FACULTY DIRECTOR'S LETTER | LEADERS IN BUSINESS LAW | OREGON LAW WELCOMES PROFESSOR ANDREW WINDEN | M&A BOOTCAMP | SUMMER SPORTS LAW INSTITUTE | OREGON LAW HOSTS USPTO PROCEEDINGS | STUDENTS COMPETE IN MAJOR NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS | LEW & ANN WILLIAMS BUSINESS LAW FELLOWSHIPS | ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS | FACULTY RESEARCH | SUPPORT THE BUSINESS LAW PROGRAM
Letter from the Faculty Director
We are delighted to share an abundance of good news with our alumni and other friends of Oregon Law’s Business Law Program. Conditions in the business law world are troubled these days, with bank failures, bankruptcies of cryptocurrency custodians, and other events. But even in these conditions—in fact partly because of them—I am heartened to know that our program is consistently preparing business law students for strong, steady and successful careers in their chosen fields. We see our graduates doing great things at truly top-flight national and regional firms; our current students getting well launched with fellowships, competitions, and experiential learning opportunities; and our already strong faculty becoming enhanced with a valuable new colleague. There is much to be proud of, and we look forward to staying in touch.
—Professor Andrea Coles-Bjerre
Oregon continues to rank among the nation's top law schools for business
For the second year in a row, Oregon Law’s Business Law Program earned an “A” ranking from preLaw Magazine, a publication of The National Jurist.
The "A" ranking recognizes several aspects of our program. First, it reflects our capacity to produce practice-ready graduates, prepared to hit the ground running in top law firms in the region and across the nation.
Additionally, we equip students with strong overarching intellectual frameworks that enable them to understand and evaluate unfamiliar or emerging ideas in context. In other words, we provide the conceptual foundations students need to engage productively with complex and novel legal questions.
Finally, the "A" ranking acknowledges our expert faculty, stimulating classroom experiences, robust clinics, and access to outstanding field placement and fellowship opportunities.
Oregon Law welcomes new business law faculty: Andrew Winden
In August, Oregon Law welcomed the newest member of its business law faculty, Professor Andrew “Andy” Winden.
Andy grew up in in Olympia, Washington, the child of two professional opera singers. His remarkable legal career has taken him across the globe and back to his Pacific Northwest roots.
Andy’s educational background is both impressive and interdisciplinary. He earned his B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University. While at Stanford, he was the captain of the varsity men’s rowing team and played french horn in the Stanford Symphony Orchestra. He also took a gap year to live and teach English in Japan. For Andy, living in Japan was a formative experience that altered the course of his life in several significant ways. After returning to the U.S., he completed his undergraduate degree and spent a year post-graduation at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies, one of the preeminent Japanese language study schools in the world.
Andy then earned his J.D. at Harvard Law, focusing on environmental and international law. While at Harvard, he pursued a joint Master of Law and Diplomacy degree at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, which he considers one of the best decisions of his law school years.
After law school, Andy first worked as an Honors Attorney at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and then as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Eugene A. Wright of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. After completing his clerkship, he worked on Wall Street as an associate attorney in Sullivan & Cromwell’s New York, Washington D.C., and Tokyo offices.
Andy found business law both interesting and rewarding, and it became his life’s work when he decided to stay in Japan to establish a U.S. capital markets practice as a partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP in Tokyo. Andy represented issuers and underwriters on several $1 billion plus IPOs and follow-on offerings in the online gaming and Japanese Real Estate Investment Trust (J-REIT) industries. He also worked on multiple joint ventures for Internet companies and financial institutions, including the multinational tech giant Softbank, and advised financial institutions on U.S. regulatory and compliance matters.
One of the highlights of Andy’s career in private practice was writing the first true sale opinion for the securitization of assets in Japan (with Japanese bengoshi colleagues). He also wrote the business and regulatory agreements for the merger of Morgan Stanley’s securities business in Japan with Mitsubishi Bank’s securities business. He found the work intellectually challenging and grew Morrison & Foerster’s international business practice in Japan over a period of seven years.
