The University of Richmond School of Law welcomes David Epstein as George E. Allen Chair Professor

September 8, 2010 - The University of Richmond School of Law is pleased to welcome Professor David Epstein to the faculty as the newly appointed George E. Allen Chair in Law.

An expert in bankruptcy law and an award-winning teacher, Epstein will teach bankruptcy, creditors' rights, contracts, and commercial law courses. He also will teach an undergraduate first-year seminar in the School of Arts & Sciences.

Epstein comes to Richmond Law from Dallas, where he taught at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of law and was of counsel to the Dallas-based law firm Haynes and Boone. Previously, he was a tenured law professor at the University of North Carolina Law School, the University of Texas Law School, and the University of Alabama Law School. Also, he was dean at the University of Arkansas Law School and at Emory University School of Law, and a visiting professor at 10 other law schools, including Harvard, Georgetown, New York University, and the University of Chicago. Epstein also spent almost 10 years as a partner at the Atlanta-based firm of King & Spalding.

"We're thrilled that David Epstein has joined our faculty," said Richmond Law School Dean John G. Douglass. "David is one of the nation's top experts in bankruptcy law with a long list of scholarly achievements.  Equally important, David is an energetic and innovative teacher, a master at everything from the traditional lecture to international distance learning."

Epstein regularly speaks on bankruptcy topics at continuing education programs for judges and practicing lawyers around the country.  Additionally, most law school graduates prepare for the bar exam by listening to Epstein's lectures on contracts.  Epstein is a prolific writer, and his most recent publication is the third edition of a bankruptcy casebook, Bankruptcy Materials and Cases, co-authored with bankruptcy judges Bruce Markell and Elizabeth Perris and law professor Steve Nickles.

The George E. Allen Chair in Law was endowed by Allen's family and friends to honor the 60-year career of service of George E. Allen Sr., a distinguished Virginia trial lawyer and founder of the highly regarded Richmond civil litigation firm of Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen.  

"The Allen family and members of the law firm of Allen & Allen are committed to legal education and are proud to honor my grandfather's legacy by supporting The Allen Chair in Law.  In particular, at this time we are pleased to welcome David Epstein, a nationally recognized professor and expert in the law of contracts and bankruptcy, as the new George Allen Chair holder," said partner George E. Allen III.

Among the many honors received by Mr. Allen during sixty years of practice was the first Award for Courageous Advocacy given by the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers in 1965.  He was recognized for his representation of an African-American law student from Harvard who, while serving a summer clerkship with a civil rights law firm in Richmond, was unfairly charged with felonious assault with intent to kill police officers at a country courthouse in Southside, Virginia.  Mr. Allen demonstrated his skills in litigation and extraordinary efforts in his successful representation of this young man on a pro bono basis.  In doing so he also jeopardized his reputation in the community by representing an unpopular client at the height of massive resistance.  

The George E. Allen Chair in Law was established with the initial gifts of his sons, George E. Allen, Jr. (TC Williams Law School '1936), Ashby B. Allen, and Wilbur C. Allen.   Their continuing support along with the contributions of other friends accounted for the Chair becoming fully endowed in 1988.

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