Simone M. Sepe

Simone M. Sepe is the Chester H. Smith Professor of Law and Finance at the University of Arizona, holding dual appointments in the Department of Law and Economics. He possesses doctoral degrees in law and economics from institutions including the Toulouse School of Economics and Yale Law School, alongside an LL.M. from Yale and a J.D. from LUISS University in Rome. Prior to academia, he practiced banking and finance law at Clifford Chance and worked as an investment banker at Fortress Investment Group. His research focuses on corporate governance, contract law, law and economics, law and philosophy, and political philosophy, with a particular emphasis on theoretical and empirical analysis of corporate governance structures and institutional design.

Education

• Ph.D. (Economics), Toulouse School of Economics, 2013
• J.S.D., Yale Law School, 2009
• M.Sc. (Financial Economics), Toulouse School of Economics, 2009
• Ph.D. (Law and Economics), University of Siena, 2006
• LL.M., Yale Law School, 2005
• J.D. (Laurea in Giurisprudenza), LUISS University, Rome, 1998

Research Interests

Professor Sepe’s work bridges law, economics, and philosophy, addressing core questions about corporate governance mechanisms, contractual frameworks in the digital economy, and the philosophical underpinnings of legal institutions. Recent projects explore shareholder collaboration dynamics, anti-takeover provisions during market crises, and the intersection of political philosophy with corporate law. His scholarship employs both theoretical models and empirical methods to analyze institutional effectiveness and market outcomes.

Publications Overview

His publications span leading journals in law, economics, and philosophy, with a focus on corporate governance, contract law, and institutional theory. Recent work includes analyses of boardroom power structures, CEO compensation dynamics, and the value of anti-takeover mechanisms during financial shocks. His 2022 article Blood in the Water quantitatively assesses how anti-takeover provisions mitigate value destruction during market crises, while his 2020 Corporate Law and the Myth of Efficient Market Control critiques assumptions about market efficiency in corporate governance discourse.

Professional Experience

Combining academic rigor with industry experience, Sepe’s career includes roles at international law firm Clifford Chance and investment bank Fortress Investment Group, providing a unique perspective on aligning legal frameworks with real-world financial practices.