The great majority of private activity is carried out through corporations or other business entities, both for-profit and not-for-profit. Whether working for or suing corporations, lawyers create, design the governance and funding for, and help assess, control and check the power of corporations, drawing on laws central to how legal systems work in practice. Beyond the fundamentals, lawyers play major roles in all corporate transactions, from securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions to buybacks, recapitalizations, and spin-offs. Through dozens of classes and legal clinics, Harvard Law students gain a strong grounding in corporate and transactional law and have opportunities to advise and represent clients in the field.
From Harvard Law Today
Profiles
What the GameStop surge means for Wall Street
Faculty
HLS Professors
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![Lucian A. Bebchuk headshot]()
Lucian A. Bebchuk
James Barr Ames Professor of Law, Economics, and Finance
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![Robert C. Clark headshot]()
Robert C. Clark
Austin Wakeman Scott Professor of Law, Emeritus
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![John C. Coates headshot]()
John C. Coates
John F. Cogan, Jr. Professor of Law and Economics
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![Einer R. Elhauge headshot]()
Einer R. Elhauge
Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor of Law
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![Jared Ellias headshot]()
Jared Ellias
Professor of Law
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![Allen Ferrell headshot]()
Allen Ferrell
Harvey Greenfield Professor of Securities Law
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![Jesse M. Fried headshot]()
Jesse M. Fried
Dane Professor of Law
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![Jon D. Hanson headshot]()
Jon D. Hanson
Alan A. Stone Professor of Law
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![David R. Herwitz headshot]()
David R. Herwitz
Royall Professor of Law, Emeritus
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![Reinier H. Kraakman headshot]()
Reinier H. Kraakman
Ezra Ripley Thayer Professor of Law
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![Brian K. Price headshot]()
Brian K. Price
Clinical Professor of Law
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![Mark J. Roe headshot]()
Mark J. Roe
David Berg Professor of Law
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![Steven M. Shavell headshot]()
Steven M. Shavell
Samuel R. Rosenthal Professor of Law and Economics
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![Robert H. Sitkoff headshot]()
Robert H. Sitkoff
Austin Wakeman Scott Professor of Law
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![Holger Spamann headshot]()
Holger Spamann
Lawrence R. Grove Professor of Law
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![Guhan Subramanian headshot]()
Guhan Subramanian
Joseph H. Flom Professor of Law and Business
Visiting Professors & Lecturers
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![Howard E. Abrams headshot]()
Howard E. Abrams
William K. Jacobs Visiting Professor of Law
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![Vladimir Bosiljevac headshot]()
Vladimir Bosiljevac
Bruce W. Nichols Lecturer on Law
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![Emiliano M. Catan headshot]()
Emiliano M. Catan
Beneficial Visiting Professor of Law
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![Bala Dharan headshot]()
Bala Dharan
Robert B. and Candice J. Haas Visiting Professor in Corporate Finance Law
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![Alex Dimitrief headshot]()
Alex Dimitrief
Lecturer on Law
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![Jessica Fjeld headshot]()
Jessica Fjeld
Lecturer on Law
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![Michael Francus headshot]()
Michael Francus
Climenko Fellow and Lecturer on Law
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![Rebecca Harris headshot]()
Rebecca Harris
Lecturer on Law
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![Oliver Hart headshot]()
Oliver Hart
Harvard University Affiliated Professor
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![Christopher S. Havasy headshot]()
Christopher S. Havasy
Climenko Fellow and Lecturer on Law
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![Daniel Kahn headshot]()
Daniel Kahn
Lecturer on Law
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![Meng Lu headshot]()
Meng Lu
Lecturer on Law
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![Mariana Pargendler headshot]()
Mariana Pargendler
Sullivan & Cromwell Visiting Professor of Law
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![Deborah Paul headshot]()
Deborah Paul
Lecturer on Law
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![Caley Petrucci headshot]()
Caley Petrucci
Climenko Fellow and Lecturer on Law
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![Carlos Portugal Gouvea headshot]()
Carlos Portugal Gouvea
William D. Zabel ‘61 Visiting Professor in Human Rights
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![Sarath Sanga headshot]()
Sarath Sanga
William Nelson Cromwell Visiting Professor of Law
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![Nana Sarian headshot]()
Nana Sarian
Lecturer on Law
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![Alexander Stremitzer headshot]()
Alexander Stremitzer
Robert Braucher Visiting Professor of Law
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![Roberto Tallarita headshot]()
Roberto Tallarita
Lecturer on Law
Clinics
Cyberlaw Clinic
Food Law and Policy Clinic
Sports Law Clinic
Transactional Law Clinics
Research Programs and Centers
Related Courses
| Course | Term | Instructor(s) |
|---|---|---|
| A Comparative Perspective on Corporations, Ownership, and Capital Access | Fall 2023 Course | Reinier Kraakman |
| Advanced Business Reorganizations | Spring 2024 Course | Martin Bienenstock |
| Analytical Methods for Lawyers | Spring 2024 Course | Kathryn Spier |
| Bankruptcy | Fall 2023 Course | Mark Roe |
| Bankruptcy | Spring 2024 Course | Jared Ellias |
| Business Strategy for Lawyers | Fall 2023 Course | Kathryn Spier |
| Business Valuation and Analysis | Spring 2024 Course | Bala Dharan |
| Climate Lawyering | Spring 2024 Course | Richard Lazarus |
| Community Enterprise Project of the Transactional Law Clinics | Fall 2023 Clinic | Noel Roycroft |
| Community Enterprise Project of the Transactional Law Clinics | Spring 2024 Clinic | Brian Price |