Amy Sepinwall

Amy Sepinwall is an Associate Professor of Legal Studies & Business Ethics at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy (Georgetown University, 2011, with distinction), a J.D. (Yale Law School, 2004), and an M.A. and B.A. in Philosophy and Bioethics from McGill University (1999, 1997). Her research bridges legal theory, moral philosophy, and business ethics, with a focus on corporate constitutional rights, gender and racial justice, and complicity in corporate wrongdoing.

• Education
  • Ph.D., Georgetown University (2011, with distinction)
  • J.D., Yale Law School (2004)
  • M.A., McGill University (Philosophy and Bioethics, 1999)
  • B.A., McGill University (Joint Honors: English and Philosophy, 1997)

Her research explores the intersection of law, ethics, and business. Key areas include the moral implications of pecuniary complicity, the role of religion in legal complicity claims, and the ethical dimensions of corporate rights. She has published extensively on topics such as corporate personhood, public accommodations, and the legal and philosophical aspects of moral address and hypocrisy. Her work often critiques the U.S. Supreme Court's role in commodifying collective goods and redefining constitutional boundaries.

Recent publications analyze the legal and ethical nuances of complicity, particularly in cases like Burwell v. Hobby Lobby and Janus v. AFSCME. These works highlight tensions between liberalism's narrow view of complicity and the law's expansive treatment of pecuniary association. Additionally, her scholarship on corporate coverture and shared guilt among intimates delves into historical and contemporary moral philosophy, emphasizing the fault principle and its exceptions.

Scientific Awards

• Wharton Teaching Awards (2018-2024)
• Best Paper Award, Society for Business Ethics Annual Meeting (2023)
• Robert J. Papazian Award first-prize winner (2022)
• Distinguished Proceedings Award, Academy of Legal Studies in Business (2016)
• Virginia Maurer Best Ethics Paper Award (2015)
• Charlotte Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship (2007-2008)

Her teaching includes courses on business ethics, employment law, and corporate responsibility, with an emphasis on applying theoretical frameworks to real-world scenarios. She has also contributed to public discourse through media appearances and commentary on cases involving corporate ethics, religious freedom, and discrimination.