 "Photo: Matej Sapak")
The winners of Harvard Law School's 56th annual Williston competition were announced on Tuesday, April 28. The competition, sponsored by the Board of Student Advisers and organized by Harvard Negotiators, offers first-year students the opportunity to practice negotiation and contract drafting. Eighteen teams of two students participated in the competition. This year's scenario featured the merger of two mining companies, River Red and Mountain Blue. The fact pattern was inspired by a recent takeover battle between the Australian mining giant BHP Billiton and its London based competitor Rio Tinto. After negotiations, students wrote a twelve-page contract and a memorandum to their client explaining its substance.
Third-year student Matej Sapak created the problem and served as chairperson of the competition. Professor Robert Bordone, Director of the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program, supervised the creation of the negotiation problem and competition. Kyle Glover, Johanna Schwartz and Harry Drozdowski served as judges for the competition.
Best Contract Representing River Red: Brian Kozlowski and Neil Chatani
Best Contract Representing Mountain Blue: Jay Schweikert and David Carpman
Best representation of River Red: Amir Ali and Taylor Ashley
Best representation of Mountain Blue: Ian Brooks, Danielle Mirabal and Sarah Jelsema
