Lewis & Clark Students Advance to Elite 8 in National M&A Competition

Lewis & Clark law students Chris Timmer ’26 and Charlie Morris ’26, coached by Bonnie Page, co-founder of Macro Law Group, made an impressive run to the Elite 8 of the ABA Business Law Section’s MAC Cup II competition. This event is designed to hone students’ transactional law skills. Competing against a field of 64 teams from 46 law schools across the U.S. and Canada, the duo delivered an outstanding performance in early rounds, securing their place among the top teams in this highly competitive negotiation challenge. This competition is a first for Lewis & Clark Law School.

The MAC Cup II, launched by the ABA Business Law Section’s Mergers & Acquisitions Committee, provides law students with a unique opportunity to practice mergers and acquisitions. Participants gain practical experience and a deep understanding of M&A concepts through simulated negotiations and acquisition agreement markups. Competing schools in this year’s Elite 8 include Yale, Georgetown, Duke, and the University of Toronto.

The competition began on October 26, 2024, and Chris and Charlie successfully advanced through two rigorous virtual rounds to reach the quarterfinals, which took place on January 25, 2025. Though their journey ended in the Elite 8, their exceptional performance and hard work placed them among the top competitors in the country.

“I am very excited about Chris and Charlie’s success in this prestigious invitational; getting to the Elite 8 is outstanding!” said Susan Felstiner, a clinical professor of law at Lewis & Clark Law School’s Small Business Legal Clinic and chair of the Business Law faculty committee. “Their hard work in mastering M&A concepts and Bonnie’s dedicated coaching have achieved great results for which Lewis & Clark Law School can be proud.”

Chris and Charlie’s performance in the MAC Cup II showcased their skill, determination, and ability to compete at the highest level in transactional law. Their success sets a strong foundation for future Lewis & Clark competitors in this prestigious event.