Seth C. Oranburg, J.D.
Last updated April 12, 2025.
Email: Seth@Oranburg.Law • Phone: 603.703.6133 • LinkedIn: @sco603 • YouTube: @BizLaw
Research & Teaching Interests
Business Associations • Organizational Governance • Entrepreneurship • Venture Finance • Securities Regulation • Trade Secrets • Technology Policy
Education
J.D. University of Chicago Law School, with honors, Order of the Coif (2011).
B.A. English & Political Science, magna cum laude, University of Florida (2006).
Academic Appointments
Professor of Law. University of New Hampshire – Franklin Pierce School of Law (2024–Present).
Associate Professor of Law. University of New Hampshire – Franklin Pierce School of Law (2022–2024).
Associate Professor of Law. Duquesne University School of Law (2021–2022).
Assistant Professor of Law. Duquesne University School of Law (2016–2021).
Visiting Assistant Professor of Law. Illinois Institute of Technology – Chicago-Kent College of Law (2015–2016).
Visiting Assistant Professor of Law. Florida State University College of Law (2014–2015).
Additional Positions & Affiliations
Director. Program on Business, Organizations, and Markets, Classical Liberal Institute, New York University School of Law (2021–Present).
Fellow. Haifa Center for Law and Technology, University of Haifa Faculty of Law (2025–Present).
Fellow. Classical Liberal Institute, New York University School of Law (2016–2021).
Fellow. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology, and Law, Duquesne University (2021–2022).
Adjunct Professor. Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (2021).
Instructor. Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne – Master 2 in Anglo-American Business Law (2018).
Select Honors & Awards
Excellence in Teaching Award. University of New Hampshire (2024). University-level recognition awarded to top faculty members demonstrating exceptional teaching and student engagement within their respective colleges.
Inclusive Teaching Award. Center for Teaching Excellence, Duquesne University (2021). Recognized for inclusive pedagogical innovation in legal education.
Dr. John & Liz Murray Award for Excellence in Faculty Scholarship. Duquesne University School of Law (2019). Recognized for scholarly achievement in the field of law and entrepreneurship.
Research Grant Awards
Academic Engagement Network (2025). Supports faculty-led initiative, Beyond the Ivory Tower, addressing antisemitism and institutional governance in higher education.
Academic Engagement Network (2025). Funds participation in the 2025 UCLA Law vs. Antisemitism Conference.
Institute for Humane Studies (2025). Supports A Function-Based Approach to Blockchain Governance.
University of Wyoming Blockchain Research Center (2024). Supports guest lectures and research on blockchain law and decentralized finance.
Hayek Fund for Scholars. (2022). Funds travel and research on regulatory theory, entrepreneurship, and business law.
Clifford Asness Foundation (2018). Co-awarded with Richard A. Epstein and Liya Palagashvili for empirical work on regulation and entrepreneurship.
John Templeton Foundation (2017). Supports empirical research on startup innovation and regulatory design, in collaboration with Richard A. Epstein and Liya Palagashvili.
Works in Progress
Collective Phrónêsis in Equity Crowdfunding: Structuring Financial Regulation for Practical Wisdom(draft on SSRN). Applies Aristotle’s concept of phrónêsis (practical wisdom) to address challenges in equity crowdfunding, proposing regulatory frameworks that embed ethical considerations into platform design and governance.
Beyond “Crypto”: Reclaiming Congressional Authority Over Financial Risk Governance (draft on SSRN). Critiques the reliance on the Howey test for classifying digital assets, highlighting the resulting regulatory inconsistencies and innovation offshoring. Advocates for a function-based framework that classifies digital assets by their actual economic functions and begins with a legislative safe harbor for utility tokens, aiming to restore Congress’s constitutional role in financial risk regulation.
A Systems Approach: Teaching Intellectual Property in Our Interconnected World (forthcoming by AIPLA 2025). Book chapters that advocates for a holistic, integrated IP curriculum that unifies patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Draws on the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law’s Hybrid JD program as a case study to propose scalable strategies for legal education reform.
Right to Not Work: Why (Some) Unions Are Anti-Religion (forthcoming in FIU Law Review). Explores how unions may prioritize seniority over religious accommodations, often disadvantaging religious minorities. Analyzes the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision in Groff v. DeJoy on labor and civil rights law, arguing for a reevaluation of union practices in light of constitutional protections.
University Disentanglement: Toward a Theory of University Governance (draft on SSRN). Explores the legal and ethical complexities universities face when deciding to sever financial or operational ties with entities conflicting with institutional values, proposing a structured governance framework to navigate such decisions.
Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism Beyond the Ivory Tower (manuscript under review with Pepperdine Law Review). Interrogates the overlap between antisemitism and anti-Zionism through legal analysis, firsthand testimony from the October 7 aftermath, and institutional critique of university responses. Proposes a liberal-realist framework for civic responsibility rooted in virtue ethics, Title VI enforcement, and academic integrity.
Protecting Trade Secrets (under contract with Carolina Academic Press). A forthcoming textbook providing comprehensive coverage of trade secret law, including its theoretical foundations and practical applications in the modern economy.
Business Associations: A Comprehensive Approach (under contract with Aspen Publishing). Developing a comprehensive casebook that bridges traditional business law concepts with modern organizational practices.
Publications
Books
Business Associations: Questions & Answers (3rd ed., Carolina Academic Press 2024). Comprehensive study guide and doctrinal synthesis used in law school courses and bar preparation nationwide.
Contract Law: Rules, Cases, and Problems (Carolina Academic Press 2023). Casebook designed for teaching both traditional doctrinal instruction and flipped classrooms.
A History of Financial Technology: From American Incorporation to Corporations and Crowdfunding(Cambridge University Press 2022). Scholarly monograph tracing the development of financial innovation and legal infrastructure from the 18th century to the modern regulatory state.
Law Review Articles
Antitrust Law for Blockchain Technology, 49 Journal of Corporation Law 379 (2024). Analyzes the application of traditional antitrust principles to blockchain technologies, highlighting potential legal challenges.
Social Media and Democracy After the Capitol Riot, or, A Cautionary Tale of the Giant Goldfish, 73 Mercer Law Review 591 (2022). Examines the impact of social media on democratic processes in the context of the Capitol riot.
Online Onboarding: Corporate Governance Training in the COVID-19 Era (with B. Kahn), 2 Arizona State Corporate & Business Law Journal 1 (2021). Examines how corporate governance practices adapted to remote board integration during the pandemic.
Corporations Hybrid: A Case Study in Business Law Pedagogical Innovation (with D. Tamasy), 56:3 Willamette Law Review 363 (2021). Describes a hybrid simulation course structure combining doctrinal, experiential, and online methods in business law teaching.
Securities Regulation and Social Media, 52 Loyola University Chicago Law Journal 15 (2020). Explores how social media platforms intersect with securities regulation, particularly concerning general solicitation rules.
Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Innovation Through Regulatory Democratization, 57 San Diego Law Review 757 (2020). Discusses regulatory reforms aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.
Unbundling Employment: Flexible Benefits for the Gig Economy, 11 Drexel Law Review 1 (2018). Proposes a flexible benefits framework to better accommodate gig economy workers.
Hyperfunding: Regulating Financial Innovations, 89 University of Colorado Law Review 1033 (2018). Analyzes novel financing methods and their regulatory implications.
Democratizing Startups, 68 Rutgers University Law Review 1013 (2016). Advocates for broader access to startup investment opportunities.
A Place of Their Own: Crowds in the New Market for Equity Crowdfunding, 100 Minnesota Law Review Headnotes 147 (2016). Analyzes how the JOBS Act created a new legal space for equity crowdfunding distinct from traditional public and private capital markets, and explores the regulatory, economic, and democratic implications of that transformation.
Bridgefunding: Crowdfunding and the Market for Entrepreneurial Finance, 25 Cornell Journal of Law & Public Policy 397 (2015). Investigates the role of crowdfunding in entrepreneurial finance.
A Little Birdie Said: How Twitter Is Disrupting Shareholder Activism, 20 Fordham Journal of Corporate & Financial Law 695 (2015). Explores the influence of Twitter on shareholder activism.
Peer Reviewed Articles
Advanced Online Continuing Legal Education, 73 Journal of Legal Education 556 (2025). Explores how law schools and professional institutions can reimagine continuing legal education (CLE) using pedagogically sound digital formats.
The Unintended Consequences of Mandatory ESG Disclosures, 77:3 The Business Lawyer 697 (2022). Analyzes how mandatory ESG disclosure regimes may unintentionally distort capital market behavior and corporate decision-making.
The Gig Economy, Smart Contracts, and the Disruption of Traditional Work (with Liya Palagashvili), 50:2 Journal of Legal Studies 219 (2021). Explores how blockchain-enabled smart contracts challenge conventional labor law frameworks and employer-employee classifications.
Female Entrepreneurs and Equity Crowdfunding in the US: Receiving Less When Asking for More(with Mark Geiger), 10 Journal of Business Venturing Insights 99 (2018). Empirical analysis of gender disparities in U.S. equity crowdfunding campaigns.
