James Russell Gordley

James Russell Gordley is a Distinguished Professor of Legal History at Università Bocconi (since 2014) and holds a joint appointment as W.R. Irby Distinguished Professor at Tulane Law School (since 2007). Previously, he taught at Berkeley Law School from 1978–2007 as the Shannon Cecil Turner Professor of Jurisprudence. His roles span academia and legal scholarship, with affiliations in the United States and Italy.

Education:

• B.A. in History, University of Chicago (1967)
• M.B.A. in Finance, University of Chicago (1968)
• J.D., Harvard Law School (1970)

Research Interests: Focus on doctrinal problems of private law, historical evolution of legal frameworks, and interactions between law and philosophy. Specializations include comparative private law, contract law, property law, and the history of European legal systems.

Awards and Fellowships:

• Lifetime Achievement Award (American Society of Comparative Law, 2022)
• Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy
• Membre titulaire, Académie internationale du droit comparé

Teaching: Instructs courses such as INTRODUCTION TO PRIVATE LAW - MODULE 2 (COMMON LAW) and HISTORY OF LAW - MODULE 1 (INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN LEGAL HISTORY). His pedagogical focus aligns with his research on legal history and comparative systems.