After returning to the U.S., Andy wanted to focus on corporate governance and yearned for a return to an academic environment where he could learn, research, and share his knowledge and experiences. He served three years as a Fellow and Lecturer in Law for the Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford, where he taught M&A courses and wrote about corporate governance and entrepreneurship, capital markets and securities regulation, climate change and sustainability, and business transactions.
His passion for intellectual life rekindled, Andy decided to pursue a tenured position in the academy. Andy became an Assistant Professor of Law at University of Florida Levin College of Law, but he still had his eye on returning to the natural beauty of Pacific Northwest someday.
When the opportunity presented itself, he knew that Oregon Law was a perfect fit for him. In addition to the location, Andy was impressed by the amazing opportunities for practical experience offered at Oregon Law compared to other institutions. “I believe strongly in the value of practical experience,” said Andy, “especially when it comes to transactional work.”
Andy noted that the relatively small, and dynamic, group of business law faculty at Oregon Law had a particularly strong combination of scholarly interests and expertise. He appreciates the opportunity to research, teach, and continue his scholarship in this collegial, collaborative community.
His scholarly research agenda merges his original interest in environmental law to his significant business law practice experience: applying securities and mergers and acquisitions concepts to climate change and environmental protection efforts. Andy is teaching Sustainable Business, Business Associations, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Securities Regulation. He is also interested in proposing new courses on venture capital and start-ups, corporate finance, and clean energy development.
“The students at Oregon are amazing—I am constantly learning in the classroom because they are really creative and have great ideas. There’s a strong community at Oregon, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.” — Andy Winden
Andy Winden brings to Oregon Law an incredible depth of practice experience, innovative scholarship, demonstrated teaching excellence, and a strong affinity for the local community. The Business Law Program is delighted to welcome him to its faculty.
Mergers & Acquisitions Bootcamp prepares students for real-world transactions
During the summer of 2022, Oregon Law hosted its second intraschool Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Boot Camp. Twenty Oregon Law students participated in this 10-week, practice-focused experience.
At M&A Boot Camp, students engage in a simulated transaction, working in teams of two to draft a letter of intent in anticipation of a private acquisition, mark up each other's document, communicate with a hypothetical client, and negotiate deal terms.
"The M&A Bootcamp is a wonderful opportunity to gain practical experience. Professor Gibson organizes an impressive lineup of practitioners, and Oregon Law strives to create a collegial learning environment, which is crucial for developing effective negotiation skills." — Shiri Salehin, 3L
Student teams were paired with a volunteer coach with extensive practice experience in business law and in M&A in particular. Many of the volunteer coaches were Oregon Law alumni, and thanks to generous financial support from alumni and other donors, the Business Law Program was able to provide a $2,000 stipend to each participating student.
To anchor, enhance, and inform the practice-based experiences, the M&A Boot Camp program also featured a series of class sessions, including M&A research, M&A deal points, trademarks, IP licensing, accounting for lawyers, valuation and financing, and two negotiation class sessions. In all, 6 faculty and 22 practitioners participated in the Boot Camp experience.
"The M&A Boot Camp was my first opportunity as a law student to practice negotiating an agreement I had drafted. Working through the draft with my partner, strategizing for our negotiations, and negotiating the agreement helped build a foundation of skills that I have continued to use in law school and my personal life ever since.” — Nicholas Bursell, 3L
As summer opportunities were once again impacted by the pandemic, students viewed this experience as a way to gain practical skills by applying what they have learned in their courses to a simulated experience.
2022 Oregon Summer Sports Law Institute attracts students and industry experts from across the nation
Last summer, as athletes and fans from across the globe descended on the University of Oregon campus for the World Athletics Championships, Oregon Law hosted its annual Oregon Summer Sports Law Institute (SSLI) virtually. Professor Ryan Gauthier—an expert in sports law, with a special focus on the Olympic Games, sports and human rights, and sports governance—joined us as the 2022 Visiting Director.
At Oregon SSLI, students receive expert instruction from world-class law faculty and top industry professionals to learn about sports law and earn 6 credits toward graduation.
Our award-winning programming emphasizes the legal and intellectual breadth of sports law—from the governance of sports leagues to player relations in professional sports, agents, gambling, issues of equity in participation, the Olympic Games, college sports, and more.
