Transactional Negotiation Team

The Transactional Negotiation Team is a growing program that in 2012-13 enters its third year offering students a “moot court-like” experience in a transactional setting. 

Team members are given a complex business problem and, after research and analysis, develop a strategy for representing their client in the matter. They draft a term sheet presenting their client’s proposal for completing the transaction, then review and respond to term sheets prepared by the students representing the other side of the prospective deal. 

The students then face off over several weeks in a round-robin negotiation competition that is judged by practicing transactional lawyers who offer feedback and mentoring to the competing students. The judges address not only the negotiating style and technique each team member uses, but also the substance of the deal strategy the student employs. 

As a result of the judges’ comments and the students’ personal assessment of the effectiveness of their efforts on behalf of their clients, the students revise their term sheets and re-circulate them for comment and response prior to the commencement of a single elimination tournament, also judged by experienced transactional lawyers. The finals of the tournament are held at the end of the semester in association with a reception for students considering or participating in the Corporate Law Concentration.

The 2012 Finals were judged by seven alumni and others who practice transactional law. The judges, as well as all the team members, their friends and family, business law faculty and representatives of the dean’s office, all participated in the reception, which included the introduction of all the team members and an award ceremony for the winner of the Finals.

The Transactional Negotiation Team is a one-unit, pass/fail activity offered in the spring semester. An informational meeting for interested students will be held in September in order to allow students to consider the team prior to spring semester registration.  Business Planning I is a prerequisite to participation on the team. For spring 2013, Mergers & Acquisitions also must be taken prior to or concurrently with participation on the team.

Questions about the Transactional Negotiation Team should be directed to Business Law Practicum Director Dana Warren at dana.m.warren@lls.edu.