Adelaide Fitzgerald and Linda Yan Crowned Champions at 10th Anniversary of Baylor Law School’s The Closer Competition

Adelaide Fitzgerald of the University of Oregon School of Law and Linda Yan from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law took top honors at the 10th anniversary of Baylor Law School’s The Closer, a competition designed to simulate the real-world challenges of transactional law. From negotiating a complex deal under tight deadlines to integrating feedback in real time, competitors honed the skills that will serve them throughout their careers. Celebrating a decade of excellence, The Closer remains a one-of-a-kind experiential learning opportunity for law students nationwide.

Runners-up honors went to Samuel Lipman of Charleston School of Law and Seth Sloan of the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law. Parkman Speights of the University of Mississippi School of Law earned this year’s Professionalism Award, voted by fellow competitors to recognize integrity, respect, and exemplary conduct throughout the competition.

Final-round judges included Steve Bolden, Dean Bringe, Ashley Jackson, Jennifer Lindsey, Greg Looser, and Pat Souter, Of Counsel at Gray Reed, one of the competition’s sponsors. Reflecting on the event, Souter remarked, “The competition itself is, first and foremost, the best transactional competition in the nation. And it gets better every year. It’s an amazing experience.”

Fitzgerald described her experience, “It was so exciting to negotiate a transaction, which is what I’m actually going to be able to do in practice. The aspect of learning that can happen throughout each round made it super valuable. This is the best competition I’ve ever been in. It was amazing!” Yan added, “I love the format of this competition…being able to incorporate feedback right away and adapt my approach was astounding. To be one of the champions is beyond words.” When asked for feedback about the competition, she emphasized, “If a hundred out of 10 is okay, I would give it that. Baylor is so accommodating, the campus is beautiful, and every single person here is so genuine.”

Adelaide Fitzgerald was coached by Kristie Gibson of the University of Oregon School of Law, who praised the competition as “an excellent transactional competition. Students turn around in 24 hours from getting the deal file to negotiating with four different competitors, adapting, receiving feedback, and applying it to the next round—a really good way to help future practitioners hone their skills in a very real environment.”

This year’s competition centered on a fictional transaction between Magnolia, the Waco, Texas-based lifestyle brand founded by Chip and Joanna Gaines, and Lightstream Presents, an Austin, Texas-based music/event production company that not only produces events for others, but also owns several of its own venues, such as The Backyard in Waco. Magnolia and Lightstream exchanged drafts of an Event Production Services Agreement for a two-day music festival at Magnolia’s upcoming Spring at the Silos event in Waco, but key issues remained to be finalized. Handed the draft a mere 24 hours before negotiations began, competitors had to be prepared to negotiate and resolve significant differences over control, risk, and financial terms in the best interests of their ‘clients.’ Lightstream plans to invest heavily in the festival and seeks a long-term, financially secure agreement with strong control and revenue participation, while Magnolia prioritizes brand protection, oversight, and flexibility—highlighting a fundamental tension between risk and control that will define the final deal.

Professor of Law Beth Miller, the M. Stephen and Alyce A. Beard Chair in Business and Transactional Law, conceived and created The Closer a decade ago, and her vision and dedication have guided it every year. Reflecting upon her legacy, Greg Looser, Partner at Daniels & Tredennick, noted, “Beth set a high bar, believed in what we were capable of becoming, and modeled endurance, excellence, and true professionalism. What Beth has created is extraordinary, not just because of the competition’s national recognition, but because of its substance, rigor, and real-world impact.” Pat Souter added, “The Closer evolved over time from Beth’s initial vision of a transactional competition to being the prominent one in the nation. Simply stated, it couldn’t have happened without Beth’s endless efforts. Thank you for everything, your efforts, your commitment, and your expertise.”

Baylor Law School thanks all competitors, judges, alumni, and sponsors for making the 10th anniversary of The Closer an unforgettable success. The competition continues to provide invaluable, hands-on experience bridging the gap between law school and practice, preparing participants to excel in transactional law for years to come.

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW SINCERELY APPRECIATES THOSE WHO INVESTED IN THE CLOSER 2026:

UNDERWRITERS

• The Kim and Bill Shaddock Fund for Business and Entrepreneurial Initiatives at Baylor Law

SPONSORS

• Bunny & J. Michael Tibbals
• Gray Reed

SPECIAL THANKS

• Magnolia
• The Backyard Waco
• More than 40 transactional attorneys volunteered to serve as competition judges (see the complete list below).
• Baylor Law School faculty, staff, and students who contributed their time and talents to make the tenth anniversary of The Closer a success.

2026 COMPETITORS

The fourteen schools and students participating in The Closer 2026 were:

• Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School – Melvin Hernandez
• Charleston School of Law – Samuel Lipman
• Emory University School of Law – Shreya Chimpiri
• Indiana University Maurer School of Law – Christian Klamar
• Ohio State University Moritz College of Law – Alexis Hytrek
• Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law – Hernan Valles
• University of Denver Sturm College of Law – Linda Yan
• University of Houston Law Center – Joseph Leonardo
• University of Kansas School of Law – Karsen Adams
• University of Mississippi School of Law – Parkman Speights
• University of Oregon School of Law – Adelaide Fitzgerald
• University of San Diego School of Law – Coleman Fuquea
• University of Tennessee College of Law – Seth Sloan
• William & Mary Law School – Copper Quist

JUDGES SCORING THE FINAL ROUNDS WERE:

• Steve Bolden, Troutman Pepper Locke
• Dean Bringe, Comerica Bank
• Ashley Jackson, WAVE Ventures
• Jennifer Lindsey, Beard Kultgen Brophy Bostwick & Dickson, PLLC
• Greg Looser, Daniels & Tredennick PLLC
• Pat Souter, Gray Reed

JUDGES SCORING THE PRELIMINARY ROUNDS & CLIENT INTERVIEWS WERE:

• Melina Bales, Bales Law PLLC
• Megan Baumhardt, Plante Moran
• Patrick Bell, Potter Minton Law Firm
• Stephen Boone, Sidley
• Lotte Bostick, Hankamer School of Business
• Josh Candelario, Greenberg Traurig
• Miranda Chavez, Boulware & Valoir
• Andrew Cowden, Polsinelli
• Luke Davis, Munsch Hardt
• Miles Emery, Porter Hedges
• Haylie English, Barnes & Thornburg
• David Eskew, Office of the Texas Secretary of State
• Zoë Fedde, Merritt Law
• Thomas P. Finley, Jr., Thomas P. Finley, Jr. Attorney at Law
• Melinda Hedrick, Beard Kultgen Brophy Bostwick & Dickson, PLLC
• Trenton Hood, Winstead
• James Howard, Naman Howell
• Tristan Kaisharis, Winstead
• John Laughlin, Winstead
• Zach Liberatore, Davis Craig
• Ben Meredith, Bracewell LLP
• Brock Neurohr, Winstead
• Ashley Deatherage Neurohr, S. Deatherage Law
• Allen Page, WAVE Ventures
• Noah Patrick, Neighborly
• Samuel Reid, The Reid Firm, PC
• Steven Reid, The Reid Firm, PC
• Ana Sanchez, Simpson Thacher
• Michael Sanchez, Law Office of Michael A. Sanchez, PLLC
• Laura Ann Smith, Labrador US
• Ian Todd, Sneed Vine
• Trey Torres, Neighborly
• Scott Wallace, Holland & Knight
• Wayne Whitaker, Whitaker Chalk
• Hull Youngblood, Davis, Cedillo & Mendoza, Inc.