Steven M. Davidoff

Associate Professor of Law and Finance

Professor Davidoff also holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Finance, Fisher College of Business. Professor Davidoff’s research focuses in on financial regulation, hedge funds and private equity, mergers and acquisitions, deals and deal theory, and jurisdictional competition. He has a particular interest in international issues and interdisciplinary research in law and finance.

Professor Davidoff has been named one of the 100 most influential governance professionals and institutions in the country by the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Professor Davidoff’s book Gods at War: Shotgun Takeovers, Government by Deal and the Private Equity Implosion, an exploration of modern-day deals and deal-making, was released on October 5, 2009. His prior scholarship can be accessed on SSRN.

Professor Davidoff writes a weekly column for The New York Times as The Deal Professor. He also writes regularly for The New York Times DealBook, in trade journals, such as The Deal, lectures, has testified before the United States Senate, and is frequently quoted in the national media on issues related to our capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. 

Prior to entering academia, Professor Davidoff practiced as an attorney for about 10 years with Shearman & Sterling in its New York and London offices and with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in its London office. 

Professor Davidoff graduated from the Columbia University School of Law where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, cum laude. He has a master’s degree in finance from the London Business School.