FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

Villanova Law faculty are teachers, scholars and leaders. Regularly quoted by top-tier media, our faculty are experts in their fields, while also committed to the success of our students. Villanova Law faculty don’t just teach law; they shape it.

 

2026–27: Volume 1

Joan Arnold

• Presented “Living with the Willing Suspension of Disbelief: Practicing and Teaching International Tax” at the Carol Tello International Tax Lecture presented by the USA Branch of the International Fiscal Association in New York City on Sept. 17.

Leslie Book

• Presented “Pay First, Argue Later: Due Process Protection and Taxation” at the 11th International Conference on Taxpayer Rights at the University of Pretoria in South Africa on July 29.
• Published “Abbott Labs and Appeals: What Is It Good For (Absolutely Nothing)?” in Tax Notes on Aug. 12.  
• Published “Superseding Returns and the Statute of Limitations: Will the Real Return Please Stand Up?” in Tax Notes on Sept. 18.
• In the Media: Quoted in “IRS Tax Debt Agreements Have Plummeted” by CNBC on Sept. 18.
• Published “Treaty-Based Summons: Third-Party Notice Rules Don't Apply” in Tax Notes on Sept. 30.

Andrew Brandt

• In the Media:
  • Interviewed for “Andrew Brandt on The Dan Patrick Show” on The Dan Patrick Show on July 21.
  • Interviewed for “Andrew Brandt Explains the NFL Money Machine” on The Wingo Network podcast on Aug. 12.
  • Interviewed for “Episode 417: Andrew Brandt Talks 'Smarter About Sports'” on The Jim Rome Podcast on Aug. 19.
  • Interviewed for “Andrew Brandt: From NFL Agent to Packers VP: Inside the Business of Football & Favre-Rodgers Years” on Finding Your Summit on Sept. 16.
• Posted episodes of The Business of Sports: NFL Business Podcast:
  • “Los Angeles Lakers Are Sold Again, Bills New Stadium Issues & More” on Aug. 12.
  • “Ross Tucker: Vested Veteran Salary, the Latest With NIL and More” on Sept. 12.
  • “Protect College Sports Act, NFL Week 1 Takeaways & More” on Sept. 16.
  • “Quarterback Injuries Piling Up, Owners on Sidelines & More” on Sept. 23.

Patrick Brennan

• Published “Religious Liberty Isn't the Only Thing on the Pope's Mind” in The Philadelphia Inquirer on July 2.
• In the Media: Interviewed for “Pope Leo to Virtually Receive Award in Philadelphia” on LiveNOW from FOX on July 2.
• Presented “A Constitution for Equals” at the Spirited Debate Constitution Day Event hosted by the Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society at the University of Pennsylvania on Sept. 17.

David Caudill

• Presented “The Crisis of Expertise Is Not a New Phenomenon: Legal-Ethical Aspects of Ibsen's 'An Enemy of the People'” for the Villanova Law Alumni Law and Literature CLE on Aug. 11.
• Authored the chapter “Contracting for Confidentiality: Contemporary Uses and Apparent Misuses of Non-Disclosure Agreements” in Research Handbook on Privacy and Confidentiality in Media Law on Sept. 1.
• Presented “Populism and Crises in US Courts” at the European Association for the Study of Science and Technology Annual Conference hosted by AGH University in Kraków, Poland on Sept. 9.
• Published “The Search for Truth: How Trials and Science Differ” in UMKC Law Review on Sept. 28.

Steven Chanenson

• Participated in the discussion “Redefining Rehabilitation: From Norway to Pennsylvania” at the Justice 101 discussion series hosted by the Eastern State Penitentiary on Sept. 8.

Michelle Madden Dempsey

• In the Media: Interviewed for “On Robust Consent with Michelle Dempsey (Villanova)” for the Just Theory podcast on May 14.
• Presented “In Defense of Public Wrongs” on Sept. 22 and served as a guest researcher for fall 2026 at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law in Frieburg, Germany.
• Appointed visiting professor to teach “Critical Perspectives on Criminal Law” in the master's program in Political, Legal and Economic Philosophy at the University of Bern in Switzerland for fall 2026.