Nineteen students participated in this year’s Institute. In addition to Oregon Law students, participants hailed from law schools as far away as Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Carolina, and we also welcomed two international students this year from Brazil.
Using sports law as a vehicle to engage in practical skill-building work, students developed key competencies such as negotiation, arbitration, and contract drafting.
Afterwards, several participants, inspired by their experience at Oregon SSLI, reported re-starting their home school’s sports and entertainment law clubs, and another spent a day job-shadowing the general counsel for a major league baseball team.
"The Oregon Summer Sports Law Institute opened up my eyes to how many different career paths in sports there really are. The curriculum is the perfect blend of discussion led by esteemed speakers from across the industry and the opportunity to work with peers to fine-tune practical skills such as negotiation and contract drafting." — Mia Manney, 2L
Program Highlights
Students engaged in an exciting sports arbitration hearing hosted by Professor Maureen Weston, Director of the Institute for Entertainment Media & Culture at Pepperdine University and longtime friend of the Institute.
Other program highlights included sessions by current and former general counsel, including Alana Matthews, recently general counsel for the Dallas Stars, and Leigh Hawley, an Oregon SSLI alum and general counsel for USA Skateboarding.
We also welcomed guest speakers such as US Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart; leading sports lawyer and commentator Mike McCann; sports and human rights researcher Daniela Heerdt; and Sarah Hartley, who helped establish USA SafeSport.
“I absolutely enjoyed stepping in to direct the Oregon Summer Sports Law Institute this year. Students were incredibly engaged with the content and guest speakers. Throughout the course, I kept thinking that ‘this is the exact kind of experience I would have wanted as a student’ to deepen my sports law knowledge.” — Professor Ryan Gauthier
This summer, Oregon SSLI returns to its traditional in-person format, and Professor Gauthier will join us again as our 2023 Visiting Director.
Oregon Law hosts USPTO proceedings and judges
Last fall, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) partnered with Oregon Law presented its annual "Stadium Tour" at the UO Portland campus.
Returning after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the "Stadium Tour" event is a special opportunity for students and practitioners to experience Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) proceedings in person that would otherwise only be available in Alexandria, Virginia. USPTO Judge Georgianna Witt Braden said the event's name is "a nod to stadiums being the largest venues for musical acts, and the tour is as close to being a rock star as it gets for a judge at the USPTO."
Attendees were able to observe the judges and counsel in action during the proceedings. Afterwards, judges from both boards engaged in a Q&A with students. The panel answered questions about how boards are conducted, tips for advocacy before administrative tribunals, and what judges find most impactful when making their decisions.
The day before the proceedings, the judges visited Eugene for a special meet and greet with Oregon Law students, who had the chance to ask the judges about their background, experiences, and pathways to the bench.
Oregon Law students compete in major national and international competitions
Several students recently participated in major national and international competitions that engaged them in challenging simulations designed to strengthen their readiness for practice and put their burgeoning legal skills to the test.
Oregon Law 3L Gerardo Morales competed in The Closer, a premier, invitation-only competition extended to the top transactional law programs in the nation. Selected law students negotiate the deal terms of a complex business transaction for their chance to win a total of $10,000 in prizes. The Closer took place on January 12-15, 2023 at Baylor Law in Waco, Texas.
The Closer is distinct from other law student competitions in several respects. The competitors do not have weeks to prepare, and each competitor competes individually, so there are no teammates to share the workload. The competitors have only 24 hours to digest their clients’ files, which contain realistic emails, phone notes, drafts, and research. The tight timeline forces competitors to identify the most critical legal issues and devise and negotiate solutions that best serve their client’s needs with the efficiency required of lawyers under realistic time constraints.
“The Closer provided student participants with practice-focused experience researching, reviewing, drafting, and negotiating provisions of an economic development agreement under considerable time pressure. Gerardo did a great job synthesizing the research and client information, analyzing the deal structure and deal documents, and developing and negotiating creative solutions that would further his business client’s goals.” — Professor Kristie Gibson
On January 19-20, 2023, students Jordan Clark (2L), Greden McFarlin (2L), and Mica Weaver (3L) participated in the 16th Annual Tulane International Baseball Arbitration Competition, a simulated salary arbitration competition modeled closely on the procedures used by Major League Baseball.
