It’s so important for students to have the opportunity to know what it looks like to do negotiation in real time, which might inform a situation that they encounter in practice.
Assistant Clinical Professor Kristie Gibson centers her work around preparing students to enter the legal profession, from her pedagogical approach to her role as mentor to Oregon Law students participating in prominent transactional law competitions.
“A lot of the work that I do in teaching and also in the Business Law program is focused on the tools and practice-related skills students need to be able to go out into the world and do wonderful things,” Gibson shared. “What I really enjoy is seeing how students grow and learn as they engage and interact with class and competition materials.”
Hands-On Classroom Exercises
In her Contract Drafting course, Professor Gibson uses a simulation centered around a hypothetical small business client seeking to engage with another business. These hands-on exercises guide students through the process of identifying client needs, drafting tailored contract provisions, and negotiating terms, and communicating with the client—all within a realistic transactional context. The simulation builds on her commitment to experiential learning, helping students develop the precision and strategic thinking required in legal drafting.
Transactional Law Competition Mentorship
Gibson also mentors and coaches Oregon Law students participating in national transactional law competitions. Recently under her leadership, Clark Barlowe, JD ’25, won The Closer at Baylor Law School in 2024 and Nate Bassinger, JD ’25; Matthew Lee, JD ’25; and Nathan Rice, JD ’25; with support from teammate Nate Bassinger, JD ’25, took second place for negotiation in the Wayne State Taft Transactional Law Invitational in Detroit the same year.
“It’s so important for students to have the opportunity to know what it looks like to do negotiation in real time, which might inform a situation that they encounter in practice,” Gibson said.
Orlando John Hollis Faculty Teaching Award Recipient
Gibson was honored with the Orlando John Hollis Faculty Teaching Award in 2025 for excellence in classroom instruction. The selection committee noted her willingness to teach new courses with an eye toward organization, student growth, and providing the best possible experience for her students.
She previously served as supervising attorney in the Business Law Clinic, as administrative director of the LLM program, and as a pro-tem instructor. Prior to joining Oregon Law, Gibson worked as a business attorney and as in-house counsel.
Gibson has a JD from Oregon Law, an LLM from Willamette University College of Law, a BA in political science from University of Oregon and studied Chinese Law and Legal Systems at East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, China.