An Elevator Ride with a White-Collar-Crime Fighter
April 28, 2026If you’re ever in an elevator with Professor Seth Lipner of the Zicklin School’s Department of Law, put down your phone and strike up a conversation. You won’t regret it—and you’ll definitely learn something.
During a recent ride to the 13th floor, Zicklin News talked to Prof. Lipner about his law career, how he started teaching at the Zicklin School, and what he loves about it.
“I started teaching here in 1982 as a young attorney. I literally answered an ad in The New York Times. It was good timing, as academic research was becoming the coin of the realm here and I was interested in that. I got involved in securities regulation, which means regulating broker-dealers such as Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan, both of which my law firm has won cases against. We’ve represented the public in every Wall Street problem going back to the 1980s.
“The best thing about teaching here is the students, who are so appreciative of what we offer them. Public education is part of what makes the world a better place, and with these young people, we can make such a difference in helping them achieve their goals and desires. The second-best thing is my colleagues, who are such a pleasure to work with—brilliant people who are dedicated to education.”
To learn more about the Zicklin School’s Department of Law, click here.