2026 Annual National Sports Law Negotiation Competition
October 21, 2026
Thomas Jefferson School of Law proudly hosted the 2026 Annual National Sports Law Negotiation Competition this past weekend, October 16–18, welcoming 40 teams from law schools across the country, including UC Berkeley, Tulane University, and American University.
The weekend kicked off with a special guest! Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield joined the festivities at the Welcome Party, sharing insights and stories from his remarkable career with the aspiring lawyers in attendance. He also signed copies of his new autobiography, Touching All the Bases, giving students a memorable opportunity to meet a baseball legend.
The nationally recognized competition culminated in championship rounds judged by the Honorable Benjamin Cheeks, United States District Judge; the Honorable Steve Chu, United States Magistrate Judge; and Linda Keller, Dean and President of Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
Congratulations to this year’s champions, Texas A&M University School of Law! The University of San Francisco School of Law earned second place, and the University of San Diego School of Law finished third.
A heartfelt thank-you to all the TJSL student volunteers and volunteer judges who generously contributed their time, expertise, and enthusiasm to make this outstanding event a success. Your dedication and support are essential to the continued success of this nationally respected competition and help make it a memorable experience for everyone involved!
Dean and President Linda Keller remarked, “This was another terrific competition, thanks to the hard work of the competition board: Sam Ehrlich (’14), Adjunct Professor Randy Grossman (’94), Professor Steve Semeraro, and Thomas Schimmel (’25), along with TJSL staff. Kudos to everyone who participated!”
