About
William W. Burke-White is Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he is a leading scholar at the intersection of international law and international relations. He also serves as Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Senior Advisor to White & Case LLP, bridging academic research with policy and legal practice. He previously held leadership roles as Inaugural Director of Perry World House (2014–2019) and Deputy Dean of Penn Law (2011–2014).
- Harvard University – A.B., J.D.
- University of Cambridge – Ph.D. in International Relations (Fulbright Scholar)
Burke-White’s research focuses on global governance, multilateral institutions, U.S. foreign policy, human rights, and international economic law. His work examines how shifting power dynamics affect international legal structures and how sub-state actors influence global norms. He has significant regional expertise in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. His current book project explores the new geography of global governance.
His recent scholarly output reveals a consistent trend toward analyzing institutional reform, legal pluralism, and the interplay between domestic and international law. He frequently publishes in top journals on topics such as investor-state arbitration, complementarity in international criminal law, and the legitimacy of global legal regimes. His work often combines doctrinal legal analysis with political science theory.
- A. Leo Levin Award (2008)
- Robert A. Gorman Award for Excellence in Teaching (2007)
Burke-White has advised governments, law firms, and investment funds on sanctions, sovereign debt, and international litigation. He has served as an expert witness in international arbitrations and currently advises sovereign states on cases before the International Court of Justice. He is also active in media commentary, contributing to The Hill, CNN, The Atlantic, and others. He has taught as a visiting professor at institutions including Harvard Law, Hebrew University, and Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
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