About
Richard R.W. Brooks is the Emilie M. Bullowa Professor of Law at New York University School of Law. His research focuses on agency and fiduciary law, business organization, and the intersection of law with economics and social norms. Brooks holds a PhD in economics from UC Berkeley, a JD from the University of Chicago, and undergraduate degrees from Cornell and UC Berkeley. He previously held professorships at Yale Law School and Columbia Law School, and has taught at Northwestern and Cornell. His work explores legal theory through empirical and economic lenses, including seminal studies on racially restrictive covenants and contract law. Brooks teaches courses on contracts, corporations, property, and remedies, emphasizing practical application and doctrinal analysis. His scholarship bridges legal, economic, and social science disciplines, influencing both academic discourse and policy debates.
Education: PhD (Economics), UC Berkeley (1998); JD, University of Chicago (1998); MA, UC Berkeley (1996); BA, Cornell University (1988).
Research Interests: Contracts, agency law, fiduciary obligations, law and economics, social norms, and the historical legacy of racial covenants. His 2022 book Saving the Neighborhood (coauthored with Carol Rose) examines the enduring sociopolitical impact of racially restrictive property agreements.
Professional Service: Visiting researcher at USC Law’s Center in Law, Economics, and Organization; advisory roles at the National Science Foundation and Department of Justice.
