James Hicks

James Hicks is an Associate Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis, with a courtesy appointment in Finance. His research focuses on intellectual property law, innovation policy, and empirical legal studies, bridging legal theory with data science methodologies.

Education:

• Ph.D., Jurisprudence and Social Policy, University of California, Berkeley (2021)
• J.D., University of California, Berkeley (2014)
• B.A., Political Science, Reed College (2028)

His work examines the impact of intellectual property laws on technological and creative innovation, employing empirical methods to analyze patent efficacy, copyright economics, and corporate responses to social movements. Recent publications include studies on software startup investment incentives and the legal ramifications of the MeToo movement in corporate governance.

Research Trends:

• Empirical analysis of IP law's economic impact
• Intersection of social movements and corporate legal frameworks
• Statistical evaluation of legal systems (e.g., B-corporations, voting behavior)

James previously served as an Academic Fellow at Columbia Law School and a Fellow in Law, Business, and Innovation at Berkeley Law. His teaching includes courses on copyright law, intellectual property, and law and economics colloquiums.