John Coates, a corporate law expert and leader in the study of the legal profession, has been named a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School—a tenured position. Coates has served as an Assistant Professor of Law at Harvard since 1997.

“I am pleased that John Coates will be joining our tenured faculty,” said Dean Robert C. Clark. “His extensive knowledge of both the theory and practice of corporate law will enhance what is already the world’s finest corporate law program.”

Coates’ research has focused on the structure of corporations and the legal issues stemming from mergers and acquisitions and corporate takeovers. His scholarship has included an article in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review on the value of minority shareholder in conflict transactions and an upcoming piece in the California Law Review about takeover defenses in initial public offerings. At the Law School, he teaches Corporations, Mergers & Acquisitions, and seminars on advanced aspects of corporate, securities, and financial institution law and regulation.

“I am delighted to continue as a teacher and scholar at the Law School that has built the best group of corporate and securities law faculty in the country,” said Coates.

A 1989 graduate of the New York University School of Law, Coates also holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia. Prior to joining the Harvard Law School faculty, Coates was a partner at the New York firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.