LSU Law 3L and student coach David Gonzalez La Luz, center, poses with Joshua Silverman, left, and Christian Gallusser after winning the 2025 Fordham National Basketball Negotiation Competition Championship in New York City on Jan. 25.
Coaching the LSU Law Fordham National Basketball Negotiation Competition team was an incredibly rewarding experience. As the Director of External Dispute Resolution Competitions for the Board of Advocates, I oversee team selection, facilitate tryouts, coordinate team placements, and provide strategic guidance throughout the competition process.
When I was presented with the opportunity to coach this team, I was both honored and excited. As a passionate basketball fan, the prospect of merging my legal knowledge with the dynamics of sports negotiation was particularly compelling.
One of the initial challenges was the unexpected timing of the competition. Unlike the previous year, when the event took place in March, this year’s competition was scheduled much earlier. By the time I assumed the coaching role, we had just two weeks to prepare, a remarkably quick turnaround. Understanding the urgency, we immediately began preparation.
The following day, I convened with the team to review the negotiation problems for the preliminary rounds. We conducted a practice session with the competition pairings as they would be in New York: Christian Gallusser and Joshua Silverman on one team, and Carl Davis and Brielle Lee on the other. From that moment, it was clear that these teams were exceptional. Their advocacy skills were already highly developed, and my feedback largely focused on refining body language rather than fundamental negotiation strategies.
Our subsequent meetings centered on substantive research, including player comparisons, salary benchmarks, and other key financial considerations. My previous experience in sports negotiation, particularly as a competitor in the Tulane International Fútbol Negotiation Competition, proved invaluable in guiding the teams through these complexities.
Upon our arrival in New York, we did final practice rounds to solidify our strategies. By the time the preliminary rounds commenced, I was confident in our preparation. Following an impressive performance, Christian and Joshua advanced to the quarterfinals. At that stage, I closely observed their matches, providing feedback to fine-tune their approach. Their success can be attributed in part to their complementary negotiation styles; Josh excelled in quantitative analysis, while Christian leveraged qualitative insights. Their composure and controlled yet persuasive demeanor set them apart, ultimately securing their place in the final round.
This championship is a historic achievement for LSU Law. Not only is it our first national championship in these competitions since 2018, but it also marks LSU Law’s first-ever championship in a transactional negotiation competition.
While our law school has a distinguished record in trial advocacy and moot court, this win demonstrates our expanding strength in dispute resolution and transactional advocacy. As the director of these competitions, I take immense pride not only in Christian and Josh’s accomplishment but also in the broader development of our program. I firmly believe that the skills developed through transactional and dispute-resolution competitions are invaluable for both litigators and transactional attorneys alike.
This experience has been profoundly fulfilling, and I am grateful to LSU Law for the opportunity to coach such a talented team. I am confident that this victory will serve as a foundation for continued success in the future, and I look forward to seeing LSU Law further establish itself as a powerhouse in transactional advocacy.
David Gonzalez La Luz is a third-year LSU Law student who serves as the Board of Advocates Director of External Dispute Resolution Competitions.