To prepare for the competition, Jordan, Greden, and Mica spent their winter break researching, writing briefs, and compiling exhibits for Major League Baseball players entering salary arbitration.
Students competed in 2-3 person teams, taking on the role of either the player’s attorneys or a baseball team’s attorneys in mock arbitration hearings. As in a real arbitration, they argued why the player should or should not be paid the salary proposed by the player’s agent or proposed by the club, marshaling the player’s statistics and the general arc of their career, as well as arbitration awards or arbitration settlements achieved by comparable players in recent years as evidence in their arguments.
"It was fascinating to learn about this process and compete against some of the brightest sports law minds across the country in these mock arbitration hearings. While the prep work was challenging, I am incredibly glad we did it, and would strongly recommend any law students interested in sports law to pursue these types of opportunities." — Jordan Clark
Business Law Fellows program connects future business law leaders to innovative research opportunities
The Lew and Ann Williams Business Law Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for law students to work with a business law faculty advisor on research and projects involving cutting-edge issues in business law.
Learn more about Oregon Law’s recently selected Lew and Ann Williams Business Law Fellows below.
Kaitlyn Lindaman
Kaitlyn Lindaman was selected as the law school's inaugural Lew and Ann Williams Business Law Fellow in 2021-22. She received her JD from Oregon Law in 2022 and graduated Order of the Coif. In law school, she served as the editor-in-chief of the Oregon Law Review and externed for the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. In addition to serving as the inaugural Lew and Ann Williams Business Law Fellow, she was a 2021-22 Public Law and Policy Fellow and a 2020-21 Energy Law and Policy Fellow. She was also a member of the moot court oral arguments team.
Originally from Minnesota, she earned bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Economics from Macalester College. She is now a business litigation associate at Perkins Coie in Portland.
“In addition to developing tangible skills for success in business law, the fellowship allowed me to cultivate relationships, which in turn gave me more confidence as I went to begin my legal career.” — Kaitlyn Lindaman
Sam Garrett
Sam Garrett is a third-year law student from Omaha, Nebraska focusing on corporate and business law and a 2022-23 Lew and Ann Williams Business Law Fellow. He is currently a student in the Portland Program.
Through an in-house field placement, Sam began working for a software company, Buildertrend, in his second semester of law school. He is delighted to be joining Buildertrend as legal counsel following the bar exam.
Sam earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Creighton University. Prior to law school, he owned his own boxing and fitness studio in Omaha.
As a Business Law Fellow, Sam has worked with Professor Mohsen Manesh researching and summarizing state autonomous vehicle laws and their impact on municipalities’ ability to regulate autonomous vehicles. He hopes to present his findings at the Urbanism Next Conference in April.
“My time as a Business Law Fellow has expanded my legal education significantly. I've gained stronger skills in analyzing, understanding, and interpreting statutes. This has helped me form better legal arguments when working with businesses in my externships." — Sam Garrett
Joe Matteo
Joe is a third-year law student from Sutherlin, Oregon and a 2022-23 Lew and Ann Williams Business Law Fellow. Growing up in a rural area helped him appreciate the importance of the robust timber and agricultural industries in the Pacific Northwest.
After graduating from the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, summa cum laude, Joe decided to attend law school to pursue a career helping serve the people and companies who work and operate in the natural resources landscape.
At Oregon Law, Joe has served as a staff editor and associate editor for the Oregon Law Review and as an Admissions Ambassador for the Office of Admissions. After taking the bar exam, Joe plans to join the Environment, Land Use, and Natural Resources group at Stoel Rives LLP in Portland, Oregon, where he recently worked as a summer associate.
Recently, Joe has also been working with Fall Creek Farm and Nursery on a variety of projects including some related to intellectual property matters, an important aspect of the company's work. Through this field placement, he's also had the opportunity to engage with in-house counsel who are based outside the United States.
As a Lew and Ann Williams Business Law Fellow, Joe has been discussing the intersection of agriculture and IP law with Professor Eric Priest.