MarySheila McDonald

• Presented “Legal Toolkit for Design Entrepreneurs” at the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator on Aug. 11.

Michael Moreland

• Served as a commentator for junior scholar works-in-progress at the Fourth Annual Spring Symposium hosted by the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law on March 27.
• Participated in the discussion “Faith, Reentry and Prison Reform” at the Justice 101 discussion series hosted by the Eastern State Penitentiary on May 27.
• Participated in the discussion “State Regulation of Religious Education” at the State Regulation and Religious Freedom International Conference hosted by Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, on June 2.
• Participated in the Sixteenth Annual Law and Religion Roundtable hosted by Wayne State University on June 18.
• Co-convened the seminar, “Judgment in Rome: Art and Papal Teaching from John Paul II to Leo XIV,” hosted by the Lumen Christi Institute in Rome on June 21.
• Joined an amicus brief in support of petitioners in the Supreme Court case International Partners For Ethical Care, Inc., et al., v. Bob Ferguson, Governor of Washington, et al. on Sept. 15.
• In the Media:
  • Quoted in “A Year In, What's on Pope Leo XIV's To-Do List? And What Has He Done So Far?” by the Associated Press on May 8.
  • Quoted in “National Mall Prayer Event Sparks Concern About Trump Administration Eroding the Wall Between Church and State” by CNN on May 17.
  • Quoted in “Trump-Backed Prayer Rally Roils Debate on Church and State” by The Hill on May 18.
  • Interviewed for “Supreme Court Votes to Uphold Birthright Citizenship” by NBC10 Philadelphia on June 30.
  • Quoted in “On the Eve of America's Birthday, the First American Pope Takes Center Stage” by CNN on July 3.
  • Quoted in “Man Who Criticized ICE Was Protected by First Amendment, Judge Says” by The New York Times on Sept. 16.

Peter Ormerod

• In the Media:
  • Quoted in “A New Mexico Judge Ordered New Child Safeguards for Meta. Advocates Hope Other Courts Follow” by the Associated Press on Aug. 8.
  • Interviewed for “Pa. Sues TikTok Over ‘Failures' to Protect Kids from Adult Content, Addiction” on NBC10 Philadelphia on Aug. 11.
  • Quoted in “Stakes Are High in Meta Bellwether Social Media Trial” by Law360 on Aug. 11.
  • Interviewed for “How Will Meta's Landmark Settlement Change Social Media?” by KQED Forum on Aug. 27.
  • Quoted in “New Mexico Jury Finds Facebook Liable for Deceiving Users About Privacy Protections” by the Associated Press on Sept. 25.

Luke Repici

• Presented “Things I Wish I Knew as a Junior Associate” at White and Williams LLP in Philadelphia on Sept. 14.

Michael Risch

• Presented “Unfettered Invention: How the X Patents Sparked Early American Technology” at the 26th Annual Intellectual Property Scholars Conference hosted by Stanford University Law School on Aug. 7.
• Published the book chapter “Double Patenting and Pharmaceuticals,” from the forthcoming Research Handbook on Intellectual Property and Health, on Sept. 17. 
• Co-authored Unfettered Invention: How the X Patents Sparked Early American Technology (Docent Press), published on Oct. 1.
• In the Media:
  • Interviewed for “Scott B. Guthery, Julie Burke and Michael Risch on Unfettered Invention and on the X-Patents” for FORUM IP Talks on Oct. 1.
  • Interviewed for “The Mystery of the X-Patents” on People of Ordinary Skill in the Art (POSITA) on Oct. 6.

Tuan Samahon

• Delivered the keynote address, “Dependent on His Will Alone: Judicial Independence and the Limits of Good Behavior Tenure,” at the annual dinner of the Historical Society of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Sept. 23.

Christina Tilley

• Published “Commoveo Decisis and Democratic Devolution” in the Michigan State Law Review on Sept. 30.