Do Female Investors Support Female Entrepreneurs? An Empirical Analysis of Angel Investor Behavior (with Mark Geiger), Duquesne University School of Law Research Paper No. 2019-06. Preliminary working paper exploring gender dynamics in early-stage venture financing using national survey data.
Essays and Book Chapters
Distance Education in the Time of Coronavirus: Quick and Easy Strategies for Professors, Duquesne University School of Law Research Paper No. 2020-02 (2020). Rapid-response teaching guide for faculty transitioning to online legal education during COVID-19. Translated into Hebrew and reprinted by The MOFET Institute.
Start-Up Financing 2.0, in Startup Creation (2d ed., F. Pacheco-Torgal ed., 2020). Explores the evolution of venture finance mechanisms and regulatory tools supporting startup growth.
Balancing Flexibility and Rigidity: Do Unions Make Sense in the On-Demand Economy? (with Liya Palagashvili), in Reviving American Labor (R. Bales & C. Garden eds., 2020). Assesses the suitability of traditional union models for emerging gig-economy work structures.
Startup Financing, in Startup Creation (F. Pacheco-Torgal ed., 2016). Introduces early-stage financing tools and strategies for entrepreneurs and legal advisors.
Op-Eds and Blog Posts
Universities: No More ‘Blind Neutrality’ When It Comes to Protesters, The Daily Signal, Apr. 11, 2025. Argues that universities must reject false neutrality in the face of antisemitic and extremist campus protests.
The Real ‘Constitutional Crisis’ Is Bigger Than Trump, Daily Caller, Apr. 4, 2025. Identifies institutional breakdown—not presidential overreach—as the deeper legal threat to American democracy.
Delaware’s Corporate Law Reform Would Fortify Stable Governance, Bloomberg Law, Mar. 18, 2025. Analyzes Delaware SB21 and its implications for shareholder litigation and boardroom stability.
A New Year’s Resolution for Concord and UNH, Concord Monitor, Dec. 31, 2024. Proposes civic and institutional engagement to strengthen the Concord–UNH partnership.
Striking the Right Balance on Campus Protests, Concord Monitor, Aug. 24, 2024. Argues for principles-based campus leadership that upholds free expression without enabling harassment.
How to Integrate New Corporate Directors Online (with B. Kahn), Columbia Law School Blue Sky Blog, Aug. 12, 2020. Practical strategies for onboarding corporate directors remotely during COVID-19.
Blockchain—Not Bitcoin—Represents the Next Step in Financial Evolution and Beyond (with J. Stead), Oxford Business Law Blog, July 24, 2020. Explains how blockchain infrastructure offers more stable innovation pathways than speculative cryptocurrencies.
Preliminary Evidence Suggests That Female Entrepreneurs Raise Less Than Their Male Counterparts via U.S. Equity Crowdfunding. Why?, Oxford Business Law Blog, Nov. 28, 2018. Empirical commentary on gender disparities in crowdfunding outcomes.
Hyperfunding is the Harbinger of New Corporate Finance, Oxford Business Law Blog, Aug. 9, 2017. Discusses how hybridized funding structures challenge the boundaries of private and public capital markets.
The Gender Equity Gap, Oxford Business Law Blog, Jan. 11, 2017. Commentary on systemic barriers facing female founders in venture capital ecosystems.
A Place of Their Own: Crowds in the New Market for Equity Crowdfunding, Oxford Business Law Blog, Nov. 14, 2016. Synthesizes arguments from the author’s law review article on the regulatory identity of equity crowdfunding.
The Law and Economics of the Series A Gap, Columbia Law School Blue Sky Blog, Apr. 6, 2015. Analyzes the inefficiencies in venture-stage financing and SEC rules governing startup capital formation.
Crowdfunding under Title III Doesn’t Work, But We Can Fix It, Law & Economics Prof Blog, Feb. 22, 2015. Critiques Title III of the JOBS Act and suggests pathways for reform grounded in regulatory design.
Twitter Is Disrupting Shareholder Activism, Columbia Law School Blue Sky Blog, Jan. 14, 2015. Explores how real-time digital tools shift corporate engagement and shareholder strategy.
Crowdfunding Rebooted: It’s Not Just for Startups Anymore, GoodCrowd.info, Sept. 24, 2015. Discusses the evolution of crowdfunding into broader use cases including community financing and real estate.
Media Appearances
The Lars Larson Show, (Apr. 1, 2025). Professor Oranburg appeared for a 15–20 minute telephone interview about the Khalil deportation case.
Challenges to Academic Freedom on College Campuses, The Legal Impact Podcast (Mar. 29, 2025). In this episode, Professor Oranburg discusses how federal funding pressures are influencing university policies on academic freedom.
