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UH Law Center ADR students crowned champions in pro football negotiation competition

Feb. 13, 2024 — The University of Houston Law Center’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Team clinched UHLC’s first Champions Trophy in the 10th annual Tulane Professional Football Negotiation Competition in New Orleans, La. on Jan. 27. The team consisted of UHLC students Bryce Latray (3L), Beau Winter (3L) and Jacob Herrington (2L) and was coached by UHLC alumni Mike Meltser (J.D. ‘19) and Trey Gifford (J.D. ‘22).

Organized by Tulane Sports Law Society, the annual competition featured 48 teams and six rounds of simulated contract negotiation, using real-life scenarios and upcoming NFL free agents. Each team of law students, representing either an NFL team or a football player, was provided with objectives. Negotiations centered on various aspects such as the signing bonus, base salaries, cap hit, year-by-year cash flow, total guaranteed money, and average-per-year salary.

Law students were evaluated by industry experts, culminating in a discussion on NFL-related topics aimed at refining negotiation skills and understanding contract intricacies.
In the final simulation round, UHLC represented Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield against the University of Miami, who acted on behalf of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Latray, Winter, and Herrington won the competition and received excellent feedback from the judges, all of whom work in the business of the NFL,” said Meltser.

The decisive round included a five-person judge panel featuring New Orleans Saints Assistant General Manager/Vice President of Football Operations Khai Harley, Minnesota Vikings Manager of Football Administration Emily Badis, SumerSports VP of Research & Development Eric Eager, Athletes First Salary Cap Analyst A.J. Stevens, and Athletes First CEO Brian Murphy.

The ADR competition team is part of the UHLC’s Blakely Advocacy Institute.  For more information, visit https://www.law.uh.edu/blakely/

Emily Berman, Professor of Law and Royce R. Till Professorship at the University of Houston Law Center.

From left: Coach Mike Meltser, Bryce Latray, Beau Winter, and Jacob Herrington of the University of Houston Law Center's ADR Team secure the Champions Trophy at the 2024 Tulane Professional Football Negotiation Competition.

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