David J. Gerber

Distinguished Professor David J. Gerber, co-director of the Program in International and Comparative Law at Chicago-Kent College of Law, was elected president of the American Society of Comparative Law (ASCL) at the organization’s annual meeting in October in Dallas.

“Professor Gerber is an eminent scholar in the law of global competition,” says Vivian Grosswald Curran, distinguished faculty scholar at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and vice president of ASCL. “Proficient in many languages, erudite, creative and wise, he is an ideal leader for our society at this time of legal transnationalization.”

Founded in 1951, the American Society of Comparative Law is the leading organization in the United States promoting the comparative study of law. As president, Gerber plans to pursue outreach initiatives in Latin America and Asia designed to lead to deeper and more meaningful exchanges with scholars in those regions. He also hopes to pursue outreach initiatives that can strengthen ties with scholars in the social sciences, in particular, economics, sociology and the cognitive sciences.

“David believes deeply in finding ways to involve younger scholars in the life and governance of the society,” says Richard Albert, associate professor of law at Boston College and a member of ASCL’s executive committee. “He has been a champion for supporting the initiatives of younger scholars, for mentoring them, and for promoting their scholarly development. He continues to devote considerable time and energy to ensuring the vitality of the society. We are in good hands with him at the helm.”

A member of Chicago-Kent’s faculty since 1982, Gerber teaches courses on comparative law, international and comparative antitrust law, and globalization issues. He has written more than 90 articles and book chapters. His books include Law and Competition in Twentieth Century Europe: Protecting Prometheus (Oxford University Press 1998, paperback 2001), Global Competition: Law, Markets and Globalization (Oxford University Press 2010, paperback 2012) and Competition Law: A Global Introduction and Guide (Oxford University Press, forthcoming).

Gerber holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College, a master’s degree from Yale University, a law degree from the University of Chicago, and an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Zurich, Switzerland.