Law Professors Appointed to Named Professorships

Seven Law School professors have been appointed to named professorships.

The appointments are as follows:

Louis A. Horvitz Professorship of Law

Anti-poverty law specialist Lucie White is the first Louis A. Horvitz Professor of Law. This professorship is supported by a gift from the estate of Betty S. Horvitz in memory of her husband, Louis A. Horvitz, Class of '32, who practiced business and corporate law in Fall River, Mass., for most of his career at the firm now known as Horvitz & Brilhante.

Ropes & Gray Professorship of Law

Tax law specialist Alvin Warren is the first Ropes & Gray Professor of Law. This professorship is supported by a 1993 gift of $2 million from all 75 partners and retired partners of the Ropes & Gray law firm who graduated from Harvard Law School. A number of Law School faculty, from Professor John Chipman Gray, a founding partner of the firm, to Dean Robert Clark, are among the distinguished lawyer-scholars who have both practiced at Ropes & Gray and taught at the Law School.

Paul W. Williams Professorship of Criminal Justice

Criminal and constitutional law specialist Richard Parker is the first Paul W. Williams Professor of Criminal Justice. This chair is supported by a bequest from Paul Williams, Class of '29, who served as defense attorney, prosecutor, and judge during a legal career spanning nearly 50 years.

William J. Friedman & Alicia Townsend Friedman Professorship of Law, Economics, and Finance

Corporate law specialist Lucian Bebchuk is the first William J. Friedman & Alicia Townsend Friedman Professor of Law, Economics, and Finance. This professorship is supported by a bequest from Alicia Townsend Friedman in honor of her husband, William J. Friedman, Class of '26. William Friedman was an attorney in Chicago for 68 years.

He participated in the organization of the Hilton Hotels Corp. in 1945 and was general counsel and an officer of Hilton.

Langdell Professorship of Law

Constitutional law specialist Martha Field is the ninth Langdell Professor of Law. Harvard University created the chair and named it in honor of Christopher Columbus Langdell, Class of 1853, Dane Professor of Law from 1870 to 1900, and the first Dean of the Law School; Langdell served from 1870 to 1895.

Story Professorship of Law

Federal court specialist Dan Meltzer is the 12th Story Professor of Law. Harvard established this professorship in honor of Joseph Story, who was Dane Professor of Law from 1829 to 1845 and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1811 to 1845.

Ezra Ripley Thayer Professorship of Law

Corporate law specialist Reinier Kraakman is the first Ezra Ripley Thayer Professor of Law. A lifelong regard for the Law School inspired Polly Thayer Starr to fund a chair in her father's name, the Thayer Professorship. Starr's gift is an extension of the fund that her mother created in 1915 after her father's death. Starr's connection to the Law School faculty spans three generations. Her grandfather, James Bradley Thayer, was a professor from 1873 to 1902; her father, Ezra Ripley Thayer, was a professor and dean from 1910 to 1915; and her brother, James Bradley Thayer, was a professor from 1935 to 1945.