Kelli A. Alces
Loula Fuller and Dan Myers Professor
Bankruptcy, Corporate Reorganization, Corporations
kalces@law.fsu.edu

Professor Alces’ scholarship focuses on the intersection of corporate law and bankruptcy law, with a special emphasis on corporate governance in bankruptcy and the strategic interactions between creditors and shareholders in financially distressed companies. She was an associate in the Corporate Restructuring and Financial
Institutions practice group at the Chicago law firm of Gardner, Carton & Douglas before starting her teaching career.

“Regardless of your
eventual practice area, an understanding of bankruptcy and its consequences is
essential to serving your clients’ interests.”

More information about Professor Kelli Alces.

Shawn J. Bayern
Assistant Professor
Torts, Contracts, Corporations
bayern@law.fsu.edu

Professor Bayern's research focuses on common-law issues, primarily in contracts, torts, and corporate law. He has recently written articles criticizing formalism and economic simplifications of the law.

“In my recent work, I have been critical of several leading law-and-economic arguments. My goal is to make sure the law is responsive to the broad range of concerns, both moral and instrumental, that matter in our society.”

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Curtis Bridgeman
James Edmund and Margaret Elizabeth Hennessey Corry Professor

Bankruptcy, Commercial Law, Creditors' Rights, Philosophy of Private Law, Secured Transactions

cbridgem@law.fsu.edu

Professor Bridgeman’s scholarship explores the structure and philosophy of contracts, commercial and bankruptcy law. He has written about contract formalism, the specification of rules of contract law, and the role of planning and practical reasoning in contract law. Prior to entering law teaching, he clerked in Nashville, Tenn., for the Honorable Gilbert Merritt of the Sixth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals. In addition to a law degree, he has a Ph.D. in philosophy.

“Anyone interested in practicing transactional or business law needs at least a basic understanding of how secured transactions work.”

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Manuel A. Utset, Jr.
Charles W. Ehrhardt Professor

Behavioral Law and Economics, Business Transactions: Drafting and Bargaining, Corporate Governance, Corporations, Game Theory & Business Ethics

mutset@law.fsu.edu

Professor Utset is a leading scholar on applying behavioral law and economics to issues in corporate law, with recent emphasis on the implications of self control problems on managerial misconduct and incomplete corporate contracting. He has taught and written on corporate governance and venture capital finance, and is a fellow of the International Institute for Corporate Governance. Prior to entering law teaching, Professor Utset practiced law with Sullivan & Cromwell in New York City. Before joining Florida State, he taught at the Boston University and University of Utah law schools.

“Drafting effective business contracts requires knowledge of both economics and psychology.
The first will tell you how an ideal, fully rational party would — and should — act; the second will allow you to anticipate how real business actors are likely to behave. Learning behavioral law and economics will help you with both.”

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Donald J. Weidner
Dean and Alumni Centennial Professor

Agency and Partnership, Real Estate Finance

dweidner@law.fsu.edu

A recognized authority on partnerships, fiduciary duties and real estate finance, Dean Weidner was the reporter for the Revised Uniform Partnership Act and has written a book on the subject with Robert Hillman and Allan Vestal. He also has written on the taxation of real estate transactions and on the use of leasing arrangements and special purpose entities for off -balance-sheet financing. He has served as dean since 1991. Prior to entering law teaching, he was an associate at the New York City firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

“We try to give our students a solid understanding of some of the joys and rigors of being a transactional lawyer.”

More information about Dean Don Weidner.