Campus Protests and Free Speech, The Legal Impact Podcast (Sep. 23, 2024). Professor Oranburg examines the balance between free speech and campus safety amidst student protests.
Groff v. DeJoy, The Legal Impact Podcast (Aug. 21, 2023). Professor Oranburg analyzes the implications of the Supreme Court decision in Groff v. DeJoy for employment law and religious freedom.
Meghan McCarty Carino, California Ballot Measure Keeps “Gig” in Gig Economy, Marketplace (Nov. 20, 2020). National news outlet interviewed and quoted Professor Oranburg as an expert on how Proposition 22 will impact the gig economy.
Multimedia Productions
Business Law Education (@BizLaw). A dedicated YouTube channel featuring video content on business law topics—including lectures, panel discussions, and case studies on corporate governance, securities regulation, and innovative legal pedagogy.
Organized: The Business Law Breakdown. A podcast series where Professor Oranburg hosts discussions on legal innovation, corporate law challenges, and practical insights at the intersection of business and law. The show features interviews with industry experts and thought leaders, addressing current developments and future trends in business law.
Selected Presentations
Innovations in Teaching Contracts, AALS Annual Meeting, Section on Contracts, The Moscone Center (Jan. 10, 2025). Invited presentation showcasing cutting-edge experiential techniques for teaching contracts.
Technology, Law, and Legal Education Works-in-Progress, AALS Annual Meeting, Section on Technology, Law and Legal Education, The Moscone Center (Jan. 10, 2025). Explores digital innovations and emerging pedagogical methods in legal education.
The Legal Dimensions of Definitions of Antisemitism, AALS Annual Meeting, Section on Jewish Law, The Moscone Center (Jan. 9, 2025). Analyzes evolving legal frameworks for defining antisemitism and their practical implications for campus policy.
Are Campus Speech Codes Too Restrictive?, Federalist Society Panel, University of New Hampshire – Franklin Pierce School of Law (Nov. 21, 2024). Examines the tension between free expression and campus safety, arguing for clearer regulatory guidelines.
A Systems Approach: Teaching Intellectual Property in Our Interconnected World, IDEA Symposium, University of New Hampshire – Franklin Pierce School of Law (Nov. 15, 2024). Presents a unified, interdisciplinary model for modernizing intellectual property education.
Equal Process vs. Equity: Which is the Most Fair?, Federalist Society Event, University of New Hampshire – Franklin Pierce School of Law (Nov. 4, 2024). Compares procedural fairness with substantive equity in legal practice and institutional policy.
Innovative Approaches to Regulatory Reform in the Gig Economy, University of Wyoming (Nov. 4, 2021). Analyzes emerging legal frameworks addressing digital labor issues and the transformation of work.
Right to Not Work: Unions and Title VII, Florida Atlantic University (Feb. 2024). Discusses constitutional and labor law challenges in union practices and religious accommodations.
The Unintended Consequences of ESG Disclosures, Heritage Foundation (Jan. 2023). Explores how mandated ESG disclosures can distort corporate behavior and market dynamics.
Antitrust and Web3, New York University (Oct. 2022). Evaluates the challenges decentralized technologies pose to traditional antitrust principles.
Internet Technology and Securities Regulation, University of Tennessee (Nov. 2021). Discusses regulatory responses to technological innovations affecting securities markets.
Mandatory Disclosure of Environmental and Social Governance: Law’s Role in Creating Pooling and Separating Equilibria, New York University School of Law (Oct. 2021). Analyzes legal strategies balancing market transparency with corporate stability through ESG disclosures.
The Impact of Blockchain on the Practice of Law, New York University School of Law (Mar. 2021). Explores how blockchain technology is transforming legal practice and service delivery.
Convertible Notes and Series Seed Agreements, University of Chicago (May 2013). Provides foundational insights into startup financing and contractual interpretation.
Symposia, Conferences & Missions
Financial Impacts of Climate Change @ UIowa (2024) – Organizer and Moderator. Focused on the economic consequences of climate change on legal and corporate sectors; resulted in a special publication in the Iowa Law Review.
The New Age of Antitrust @ NYU (2023) – Organizer and Panelist. Addressed modern challenges in antitrust law amid digital transformation; the symposium’s discussions were later published in The Business Lawyer.
The ESG Movement: Law, Economics and Values @ NYU (2022) – Organizer and Panelist. Explored the interplay of ESG issues with law and economics; discussions from the event led to a publication in the Journal of Corporation Law.
The Junior #FutureLaw Scholars Colloquium @ Duquesne 4.0 (2019) – Conference Organizer. Aimed at mentoring emerging legal scholars and fostering collaborative scholarship.
