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Lawrence “Larry” Cunningham named director of UD’s Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance
The University of Delaware is pleased to announce the appointment of alumnus Lawrence “Larry” Cunningham as the new director of its John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance. Cunningham will officially assume the role on September 23, 2024.
Founded in 2000 within the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, the Weinberg Center is the only corporate governance center in Delaware and one of the longest-standing academic centers dedicated to corporate governance.
Cunningham, a distinguished UD alumnus with a bachelor of arts in economics, is a leading authority on corporate governance, corporate culture and corporate law. Cunningham served for a decade as a member of the Lerner College Dean’s NYC Advisory Council, and has participated in many UD and Weinberg Center events over the years, including delivering the 2024 Weinberg Distinguished Lecture.
“We are thrilled to welcome Larry Cunningham back to UD as the new director of the Weinberg Center,” said Oliver Yao, Dean of the Lerner College. “Larry’s extensive expertise as an author, researcher, board member, lawyer, and speaker will be invaluable in advancing the Center’s mission. His remarkable achievements in corporate governance make him an ideal leader for this esteemed institution.”
A Delaware native, Cunningham is a leading expert on corporate governance who has held diverse roles as a university professor, program director and dean, author and commentator, public company board member, and corporate lawyer.
Currently a professor emeritus at George Washington University, Cunningham also holds directorships at Markel Group (New York Stock Exchange), Constellation Software (Toronto Stock Exchange), and Kelly Partners Group Holdings (Australian Stock Exchange). For the past two years, he served as special counsel at Mayer Brown, advising clients on corporate governance and providing thought leadership in the field.
“I am honored to give back to my alma mater through my role at the Weinberg Center,” Cunningham said. “The University and the Center are central institutions in sustaining Delaware’s national leadership in the field of corporate governance, particularly as the field has become increasingly complex in recent years. I look forward to adding value in those roles.”
Widely cited in the press, Cunningham has twice testified before Congress on corporate governance matters. Cunningham’s influential works include the international bestseller The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America and the award-winning books Contracts in the Real World and Berkshire Beyond Buffett. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Corporate Governance from the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in 2018 and has been honored by NACD as among the “most influential people in corporate governance and in the boardroom.”
Cunningham is succeeding Justin Klein, who is completing a three-year term of successful leadership of the Weinberg Center. “We extend our deepest gratitude to Justin Klein for his exemplary service as director,” Dean Yao said. “Under Justin’s leadership, the Weinberg Center has significantly advanced the field of corporate governance.”
The search committee, chaired by Donald J. Puglisi Professor of Finance Laura Field, included Weinberg Advisory Board Chair Andre Bouchard and Members Carol Ward, Mary Francis, and Tammy Mercer, as well as Lerner Professors Fei Xie, Carolyn Levine and John D’Arcy. The Committee conducted a thorough national search and will continue to provide mentorship as Cunningham transitions into his new role.
Link to article on UDaily | Link to Mr. Cunninhgam’s Bio
Center News, Homepage News
The three John L. Weinberg/IRRCi research paper competition winners were announced at the 2024 Corporate Governance Symposium on March 15, 2024. The other eight finalist papers were also presented.
Congratulations to the winning papers:
- Do board connections between product market peers impede competition?
Authors: Radhakrishnan Gopalan (Washington University in St. Louis, deceased), Renping Li (Washington University in St. Louis), Alminas Zaldoka (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Read the Paper
- The Social Cost of Liquidity Disclosure: Evidence from Hospitals
Authors: Thomas Bourveau (Columbia University), Xavier Giroud (Columbia University, Yifan Ji (University of South Carolina), Xuelin Li (Columbia University)
Read the Paper
- Specialist Directors
Authors: Yaron Nili (University of Wisconsin Law School) and Roy Shapira (Reichman University)
Read the Paper
Read more on the symposium.
Homepage News, Past Events
2024 University of Delaware Weinberg Center/ECGI Corporate Governance Symposium
and John L. Weinberg/IRRCi Research Paper Award Competition
PAST EVENT | March 15, 2024
Time: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm ET
Location: Clayton Hall, University of Delaware, Newark DE
In-person and Live-stream
Call for Papers
Click Here for the 2024 Symposium Program
In collaboration with the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI), the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance and the Department of Finance at the Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware hosted its 2024 annual corporate governance symposium. The winners of the 2024 John L. Weinberg/IRRCi $10,000 Research Paper Award competition were announced during the program.
