Laurence A. Tisch Professor of Law and Director, Classical Liberal Institute, New York University School of Law; Director, Classical Liberal Institute, Civitas Institute University of Texas at Austin
Richard A. Epstein is the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of Law, at New York University, a senior research fellow at the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas Austin, and a senior Lecturer, the University of Chicago. He received an LL.D., h.c . from the University of Ghent, 2003 , and an LLD h.c . from the University of Siegen in 2018 and the Bradley Prize in 2011. He has been a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1985. He has edited both the Journal of Legal Studies (1981-1991) and the Journal of Law and Economics (1991-2001). He is also a founder and director of the Classical Liberal Institute at NYU Law School. His most recent book is The Classical Liberal Constitution: The Uncertain Quest for Limited Government (2014). His other books include Takings: Private Property and the Power of Eminent Domain ( 1985); Bargaining with the State (1993); Simple Rules for a Complex World (1995); Principles for a Free Society: Reconciling Individual Liberty and the Common Good (1998); Skepticism and Freedom: A Modern Theory of Classical Liberalism (2003); Design for Liberty: Private Property, Public Administration and the Rule of Law (2011), and most recently, The Myth of Birthright citizenship—and Beyond (2026). He has taught courses in , administrative law, antitrust, constitutional, contracts, environmental law, land use planning; real property, torts and water law. He has written and spoken extensively on a wide range of topics, and is writes a regular column for Defining Ideas.
Counsel, Ford & Harrison LLP
Frank has successfully represented national retailers, health care providers, and various other public and private employers in matters arising under Title VII, the ADA, FMLA, ADEA, USERRA, and various other federal and state statutes.
He has extensive litigation experience in many different forums, and he has helped many clients prevail on summary judgment and at trial. Frank frequently serves as a faculty member at employment law seminars, and he has published articles in the ABA Employment Law Newsletter, the Tennessee Bar Journal, and the University of Memphis Law Review. He graduated from the University of Memphis School of Law with honors where he also received special recognition for his performance in moot court and mock trial competitions.
Of Counsel, Fisher & Phillips, LLP
Greg Grisham has over 25 years of successful experience counseling and representing employers in all aspects of workplace law in Tennessee and across the United States.
He has helped employers avoid claims, charges and lawsuits with a focus on preventative practices. Preventative practices include counseling in situations involving discipline, termination, demotion, promotion and other workplace changes in the terms and conditions of employment, harassment investigations, wage and hour compliance, FMLA Compliance, Reasonable Accommodation assessment, supervisor training and the review of employment policies and procedures. In addition, Greg's practice includes the representation of business entities subject to Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act in Public Accommodation cases.
Greg has successfully litigated hundreds of administrative charges, employment lawsuits, and arbitration demands on behalf of employers, including federal and state law claims alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of contract, wage and hour violations and ERISA violations, among others. He also represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board in unfair labor practice proceedings. He represents employers in the enforcement of post-employment restrictive covenants such as non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disclosure agreements and related trade secret litigation. Greg's practice also includes the defense of property owners and property management companies in federal and state Housing Discrimination charges and litigation. He also advises Tennessee Public Charter Schools on education law and workplace compliance matters.
Greg has extensive experience working with insurance carriers and their insureds in the defense of EPLI claims. He is a regular speaker at public seminars on workplace law issues and has authored numerous articles on a variety of labor and employment law related topics.
Greg holds an AV Preeminent Peer Review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected for inclusion in Mid-South Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America for Employment Litigation-Management side. Greg was elected as a 2016 Fellow to the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and has been selected to the “Top 20 Lawyers in Traditional Labor & Employment Law” list in conjunction with Human Resource Executive Magazine and LawDragon’s 2017 and 2018 “Most Powerful Employment Attorneys” lists and specialty guides. Greg was also named a Fellow in the American Bar Foundation in 2017.