"I have enjoyed the opportunity to gain insights from a variety of business law faculty at Oregon Law. It is inspiring to hear how each of their careers progressed and the lessons they’ve learned throughout their career paths." — Joe Matteo
Phil Santos
Phil Santos (3L) is a Hmong-Portuguese American driven by curiosity and a desire for constant improvement. In addition to being named a 2022-23 Lew and Ann Williams Business Law Fellow, he is a 2022-23 Frohnmayer Leadership Fellow. He also served as a Multnomah Bar Association Fellow in 2020-21.
Phil recently clerked for the Honorable Erin A. Fennerty at the Lane Country Circuit Court. In summer of 2021, he served as a summer associate at Markowitz Herbold PC, where he worked on numerous legal issues including energy regulation, torts, probate, and contract disputes.
Phil also competes in moot court (arbitration and mock trial) and is active in the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association and the Green Business Initiative.
Prior to law school, he was a journalist reporting on community politics in Humboldt County, CA. He regularly covered issues involving land use, renewable energy, climate wellness, and local governance.
Phil's research as a Lew and Ann Williams Business Law Fellow is focused on developments in bankruptcy law.
“My experience as a Fellow has opened my mind to the important role business law plays in people’s lives and in society. Opportunities like the Business Law Fellowship allow us to dig deeper into the law so that we can help tip the scales of justice in the right direction.” — Phil Santos
Alumni Spotlights
Lauren Bernton, JD '16
Lauren is an associate in the Litigation Department of Tonkon Torp LLP in Portland, Oregon. Best Lawyers recently recognized her as a rising star in Commercial Litigation in their 2023 Ones to Watch in America publication, which highlights talented attorneys who have been in practice less than 10 years. Lauren focuses her work on all types of commercial disputes, with a growing emphasis in complex real estate litigation. In her practice, Lauren advocates for multinational companies, regional companies and local businesses. Prior to joining Tonkon Torp, Lauren was an attorney with the Eugene-based law firm Gleaves Swearingen LLP.
In law school, Lauren served as Editor-in-Chief of the Oregon International Law Review. Lauren was also a recipient of the Laird Kirkpatrick Book Prize. In her 2L year, she worked as a law clerk for the Eugene U.S. Attorney’s Office. She graduated Order of the Coif from Oregon Law in 2016. Prior to law school, Lauren received her B.A., cum laude, from Muhlenberg College.
“I’m proud to be a graduate of Oregon Law. The classes I took in law school have provided a sturdy foundation to build my practice on, and I’m grateful to all of the talented professors I crossed paths with while I was working toward my J.D.” — Lauren Bernton
Taylor Jones, JD '19
Taylor is currently an associate in the Restructuring Department of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in its New York office. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert D. Drain in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and as a clerk for the Honorable Brian D. Lynch in the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington.
In law school, Taylor was selected for a 1L Business Law Fellowship that helped develop his interest in business and bankruptcy law. He also participated on a Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court team and was an editor with the Oregon Law Review. He primarily focused his studies on bankruptcy and civil litigation, taking advantage of Oregon Law’s depth of expertise in those areas, and graduated Order of the Coif in 2019. Prior to law school, Taylor received his B.S. in Chemistry, magna cum laude with honors, from Appalachian State University.
"I have come to appreciate the many opportunities that were available to me at Oregon Law. While still in law school, I was able to apply my learning through multiple judicial externships and participation in the Business Law Clinic, where I advised real clients under attorney supervision. The combination of substantive knowledge, practical skills, and real experience was invaluable when I graduated and was (suddenly) asked to do real legal work.” — Taylor Jones
Business law faculty publish leading-edge research and scholarship
Oregon Law's business law faculty continue to lead in the field, producing important scholarly works and presentations that advance the discipline and address timely issues in business law. Learn more about our faculty's recent body of work below.
Support the Business Law Program
The Business Law Program prides itself in providing students with excellent teaching, skills-based learning opportunities, and a rich, diverse curriculum. Help us continue our work.
To learn more about volunteering, mentoring, or other ways of sharing your time and expertise, please click the link below.
To make a financial gift to the Business Law Program, please contact Deidre Sandvick at deidres@uoregon.edu or donate now by clicking the link below. Thank you for supporting student success at Oregon Law!