معرفی
Sarah C. Haan is the Class of 1958 Uncas and Anne McThenia Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law and a Visiting Professor at the University of Virginia School of Law. Her work intersects corporate law with democratic theory, focusing on shareholder governance, ESG activism, and historical critiques of corporate legal frameworks.
- Education: B.A. in History from Yale University; J.D. from Columbia Law School
- Professional Background: Litigation attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell; Teach for America teacher in Compton, California
- Civic Engagement: Admitted to New York State Bar and federal courts in Southern/Eastern Districts of New York
Haan’s research examines the historical and normative flaws of the 'Passivity Thesis' in corporate governance, tracing its origins to early 20th-century gendered ideologies and legal structures. Her recent work critiques the law-and-economics movement’s rationalization of shareholder apathy, arguing that corporate law’s procedural barriers—not individual passivity—explain limited participation. She explores how modern ESG activism and technological innovations (e.g., universal proxy voting) challenge entrenched paradigms. Her scholarship appears in top journals like the Stanford Law Review and has been cited in judicial opinions, including the Fifth Circuit.
- Scientific Awards: Uncas and Anne McThenia Professorship (2022), recognition as one of the 10 best corporate law articles of 2022
- Current Projects: Organizing the 2024 Berle Symposium on 'The Corporation at the Intersection of Law and Information'
