Now in its eighth consecutive year, The Closer Transactional Law Competition, organized by Baylor Law, is an innovative, invitation-only transactional law competition showcasing the best and brightest law students from institutions committed to excellence in practical transactional law training. Clark Barlowe of the University of Oregon School of Law and Kevin Escalona of the University of Tennessee College of Law emerged victorious in this year’s intense competition. The runners-up were Matthew Decker of Charleston College of Law and Hayden Park of the University of Mississippi School of Law. At the conclusion of the four preliminary rounds, the Professionalism Award was conferred on eventual runner-up Mathew Decker based on a secret ballot of the competitors.
The Closer presents a unique challenge, with competitors having only 24 hours to digest realistic client files. Unlike other competitions, each team consists of a lone member and coach. The competition forces participants to identify critical legal issues and negotiate solutions efficiently, mirroring the real-world pressures lawyers face. Winner Kevin Escalona noted that “what makes The Closer so phenomenal is also what makes it so challenging. There is this very real element of stress that you’re dealing with getting the fact pattern 24 hours before. So, it gives a very real-world perspective on practice.” He also praised the “care that the judges and the organizers have in truly developing competitors’ skills as transactional attorneys.”
At the heart of this year’s competition was a compelling scenario involving the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the total solar eclipse in April 2024. Each competitor was tasked with representing either Hotel 1928, one of Waco’s most popular new venues, or Neighborly, the world’s largest home services franchisor, in the negotiation of a fictional conference services and event agreement.
Hotel 1928 has become a favored destination in Waco, Texas, due to its significance as a historical landmark and the involvement of local celebrities Chip and Joanna Gaines. The Hotel’s renovation was featured in a series of “Fixer Upper” episodes on Magnolia Network, further elevating its profile. With thirty-three guest rooms, two restaurants, a coffee shop, and a ballroom, the Hotel is set to capitalize on the influx of visitors during the solar eclipse, especially at its prime rooftop bar space.
In the competition scenario, Neighborly plans to host a conference for its top-performing franchisees during the Eclipse weekend. Headquartered in Waco, Neighborly seeks to book Hotel 1928 as the conference venue to offer its franchisees a unique opportunity to view the eclipse in Waco, which is ideally situated in the path of totality.
The proposed transaction between Hotel 1928 and Neighborly involves hosting the conference as well as a joint public event on April 7, the day before the eclipse. Both parties, deeply rooted in Waco, are eager to support each other’s businesses and capitalize on the eclipse’s significance.
With the eclipse date fast approaching, the collaborative efforts of Hotel 1928 and Neighborly, as highlighted in The Closer, underscore the dynamic and far-ranging nature of transactional law. The competition is a testament to Baylor Law’s commitment to shaping future lawyers who excel in real-world legal challenges.
Professor of Law Beth Miller, the M. Stephen and Alyce A. Beard Chair in Business and Transactional Law, and the visionary behind The Closer shared her thoughts: “It has been an honor for us to host The Closer for the past eight years for students who are passionate about transactional law, offering a unique opportunity to develop and demonstrate their transactional lawyering skills in the context of real-world, practical scenarios.”
Winner Clark Barlowe summed up the success of The Closer by sharing that “the Baylor team put on an absolutely stellar event from start to finish. The judges [practicing lawyers] were all as knowledgeable as you would expect from transactional lawyers in this area. I’ve done oral argument events, and I can say that this is absolutely my favorite event that I’ve been a part of and one that I will be telling everyone about.”
Original source can be found here.