Durham Law Students Show Negotiation Excellence at The National Law University, Jodhpur A&O Shearman 2026 International Deal Negotiation Competition
Second-year LLB student Ethan Goh and final-year LLB student Ralph Downing were crowned champions at the prestigious NLU Jodhpur International Deal Negotiation Competition 2026, held in partnership with A&O Shearman.
The Durham duo excelled, emerging as champions from a field of 32 international teams.
The competition simulated high-stakes corporate negotiations modelled on real-world business deals, where commercial and legal interests often intertwine. Over three days, the Durham team navigated rounds centred on debt restructuring, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and more — facing off against international teams such as Singapore Management University, NLU Lucknow, and NLU Odisha en route to the final, where they overcame OP Jindal Global University to claim the title. The pair also received the award for Best Negotiation Plan.
With assistance from Aland Goran, President of the Durham University Negotiation Society (DUNS), the Durham team trained under the guidance of Richard Buckingham, a Durham alumnus (previously at Goldman Sachs, London and Linklaters).
As current executive committee members and former Advanced Team Members of the University’s Negotiation Society, Ethan and Ralph entered the competition with experience in both training and competitive negotiations. Their preparation and performance ultimately reflected a high level of commercial awareness, legal insight, and negotiation ability.
Reflecting on the experience, Ethan said:
“The IDNC was a tremendous learning experience. Negotiating against talented teams from across the world deepened my appreciation for different negotiation styles and commercial approaches to dealmaking. I am grateful to DUNS, NLUJ, A&O Shearman, Durham Law School, and our coach Richard Buckingham for making this opportunity possible, and proud to have represented Durham on the international stage.”
Ralph added:
“I am extremely proud to have represented Durham on such a large stage. I thoroughly enjoyed the commercial rigour of the competition, which involved five different rounds based on highly relevant simulations. I feel the experience has placed me in good stead as I move forward in my legal career. My thanks also go to DUNS, Durham Law School, and Richard Buckingham for making the experience so enjoyable and for putting us through our paces in preparation. I would highly recommend the competition to anyone considering applying in the future.”
Aland Goran, President of the Negotiation Society, also commented:
“Securing a first-place finish in IDNC is a remarkable feat, and I am proud of both Ralph and Ethan for their achievement. Their efforts reflect not only their own talent but also the society’s success in fostering members to compete against the world’s best. Notably, I am grateful to Richard Buckingham for his insight and guidance, which proved pivotal to the Durham team’s win this year.”
The team’s performance stands as a testament to the strength of Durham and DUNS’ negotiation training and its students’ ability to excel on the international stage.
Notes:
More about Durham University Negotiation Society here
More about Durham Law School here
More about Durham Law School Alumni Association here