Partner, The Gardner Law Firm
David F. Barton has extensive experience in environmental, government and government contract, and corporate law. He joined The Gardner Law Firm in 1996 after serving as a United States Air Force JAG officer as well as having six years of private practice with firms in Texas. Mr. Barton counsels clients in environmental matters, government contracts, regulatory compliance, commercial law, and litigation related to those areas. He represents industries, businesses and government units on matters involving water, air, solid and hazardous waste, toxins, wetlands, endangered species, historic preservation, NEPA, Superfund, and federal and state court litigation in those areas. He has taught courses in criminal law, litigation, administration of justice and environmental crimes at several universities throughout the United States, and he has been a guest speaker at environmental law and government contract seminars. Mr. Barton has been licensed to practice in Texas since 1991, and is also licensed in Arkansas. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of Military Appeals, and several United States Circuit Courts of Appeals and United States District Courts. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas (Environmental & Natural Resources Section, among others); College of the State Bar of Texas, the Arkansas Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Foundation (Fellow), the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the San Antonio Bar Association (Environmental Section). He is also an active participant in the San Antonio Manufacturers Association, the Alamo Area Chapter - Air & Waste Management Association, and Citizens Advisory Panel of the San Antonio Water System.
University of Arkansas, J.D., 1975; Central Methodist College; University of Missouri at Columbia, B.A., 1967
Partner, The Gardner Law Firm
David F. Barton has extensive experience in environmental, government and government contract, and corporate law. He joined The Gardner Law Firm in 1996 after serving as a United States Air Force JAG officer as well as having six years of private practice with firms in Texas. Mr. Barton counsels clients in environmental matters, government contracts, regulatory compliance, commercial law, and litigation related to those areas. He represents industries, businesses and government units on matters involving water, air, solid and hazardous waste, toxins, wetlands, endangered species, historic preservation, NEPA, Superfund, and federal and state court litigation in those areas. He has taught courses in criminal law, litigation, administration of justice and environmental crimes at several universities throughout the United States, and he has been a guest speaker at environmental law and government contract seminars. Mr. Barton has been licensed to practice in Texas since 1991, and is also licensed in Arkansas. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of Military Appeals, and several United States Circuit Courts of Appeals and United States District Courts. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas (Environmental & Natural Resources Section, among others); College of the State Bar of Texas, the Arkansas Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Foundation (Fellow), the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the San Antonio Bar Association (Environmental Section). He is also an active participant in the San Antonio Manufacturers Association, the Alamo Area Chapter - Air & Waste Management Association, and Citizens Advisory Panel of the San Antonio Water System.
University of Arkansas, J.D., 1975; Central Methodist College; University of Missouri at Columbia, B.A., 1967
Topics
Senators Express Bipartisan Interest in Restoring Constitutional Balance of Power
Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) addressed more than 300 policy analysts from government, academia,...
Topics
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co.
Background Imagine you own a plot of land. You may want to build a house...
Topics
Should Congress Enact the Blue Lives Matter Act of 2016?
Recently, Representative Ken Buck introduced the Blue Lives Matter Act of 2016, which would amend...
The Constitutional Foundations of Intellectual Property: A Natural Rights Perspective
Richard A. Epstein
The Natural Law Approach To Copyrights and Patents One of the major unmarked developments in...
Topics
SCOTUS Opinions: Ninth Circuit misreads Alaska statute; Class certification in FLSA case affirmed
The Supreme Court issued four opinions in argued cases this morning: (1) Sturgeon v. Frost:...
Circumventing Congress: The Use of Sex-Stereotyping Theory to Expand Protected Classes Under Title VII
Frank L. Day, J. Gregory Grisham
Note from the Editor: This article is about the EEOC’s use of the Supreme Court’s...
Topics
FDA's Amarin settlement fails to establish clear guidelines for speech
It’s a shame that in a nation that prizes free speech, the government routinely censors...
Racial Preferences in Federal Government Contracting – Rothe Development Corporation v. Department of Defense - Podcast
David F. Barton
On March 10, 2016, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Rothe...
Racial Preferences in Federal Government Contracting – Rothe Development Corporation v. Department of Defense
TeleforumTopics
Justice Scalia and the Proper Role of a Judge
With the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, many Americans have begun to ask: What is...