The winning papers are:
- Do Board Connections Between Product Market Peers Impede Competition?
Authors: Radhakrishnan Gopalan (Washington University in St. Louis, deceased), Renping Li (Washington University in St. Louis), Alminas Zaldoka (National University of Singapore)
Read the Paper
- The Social Cost of Liquidity Disclosure: Evidence from Hospitals
Authors: Thomas Bourveau (Columbia University), Xavier Giroud (Columbia University, Yifan Ji (University of South Carolina), Xuelin Li (Columbia University)
Read the Paper
- Specialist Directors
Authors: Yaron Nili (University of Wisconsin Law School) and Roy Shapira (Reichman University)
Read the Paper
The papers included in the Symposium collectively addressed new developments and critical issues within the area of corporate governance.
The Symposium also included the presentation by the one of the authors of the paper selected as the winner of ACC/Weinberg Center Carl Liggio Memorial Award.
Program Videos
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John L. Weinberg Distinguished Speaker Series – The Chiefs: Past and Present
On April 4, 2023, the Weinberg Center hosted “The Chiefs: Past and Present,” which was part of its John L. Weinberg Distinguished Speaker series, and “Delaware Law Update.”
The Center was honored to host “The Chiefs: Past and Present,” which featured the current and two former Chief Justices of the Delaware Supreme Court, and was moderated by William Lafferty from Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, and Corinne Amato from Prickett, Jones & Elliott. For more information, please view the video.
“Delaware Law Update” was a panel that focused on recent developments and emerging issues in Delaware law. For more information view the video.
Click here for more information about “The Chiefs: Past and Present,” including the participants.
Click here for more information about ‘Delaware Law Update,” including the participants and materials.
VIDEO: The Chiefs: Past and Present VIDEO: Delaware Law Update
Center News, Homepage News
The two John L. Weinberg/IRRCi research paper competition winners were announced at the 2023 Corporate Governance Symposium on March 17, 2023. The other eight finalist papers were also presented.
Congratulations to the winning papers:
• “Female Equity Analysts and Corporate Environmental and Social Performance”
Authors: Kai Li (University of British Columbia), Feng Mai (Stevens Institute of Technology), Gabriel Wong (Cardiff University), Chelsea Yang (University of British Columbia), and Tengfei Zhang (Rutgers University)
Read the paper HERE
• “Conflicting Fiduciary Duties and Fire Sales of VC-backed Start-ups”
Bo Bian (University of British Columbia), Yingxiang Li (University of British Columbia), and Casimiro A. Nigro (Goethe University)
Read the paper HERE
Read more about the 2023 Symposium and the papers HERE.
Homepage News, Past Events
On Monday, October 18, 2021, the Weinberg Center at the University of Delaware celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a reception and dinner in the Gold Ballroom at the Hotel Du Pont. The Center honored its Advisory Board Chair Emeritus, former Chief Justice Myron Steele, for his vision, leadership, and advocacy on behalf of the Center. Proceeds from this event, derived from private donations, endow the “Myron T. Steele Fellowship” at the Center. The Presenting Sponsor of the dinner was Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP.
Monday, October 18, 2021, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Held at the Hotel DuPont, Wilmington, Delaware
Speakers for the evening were:
- The Honorable Andre G. Bouchard, Chair, Weinberg Center Advisory Board; Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
- Dr. Dennis Assanis, President, University of Delaware
- Dr. Robin Morgan, Provost, University of Delaware
- Justin P. Klein, Director, Weinberg Center
- Kathleen Furey McDonough, Partner and Chair of the Firm, Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
- The Honorable Collin J. Seitz, Jr., Chief Justice, Delaware Supreme Court
- The Honorable Kathaleen McCormick, Chancellor, Delaware Court of Chancery
- The Honorable Jack B. Jacobs, Former Justice, Delaware Supreme Court; Senior Counsel, Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
- Myron T. Steele, Chair Emeritus, Weinberg Center Advisory Board; Former Chief Justice Delaware Supreme Court; Partner, Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, the Honoree
Remarks of Myron T. Steele (Video)
