On Friday, Sept. 13, the Journal of Corporation Law marked its 50th anniversary with a symposium in New York City. The journal regularly ranks in the top five, most recently listed as fourth among journals in the subject area of Business, Corporations and Securities Law, according the W&L Law Journal Rankings (2023). 

Professor Robert Miller, who attended the symposium, reflected on the journal’s impact: “The Journal of Corporation Law consistently publishes papers from the world’s leading corporate law scholars, a fact underscored by the caliber of speakers at this conference.” 

The keynote address was delivered by Vice Chancellor Travis Laster of the Delaware Court of Chancery, joined by other notable speakers including Vice Chancellor Will, also of the Delaware Court, and Professors Lucian Bebchuk (Harvard), Stephen Bainbridge (UCLA), Jon Macey (Yale), William Bratton (Penn), Edward Rock (NYU), and many others. Former Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice Leo Strine, now at Penn and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, was unable to attend but will contribute a paper to the symposium issue.

Papers presented at the conference will be published in a special symposium edition of the Journal of Corporation Law.

“The conference was hosted at the offices of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, and was attended not only by academics but also by corporate attorneys from many top firms in New York City,” Professor Miller added. “Wachtell, Lipton also provided generous financial support that allowed six Journal of Corporation Law editors to participate. 

We also received substantial backing from Skadden Arps, Kirkland & Ellis, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, as well as invaluable administrative support from Dean Washburn and Angie McMullin. Special thanks are owed to the journal’s editors, including Maura McNamara, symposium editor Alex Hook, editor-in-chief, and their colleagues for their extraordinary work in making this event a success. Emily Neumann, last year’s symposium editor, also contributed greatly to the event's planning and attended to participate."

McNamara, a student at the University of Iowa College of Law, described the event as a significant achievement for the journal. “The symposium fostered lively discussions between the panelists and attendees, and the speakers' topics will be published in the Journal of Corporation Law’s Volume 50.4 in Summer 2025,” McNamara said. “I want to thank my fellow board members, Professor Miller, our sponsor Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, and co-sponsors Kirkland & Ellis, Gibson Dunn, and Skadden for making the event a great success. We look forward to hosting future symposiums in various cities across the United States.”

The 50th-anniversary celebration honored the journal’s influential legacy in corporate law and promoted meaningful dialogue among leading experts in the field. With a distinguished roster of speakers and strong support from major law firms, the event bridged the gap between academia and practice, setting the stage for future symposia across the country. The journal remains committed to advancing scholarship in corporate law.