Corporate law scholar studies economic foundations of legal institutions
The USC Gould School of Law welcomes Professor Ryan Bubb, who joins the faculty this academic year. A leading voice in corporate law and economic analysis of legal institutions, Bubb brings to Gould a dynamic blend of scholarship, teaching excellence and interdisciplinary perspective.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining the faculty and getting in the classroom,” Bubb said. “Gould has a real tradition of interdisciplinary research, and the intellectual values here are incredibly attractive to me, as was the warm, engaging community among the faculty.”
Bubb joins Professor Daniel Klerman as director of the Center for Law and Social Science at USC Gould, helping to advance the school’s interdisciplinary research and programming at the intersection of law and the social sciences. He also will teach Business Organizations, a course he describes as the “gateway” into the business law curriculum.
“Cases play a big role in American corporate law and every case is a story, usually something that’s gone wrong. That’s just the nature of our system,” said Bubb, who has been on the NYU School of Law faculty since 2010. “I take real pleasure in helping students uncover how exciting business law is, especially those who come in without much background in the field. I love getting them started on their own intellectual journey.”
Bubb’s research explores the intersection of law, economics, and policy. He is currently working on a suite of projects around mergers and acquisitions, examining the legal frameworks that govern control transactions. One of these projects uses large-scale data analysis and artificial intelligence, with tools like ChatGPT, to analyze thousands of SEC filings.
“This new technology is like having an army of incredibly smart research assistants,” he said. “It opens up new avenues for social science generally, including in corporate law.”
Another of his current papers takes a historical approach, conceptualizing corporate law through two key entitlements: the entity entitlement and the loyalty entitlement. “The ambition of the piece,” he said, “is to show how the historical development of these entitlements shapes modern corporate law.”
Bubb identifies as an interdisciplinary scholar, with deep training in economics and a commitment to research that crosses disciplinary boundaries. “That’s one of the things that drew me to Gould,” he said. “I’m excited to be in a place where law intersects naturally with political science, sociology, psychology and economics.”
Originally from the East Coast, Bubb is making his first move to California with his wife, Professor Claire Bubb, a classics scholar who is joining the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, along with their two children. A self-proclaimed coffee enthusiast, Bubb has already scoped out local favorites, including his go-to: Philz Coffee. He’s also looking forward to exploring L.A.’s natural beauty on two wheels.
“I got into cycling during the pandemic,” he said. “There are great roads and trails here, and I’m excited to explore them.”
He describes the move to USC as an especially welcome opportunity. “I couldn’t be happier about starting this new chapter,” he says. “USC offers a truly interdisciplinary and collegial environment, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the intellectual community at Gould.”
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