The Junior #FutureLaw Scholars Colloquium @ Duquesne 3.0 (2018) – Conference Organizer. Organized academic sessions focused on skill-building and innovative pedagogy for early-career legal academics.
The Junior #FutureLaw Scholars Colloquium @ Duquesne 2.0 (2017) – Conference Organizer. Coordinated events that promoted practical strategies and mentorship among emerging scholars.
The Junior #FutureLaw Scholars Colloquium @ Duquesne (2016) – Conference Organizer. Initiated the colloquium series to nurture intellectual growth and innovative teaching within the legal field.
Institute for Humane Studies Roundtable (Nov. 2021) – Participant. Engaged in an interdisciplinary discussion on re-envisioning regulatory frameworks within the digital economy.
Recent and Ongoing Service
University of New Hampshire Service
Faculty Senator (2023–Present). Elected to represented law faculty interests on institutional governance; appointed to Finance and Administration Committee; actively contributed to budgeting and policy discussions through regular meetings with administration.
University Committee on Civics and Citizenship (2024–Present). Volunteered to support university-wide efforts to advance civic education, civil discourse, and democratic engagement across disciplines and student life.
Law School Service
Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2023–Present). Helped lead inclusive pedagogy initiatives, including events spotlighting first-generation professionals and programming for Transgender Awareness Week.
Committee on Academic Standing and Success (2022–2024). Participated in student retention and academic performance oversight, including evaluation of appeals and academic progress interventions.
Promotion and Tenure Committee (2024–Present). Reviewed faculty applications for promotion and tenure, including assuming leadership in subcommittee processes to ensure timely and fair evaluation.
Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS) Representative (2024–Present). Represented UNH Law at SEALS to support faculty recruitment, networking, and law school visibility within the national academic community.
Faculty Advisory Roles
Jewish Law Student Association (2022–Present). Provide mentorship, cultural programming support, and academic guidance to students exploring the intersection of Jewish identity and legal practice.
Faculty Advisor, Business & Tax Law Society (2023–Present). Advise students interested in business and tax law careers, supporting event planning, guest speaker coordination, and career development activities.
Faculty Advisor, Outdoor Club (2022–Present). Support students seeking community and well-being through outdoor recreation, fostering informal mentorship in a nontraditional setting.
Faculty Advisor, Federalist Society (2022–Present). Guide student-led programming on constitutional law, liberty, and legal theory while ensuring viewpoint diversity and academic rigor.
Student Research Supervision
Supervised numerous student research projects across fields including intellectual property, legal ethics, pedagogy, and administrative law. Continue to mentor students post-course as they develop scholarly work for submission and professional presentation.
Peer Review and Refereeing
Academy of Management Perspectives. Evaluate interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of law, business, and organizational theory for a leading peer-reviewed journal.
Institute for Humane Studies. Review academic papers advancing classical liberal theory, institutional analysis, and legal philosophy.
Israel Science Foundation. Assess legal and economic research proposals for Israel’s premier national research funding body.
Templeton Foundation. Evaluate proposals exploring liberty, virtue, economic institutions, and moral responsibility in law and society.
Philanthropic Leadership
Board of Directors. Temple Israel of Manchester (2024–Present). Provide strategic guidance and community leadership for one of New Hampshire’s oldest Jewish congregations; contribute to educational, cultural, and interfaith programming.
Bar Memberships
New Hampshire Attorney No. 278598 (2024–Present).
District of Columbia Attorney No. 1012991 (2012–Present).
California Attorney No. 281994 (2011–Present).
Legal Work Experience
Corporate Law Associate. Fenwick & West LLP (2012–2014). Represented corporate clients in a range of transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, and intellectual property issues, contributing to high-profile deals and providing strategic legal advice.
Antitrust Law Associate. Cadwalader LLP (2011–2012). Conducted comprehensive legal research and case analysis on antitrust issues, supporting litigation and regulatory enforcement efforts in complex competitive practice matters.
Antitrust Law Clerk. Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP (Summer 2010). Assisted in case preparation, drafted memoranda, and performed in-depth research on antitrust jurisprudence to support ongoing litigation and settlement negotiations.
Antitrust Law Clerk. Department of Justice – Antitrust II Division (Summer 2009). Supported government attorneys by researching legal precedents and compiling evidence for investigations into anti-competitive practices and violations of antitrust laws.
Antitrust Paralegal. Cadwalader LLP (2007–2009). Provided comprehensive paralegal support in antitrust matters, including drafting documents, organizing case files, and assisting attorneys with legal research and analysis.
