Robert E. Scott

Program Fellow
  • Columbia Law School
    Alfred McCormack Professor of Law; Director, Center on Contract and Economic Organization


Professor Scott teaches at Columbia Law School, where he is a nationally-recognized scholar on contracts, commercial transactions, and bankruptcy. He has co-authored five books on contracts and commercial transactions. Among his many articles are the six articles he co-authored with Professor Charles Goetz that set the standard for the economic analysis of the law of contracts.

Prior to joining Columbia in 2006, Professor Scott was on the faculty of the University of Virginia School of Law (1974 - 2006), where he served as Dean for a ten-year period (1991 - 2001). During his final two years as Dean, he served as the President of the American Law Deans Association (1999 - 2001). In 2004, the University of Virginia presented him with the Thomas Jefferson Award, the highest honor granted by the university. Before joining UVA's faculty, he taught at William and Mary Law School (1969 - 1974).

Professor Scott is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (1999 - present), Life Member of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, and Member of the American Law Institute. He has also chaired the Association of American Law Schools' Sections on Contract Law, Law and Economics, and Commercial and Consumer Law.  

Education