The University of Pittsburgh School of Law is proud to announce that Vice Dean John Linarelli and Professor J.S. Nelson have been named the newest John E. Murray Faculty Scholars, one of the Law School’s highest academic honors. This distinction recognizes faculty whose scholarship, teaching, and service exemplify the academic excellence and intellectual leadership of the late Dean John E. Murray Jr.
Dean Murray served as Dean of Pitt Law from 1977 to 1984 before becoming Chancellor and President of Duquesne University. Widely regarded as one of the nation’s foremost scholars in contract law, he authored the seminal Murray on Contracts, a foundational treatise that continues to influence the field. At Pitt Law, Dean Murray transformed the school into a center of rigorous legal scholarship and institutional leadership. The John E. Murray Faculty Scholar designation honors faculty whose work continues that legacy.
Vice Dean John Linarelli is internationally recognized for his interdisciplinary research in commercial and financial law, international trade, and legal philosophy. He has published widely on topics ranging from debt and inequality to artificial intelligence and contract theory. His book The Misery of International Law (Oxford University Press), co-authored with M. Sornarajah (NUS) and Margot Salomon (LSE), won the European Society of International Law Book Prize and has helped reshape global conversations about justice and international law. His current scholarship explores shared intentionality and its implications for legal obligation. He is also a leading comparative commercial law scholar and has participated in the work of global institutions, including the World Bank, UNIDROIT, and UNCITRAL. Linarelli serves as co-editor of the Hart Studies in Commercial and Financial Law book series.
Professor J.S. Nelson is a nationally recognized expert in corporate law, white-collar crime, and business ethics. Her work focuses on how legal systems influence ethical behavior within organizations, particularly in areas like compliance and corporate misconduct. She publishes across legal and management fields, and her recent book, Business Ethics: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press), co-authored with the late Lynn Stout, has been praised as a “modern classic.” Nelson is also an active public scholar, speaking frequently to legal, academic, and corporate audiences—including at institutions like J.P. Morgan, Boeing, and Walmart.
“This distinction recognizes two remarkable scholars whose work embodies the intellectual rigor, public engagement, and institutional leadership that Dean Murray championed,” said Dean Jerry Dickinson. “Vice Dean Linarelli and Professor Nelson are advancing critical conversations in law—on everything from the ethics of finance to the future of corporate accountability—and they do so with the kind of integrity and impact that honors Dean Murray’s legacy.
“It is a great honor and privilege to receive this award,” said Vice Dean Linarelli. “As a scholar and teacher of contract law, I have long admired the work of the late Dean John Murray. With deep respect for the rich scholarly tradition he fostered at Pitt Law, I am thrilled to do my part to continue the legacy.”
“It’s a tremendous honor to receive this award from the law school,” said Professor Nelson. “One of the things that truly sets Pitt Law apart is our commitment to producing cutting-edge scholarship that makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives and helps build a better society.”
The John E. Murray Faculty Scholars program reflects Pitt Law’s commitment to cultivating thought leadership and interdisciplinary scholarship at the highest levels.