Robert E. Scott is the Alfred McCormack Professor of Law and director of the Center on Contract and Economic Organization at Columbia Law School. In 2014, he served as the Law School’s interim dean. Scott is an internationally recognized scholar and teacher in the fields of contracts, commercial transactions, and bankruptcy.
Scott has delivered numerous papers and published extensively in law journals. He co-authored five books on contracts and commercial transactions. His many articles include six he co-authored with Professor Charles Goetz that set the standard for the economic analysis of contracts law.
Prior to joining the Law School faculty in 2006, Scott served on the University of Virginia School of Law faculty from 1974 to 2006. From 1988 to 1990, he held an appointment at the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Studies. Scott was the Virginia Law School dean from 1991 to 2001. During his tenure, Virginia Law School embarked upon a highly successful capital campaign, at the time raising more money than any other law school in history; completed a $50 million Law Grounds renovation; and instituted several curricular enhancements. After serving as dean, Scott was the Justin W. D'Atri Visiting Professor of Law, Business and Society at Columbia from 2001 to 2006.
Scott is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences; a life member of the American Bar Foundation’s fellows; and a member of the American Law Institute. He was president of the American Law Deans Association from 1999-2001. He was president of the American Law & Economics Association from 2014-2015 and a member of its board from 2012-2015. He has chaired the Association of American Law Schools’ Sections on Contract Law, Law and Economics, and Commercial and Consumer Law. In October 2004, the University of Virginia presented Scott with its highest honor, the Thomas Jefferson Award.