools in 26 countries submitted qualifying round essays affirming or negating the IPPF topic. A committee reviewed those essays and determined the “Round of 64” teams based on the overall quality of each 3,000-word essay.
In November, the “Round of 64” teams began a single-elimination, written debate tournament. Each team was assigned a position (affirmative or negative) and then volleyed papers back and forth with another team via email. A panel of judges reviewed the essays in the order they were presented and selected the advancing 32 teams, who then engaged in another round of debates against new opponents.
The "Sweet 16" round is now underway and will conclude in late March with the announcement of the advancing final eight teams. To learn more about the IPPF, click here.
San Antonio Express-News Reports on Local High School Advancing into the Top 32 Round of the IPPF
January 10, 2025 — The San Antonio Express-News today reported that a team of students from Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas, have advanced into the Top 32 round of the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) — a high school debate contest sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University.
By advancing, the team remains eligible to win a $10,000 grand prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City this May.
The report notes that the contest began in October, when 283 teams submitted qualifying round essays on the topic, "Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over intellectual property rights."
"We commend all the advancing teams for their achievement on this global stage," said William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the IPPF. "This is among the most complex and pressing issues on which our students have ever debated. As advocates, our law firm started this competition with a vision to promote what we see here — an extraordinary level of academic research, scholarship, and discourse."
The publication reports that the Brewer Foundation created the IPPF in 2001 to "inspire students to think critically and develop skills to make a broader impact. The competition went global in 2009 and today attracts thousands of high school debaters worldwide."
To read the full report, click here (subscription required).