What drew you to the law?
In undergrad I earned an accounting degree. While I was there, a lot of my fellow classmates had plans of going on to law school. I thought that was cliché. But when I started my career as a public accountant, I quickly concluded that I couldn’t do this for the rest of my life. That was the impetus for deciding on law school. But once I got there, I realized how dynamic the law was. Whereas accounting is linear, the law was varied, layered, textured, and dynamic. From the first day of class, I knew I had made the right decision.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
Many professors will say “the students.” And I agree with that wholeheartedly. But in addition, I also enjoy the freedom. The freedom to shape, design and structure my course in a way that I feel is most beneficial for my students. I really enjoy that part of the job — the autonomy.
What do you hope students gain from your courses?
I want them to appreciate that their job will not simply be drafting documents or litigating. Instead, lawyers need to be problem solvers and advisors. Clients should feel comfortable turning to their lawyer for legal advice and for help resolving business issues which are often commingled with the legal ones.
What did you do prior to entering academia?
I was a transactional lawyer at a large law firm in Atlanta. I helped companies buy other companies. I helped them issue securities to raise capital. Also, our publicly held clients were required to file financial information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. I reviewed those documents to make sure they were compliant.
What are you passionate about outside of the law?
Enjoying life and living in the moment. There is a high probability that I’ve already passed the halfway point. So, I’m learning to enjoy the moments now. Bike rides with my sons; running a road race or competing in a triathlon; watching a good show on television. Instead of always trying to get to the next level, I’m simply enjoying the moments and living in them to the fullest.
What are your research interests?
My research focuses on securities, securities-related issues and accounting topics.