Robert J. Jackson Jr.

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Robert J. Jackson Jr. (born February 14, 1977) is an American lawyer and academic, currently serving as a professor of law at New York University School of Law. His work predominantly focuses on the empirical study of executive compensation and corporate governance. Jackson is a former commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.|
== Early Life and Education ==
Robert J. Jackson Jr. was born in the Bronx, New York. He attended Blind Brook High School and later graduated summa cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with bachelor's degrees in philosophy and finance. During his undergraduate studies, he was a submatriculant in the MBA program at Wharton, concentrating in finance, and completed his MBA in 2000. Jackson also interned at the Supreme Court under James C. Duff, Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice.
Jackson furthered his education at Harvard University, earning a Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. His thesis on the Massachusetts Parole Board's Regional Reentry Center Initiative won the Taubman Prize for best thesis. He trained under Lucian Bebchuk at Harvard Law School and was appointed the Terence M. Considine Research Fellow in Law and Economics upon graduation in 2005.
== Career ==
=== Academic Career ===
Jackson's academic career includes teaching positions at Columbia Law School and New York University School of Law. At Columbia, he was honored with the Reese Prize for Excellence in Teaching. At NYU, he is the Nathalie P. Urry Professor of Law, Director of the Jacobson Leadership Program in Law and Business, Co-Director of the Institute for Corporate Governance and Finance, and Director of the Program on Corporate Law and Policy.
=== Public Service ===
In 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Jackson and Hester Peirce to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he served until February 2020. The two appointments brought the SEC to its full complement of commissioners. His tenure was marked by advocacy for investor protection, transparency in capital markets, and evidence-driven policymaking. Jackson was known for challenging practices like dual-class stock structures and insider trading gaps.
He also has served as an adviser at the Treasury Department and in the Office of the Special Master for TARP Executive Compensation.
===Private Practice ===
Jackson also worked for Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in the executive compensation department.
=== Research and Publications ===
Jackson's research has significantly impacted corporate governance and securities law. Notable works include:
# How the SEC Helps Speedy Traders: This paper highlighted how the SEC's file transfer protocol allowed high-frequency traders early access to information, leading to significant profits.
# The 8-K Trading Gap: This study revealed how insiders profited from trading during the window between knowing market-moving information and public disclosure.
# The Effects of Usury Laws on Higher-Risk Borrowers: Jackson's research demonstrated the impact of usury laws on credit issuance for higher-risk borrowers, influencing debates on peer-to-peer lending platforms.
His work has been featured in premier publications such as the Journal of Finance, the Journal of Law and Economics, and the Harvard Law Review.
== Personal Life ==
Jackson is a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees and resides in New York with his wife, Bryana. His background includes a story of his parents' financial struggles and their investment in the American stock market, which enabled him to attend college.
== References ==	
Category:Professors
Category:Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz - Former Employees
Category:Lawyers
Category:Columbia University School of Law - Former Employees
Category:U.S. Department of Treasury - Former Employees
Category:Former SEC Commissioners