John D. Morley
Professor of Law
John Morley is a Professor of Law at Yale Law School. His research focuses on the law and economics of organization, with a special emphasis on the regulation and structure of investment funds.
FULL BIOGRAPHY
Contact Information
- Room 247
- 203-436-3527
- john.morley@yale.edu
Faculty Assistant
Cina Santos
- J15
- 203-432-4489
- cina.santos@yale.edu
Education & Curriculum Vitae
J.D., Yale Law School, 2006
B.S., University of Utah, 2003
Courses Taught
- Business Organizations
- Securities Regulations
- Trusts and Estates
John Morley is a Professor of Law at Yale Law School. Morley is a leading expert on the regulation and structure of investment funds, including mutual funds, private equity funds and hedge funds. His research on investment funds is one application of a broader interest in the law and economics of organization. Morley’s other research on organization includes a study of why law firms collapse and a history of the common law trust as a substitute for the corporate form. He also writes about the law of trusts and estates and serves as the reporter for the Uniform Directed Trust Act. At Yale Law School, Morley has taught classes on business organizations, securities regulation, trusts and estates, and investment management regulation.
Prior to joining the Yale Law School faculty, Morley was a member of the faculty at the University of Virginia School of Law and the Executive Director of the Center for the Study of Corporate Law at Yale Law School. He received undergraduate degrees in political science and economics from the University of Utah and his law degree from Yale Law School.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Examining the Legal Ramifications of the Silicon Valley Bank Collapse
CBS News
Sam Harris Professor of Corporate Law Jonathan Macey ’82 discusses the legal ramifications of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse.
Monday, July 11, 2022
Bill Ackman Winds Down $4bn Spac After Failing to Find a Target
Financial Times
This article mentions Professor of Law John Morley’s lawsuit on behalf of a PSTH shareholder against Ackman.
Monday, April 11, 2022
Ackman Says Proposed SPAC Rules Suggest SEC Backs Him Against Investor Lawsuit
Bloomberg
Professor of Law John Morley is mentioned in a report on the latest development in the lawsuit he helped to bring regarding a special purpose acquisition company allegedly acting illegally as an investment company.
Thursday, March 31, 2022
SPAC Seizes On SEC’s Proposed Rules to Fight Investor Suit
Bloomberg
A lawsuit brought by Professor of Law John Morley ’06 and New York University Professor Robert Jackson concerning a special purpose acquisition company continues.
Monday, January 3, 2022
3 Hurdles That Could Slow The Pace Of SPACs In 2022
Law360
Professor of Law John Morley ’06 is mentioned in an article about the future of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies.
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Yale Law School Modernizes Legal Curriculum with New Tsai Leadership Program
Yale Daily News
Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Heather Gerken and Professor of Law John Morley ’06 comment on the launch of The Tsai Leadership Program.
Friday, November 5, 2021
Ackman’s Firms Fire Back at Challenge to Legality of SPACs
Law360
A story provides updates in the suit filed by Professor of Law John Morley ’06 and Robert Jackson of New York University alleging a special purpose acquisition company has been improperly operating as an investment company.
Monday, November 1, 2021
Law Profs Defend Theory that SPAC is Illegal Under Investment Company Act
Reuters
A news report provides developments in the suit filed by Professor of Law John Morley ’06 and Robert Jackson of New York University alleging a special purpose acquisition company has been improperly operating as an investment company.
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Welcome to the Big SPAC Slowdown
CNN Business
Professor of Law John D. Morley ’06 is quoted in a report about increased scrutiny of special purpose acquisition companies.
Monday, August 23, 2021
Ackman Plans to Return Proceeds From $4 Billion SPAC
The Wall Street Journal
Professor of Law John Morley ’06 comments on a development in his lawsuit alleging a special purpose acquisition company has been improperly operating as an investment company.
Friday, August 20, 2021
Ackman SPAC Hit With Investor Suit Questioning Its Legality
Bloomberg
A news report describes a lawsuit brought by Professor of Law John Morley ’06 and and others against a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Bill Ackman’s SPAC Gets Sued
The New York Times
A news report describes a lawsuit brought by Professor of Law John Morley ’06 and a former SEC commissioner alleging a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) has been improperly operating as an investment company.
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Ackman Says SPAC Does Not Need To Be Registered, Pushes Back on Lawsuit
Reuters
Professor of Law John Morley comments on a lawsuit he helped to bring against hedge fund manager William Ackman’s special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), the largest ever formed.
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Massive bailout leaves Wall Street giant exposed to fire from all sides
Politico
Professor of Law John Morley ’06 is quoted in a Politico article about the growing, bipartisan scrutiny faced by BlackRock, an asset manager at the center of the Federal Reserve’s coronavirus-related bailout.
Friday, April 17, 2020
BlackRock Becomes Key Player in Crisis Response for Trump and the Fed
Bloomberg News
Professor of Law John Morley ’06 is quoted in Bloomberg News about how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting small players in the asset management field.
Monday, March 30, 2020
Fed’s big boost for BlackRock raises eyebrows on Wall Street
Financial Times
Professor of Law John Morley ’06 is quoted in the Financial Times about the Federal Bank’s infusion of $1.5 billion into an exchange traded fund managed by BlackRock.
Sunday, September 22, 2019
When ‘Run’ on Partners Starts, So Does Race to Save the Law Firm
Bloomberg Law
Professor of Law John D. Morley ’06 is quoted in Bloomberg, where he discusses the relationship between partner ownership and law firm stability.
Friday, April 20, 2018
Professor Morley’s Article Among Top 10 for 2017
“The Common Law Corporation: The Power of the Trust in Anglo-American Business History” by Professor John Morley ’06 was selected as one of the Top 10 Corporate and Securities Articles of 2017 by Corporate Practice Commentator.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Dangers of the ICO - Investing in Crypto: An interview with John Morley
Talks on Law
Professor of Law John Morley ’06 was a guest where he discussed investing in cryptocurrency.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Professor Hansmann ’74 Receives 2018 Baldwin Award
Henry B. Hansmann '74, Oscar M. Ruebhausen Professor of Law, was the 2018 recipient of the Simeon E. Baldwin Award from the Yale Law School Center for the Study of Corporate Law.
Monday, June 26, 2017
Vanguard Group wrangling over taxes with four states
Philly.com
A journal article by Professor of Law John Morley ’06 is cited in an article about the Vanguard Group and questions about its taxable income.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
How Law and Organization Interact
John D. Morley ’06 received tenure and was promoted to the title of Professor of Law at Yale Law School on July 1, 2016. His teaching and research interests focus on organizational law and investment management.
Monday, February 8, 2016
Vanguard, a Champion of Low Fees, Faces a Peculiar Tax Challenge
The New York Times
Associate Professor of Law John Morley ’06 and Florence Rogatz Visiting Professor of Law David Schizer ’93 are quoted in an article about whether Vanguard has run afoul of U.S. tax laws.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Why Law Firms Collapse—A Commentary by John Morley ’06
The CLS Blue Sky Blog
John Morley ’06 is an Associate Professor of Law at Yale Law School.
Friday, February 15, 2013
John D. Morley ’06 to Join Yale Law School Faculty in July as Associate Professor of Law
John D. Morley ’06 to Join Yale Law School Faculty as Associate Professor of Law on July 1, 2013.