Research

Agenda

I am a researcher and a social scientist with specialties in applied econometrics and innovation. I utilize social networks within legal institutions to study the diffusion of innovation, explore diversity in the profession, and investigate the dynamics of legal case networks. This allows me to unravel the complexities of industries.

Innovation

The mainstream of my research deals with the process of how innovation is developed and spread to others through institutions. In particular, I examine how legal innovations arise and diffuse through the lens of social network and survival analysis. I have also studied innovation more generally at the university level and how universities transform innovation into measureable outputs.

“The Diffusion of Deal Innovations in Complex Contractual Networks” (with Matt Jennejohn and Cree Jones). Interactive Visualization here; SSRN Paper here
“Roots of Innovation: Decoding the Textual Evolution in Legal Innovation Adoption in Contractual Networks” with Matthew Jennejohn and Cree Jones
“Innovation Impact of U.S. Universities” ( with J.H. Cullum Clark, Kristina Bishop, Vinit Nijhawan, Christian T. Blackwell, David Overton, Steve Ingram) Link; Full Paper; Executive Summary

Dynamics of Legal Case Networks

Related to my work on innovation networks, I research the dynamics that occur within networks. I statistically measure changes that occur through a network and how these changes manifest over time or in response to outside intervention. I have focused on litigation networks of attorneys and judges, law firms, or other actors participating in legal cases.

“Multistate Litigation Networks” with Elysa Dishman
“Client Pressure and Persistent Diversity Gaps in the Courtroom” with Afra Afsharipour and Matthew Jennejohn.
“Gender Gaps and IPOs” with Matthew Jennejohn and Afra Afsharipour

Inclusive Networks

Some of the above empirical research has been applied to other areas, including mapping professional networks and revealing gender and racial disparities in the legal ecosystem, central to our markets.

“Gender Gaps and IPOs” with Afra Afsharipour and Matthew Jennejohn. Interactive Visualization here
“Client Pressure and Persistent Diversity Gaps in the Courtroom”

Other Economic Research on Families and Labor Economics

My training as an economist and statistician has led to other research papers in family and labor economics. I studied how cultural factors impact economic outcomes, such as mobility and income levels, or even how resilient households are after an income shock.

“Resilience and Recovery” Job Market Paper
“Like Parent Like Child: Intergenerational Transmission of Geographic and Economic Mobility”(with Ömer Özak)
“Consumption Smoothing and Family Formation” (with Rocio Madera)

Publications

My Curriculum Vitae shows a full list of my publications and presentations and can be found here: CV (Updated December 2023)

“The Diffusion of Deal Innovations in Complex Contractual Networks” (with Matt Jennejohn and Cree Jones)
Interactive Visualization; SSRN paper
“Innovation Impact of U.S. Universities” ( with J.H. Cullum Clark, Kristina Bishop, Vinit Nijhawan, Christian T. Blackwell, David Overton, Steve Ingram) paper
“Estimation and Application of Lerner Type Indexes for the Public Sector”(with Shawna Grosskopf, Rolf Fare, Kathy Hayes, William Weber, and Heike Wetzel) in Market Power, Economic Efficiency, and the Lerner Index, (2024) World Scientific Publishing Company.

Current Projects and Working Papers

“Roots of Innovation: Decoding the Textual Evolution in Legal Innovation Adoption in Contractual Networks” with Matthew Jennejohn and Cree

Abstract:

“Client Pressure and Persistent Diversity Gaps in the Courtroom” with Afra Afsharipour and Matthew Jennejohn.

Abstract: Despite universal expressions of support for diversity in law firms and corporations, including dedicated staff with diversity and inclusion initiatives, persistent disparities in representation exist, particularly at elite levels within professional networks. This underrepresentation extends to women and people of color, often finding themselves at a professional disadvantage. Efforts to bridge the disconnect between diversity rhetoric and tangible results have included calls from general counsel and client firms for law firms to show greater diversity. Recognizing the pivotal role of client interactions in generating and sustaining business, many firms have seen demands for increased diversity from their clients. This Article investigates the impact of one such call for diversity, specifically examining the result of an open letter published by more than 170 general counsels and chief legal officers in January 2019. As a contribution to the growing strand of literature on legal networks, this Article employs a quantitative analysis to study the gender and racial composition within an innovative and comprehensive network structure of attorneys and judges before and after the issuance of this letter. We assess if changes exist in the representation of diverse members, their roles within the network structures, and the responsiveness of the litigator network to the call for change. We measure these efforts in the context of two prominent venues for corporate and securities litigation: the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Southern District of New York. Drawing from the securities docket entries from the three years surrounding the general counsel letter, the research compares the networks in each court before and after the publication of the letter. Analysis of the litigation network in both courts shows no statistically significant change in either the demographic composition or placement within these networks. While we find slight increases in the proportion of women and the racial makeup of attorneys, these differences were not significant. Moreover, the majority gender and racial demographic groups occupy more central positions within the network. These networks, in addition, did not display significant differences in the assortativity – or mixing between demographic groups. Finally, we provided an analysis of the gender gap in the first-degree connections of judges, where we found that the predominance of male attorneys aligns with both male and female judges having more male attorneys in their subnetworks, not that female judges have more female attorneys on their cases. The implications of this Article call for alternative methods to increase diversity at law firms, rather than repeated, often unsuccessful calls from clients. As law firms prioritize business considerations, diversity may be relegated to a second role. Yet, as clients continue to model diversity within their own organizations and law firms respond at a lower level, these changes may eventually permeate through the industry. Furthermore, this paper lays the groundwork for further research, including modeling the network interactions between law firms and their clients. Other diversity initiatives may be studied in other legal settings. This Article provided the empirical framework necessary before crafting other normative interventions to improve inequality in the law.}