Lisa Fairfax

Lisa M. Fairfax (born 1970) is an American legal scholar who is a Presidential Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She was previously Alexander Hamilton Professor of Business Law at the George Washington University Law School.

Lisa Fairfax
Fairfax in 2022
Born	1970 (age 53–54)
Spouse	Roger Fairfax
Children	3
Academic background
Education	Harvard University (BA, JD)
Academic work
Discipline	Law
Sub-discipline	Business law
Institutions	George Washington University University of Pennsylvania

Early life and education

Fairfax was raised by a single parent in Compton, California.^[1] She attended Harvard University and Harvard Law School,^[2] where she met and became friends with Ketanji Brown Jackson.^[3][4]

Career

Fairfax began her teaching career at the University of Maryland School of Law, then joined the faculty of the George Washington University Law School in 2009,^[5] where she was Alexander Hamilton Professor of Business Law.^[6] Fairfax is affiliated with the Democratic Party.^[7] In October 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Fairfax to serve as a member of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,^[8][9] though she was never confirmed.^[5][7] In 2020, Fairfax was elected a member of the American Law Institute.^[10] In 2021, Fairfax joined the University of Pennsylvania Law School and was named to a Presidential Professorship.^[11] After Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated to serve on the Supreme Court in 2022, Fairfax made an introductory statement at Jackson's Senate confirmation hearing.^[12]

Personal life

Fairfax is married to Roger Fairfax, a lawyer and dean of the Washington College of Law at American University.^[5][13] She has three children.^[13]

References

1. Green, Erica L. (March 20, 2022). "Ketanji Brown Jackson Fought Injustices While at Harvard". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2022. Judge Jackson would often deliver advice from her parents to her three roommates, all of whom came from single-parent households...Ms. Fairfax, who grew up in a predominately Black and Latino community in Compton, Calif..."
2. "Professor Lisa M. Fairfax". American Law Institute. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
3. Yeo, Suzanne (March 9, 2022). "Lifelong friends open up about Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson". ABC News. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
4. "Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's friends from Harvard not surprised by her Supreme Court nomination: "It had to be her"". CBS News. March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
5. Ackerman, Andrew (2016-03-14). "SEC Nominee Lisa Fairfax Is Diversity Advocate and Law Professor". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
6. "Lisa Fairfax". University of Pennsylvania Law School. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
7. Michaels, Dave (March 15, 2016). "SEC Nominees Face Sharp Questioning at Confirmation Hearing". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
8. "Professor Lisa M. Fairfax Nominated by President Barack Obama to Serve as Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission". George Washington University Law School. October 20, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
9. "Press Release - President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". The American Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara.
10. "Professor Lisa Fairfax Elected to American Law Institute". George Washington University Law School. October 27, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
11. "Law School adds new faculty for 2021-2022". University of Pennsylvania Law School. August 18, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
12. Beals, Monique (March 20, 2022). "Former DC judge, Penn law professor to introduce Ketanji Brown Jackson at hearing". The Hill. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
13. "United States Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs". www.banking.senate.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-21.