Learning about Professor Ann Lipton at Colorado Law

In August, Professor Ann M. Lipton will be joining the Colorado Law Faculty as the Professor of Law and Laurence W. DeMuth Chair of Business Law. Her primary areas of research focus on corporate governance, the interplay between corporations and investors, and the societal role of corporations. Notably, her work has been featured in esteemed publications such as the Yale Journal on Regulation, Journal of Corporation Law, and the Georgetown Law Journal, with one of her articles earning a spot on the Corporate Practice Commentator’s list of the 10 Best Articles of the year in 2020. Recognized for her expertise, Lipton has also contributed to the Securities Regulation: Cases and Materials casebook by Aspen Publishers since its Ninth Edition, solidifying her position as a leading figure in the field. Additionally, she is an active contributor to the Business Law Prof Blog, where she regularly shares her insights and perspectives on various legal topics.

Before her tenure at Colorado Law, Professor Lipton taught at Tulane Law and practiced law in New York for over a decade, specializing in plaintiff-side corporate and securities litigation. Her diverse legal background includes clerkships under U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter and Chief Judge Edward Becker of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, enriching her understanding of the legal system from multiple vantage points. With a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, Lipton’s extensive academic and professional experiences have shaped her into a seasoned legal scholar with a unique perspective on the intricacies of law.

When asked about her anticipation for life in Colorado, Professor Lipton expressed enthusiasm for the vibrant startup ecosystem in the Boulder area. As a business law scholar, she looks forward to engaging with the innovative individuals driving this entrepreneurial landscape and immersing herself in Colorado’s breathtaking natural surroundings by embarking on hiking adventures. Currently, her research delves into the impact of securities laws on investor behavior, particularly concerning institutional investors like mutual funds and private equity funds, and their implications for societal well-being.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Professor Lipton recently embarked on a podcast venture called Shareholder Primacy with Michael Levin, an activist investor based in Chicago. The podcast explores contemporary issues in corporate law and investor rights, establishing a platform for informed discussions and analyses of timely legal topics. Drawing from her rich background as a litigator, Lipton incorporates real-world case examples into her teaching methodology to provide students with practical insights into the complexities of legal practice. Leveraging her firsthand experiences in courtrooms, she navigates legal complexities by showcasing the multifaceted nature of legal arguments and interpretations.

Reflecting on her journey to the legal profession, Professor Lipton credits her family lineage of attorneys for initially steering her away from the legal path. However, a transformative encounter with the book “Make No Law” by Anthony Lewis during her college years underscored the transformative power of law as a catalyst for societal change. This revelation sparked her interest in legal studies, leading her down a path to become a distinguished legal scholar and educator. In 2021, she received Tulane Law’s Felix Frankfurter Award for Distinguished Teaching, a testament to her unwavering commitment to legal education and academic excellence.