B.A., University of South Florida
J.D., Harvard University

Robert Ashford is Professor of Law at Syracuse University, College of Law. His subjects include Binary Economics, Business Associations, Public Corporations, Professional Responsibility and Securities Regulation. He holds a J.D. with honors from Harvard Law School, and a B.A. with majors in physics and English literature, graduating first in his class at the University of South Florida. He was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Stanford University where he studied English literature and creative writing. His book Binary Economics: the New Paradigm, (1999) with Rodney Shakespeare, is available from the University Press of America.

Professor Ashford is the founder and principal organizer of the Section on Socio-Economics of the Association of American Law Schools and a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Socio-Economics, the academic honor societies of Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Pi Sigma (physics), and the American Law Institute.

Professor Ashford has authored and co-authored articles, book chapters and monographs on various subjects including banking, binary economics, evidence, implied liability under federal law, professional responsibility, public utility regulation, socio-economics, securities regulation, and tax law. His publications include: “What is Socio-Economics,” 41 San Diego Law Review 5 (2004) (Published as an introductory article in a Symposium edition entitled “Teaching Law and Socioeconomics”);  “Socio-Economics and Professional Respsonsibilities in Teaching Law-Related Economic Issues, 41 San Diego Law Review 133 (2004)  (Published in a Symposium edition entitled “Teaching Law and Socioeconomics”); “The Socio-Economic Foundation of Corporate Law and Corporate Social Responsibility” 76 Tulane Law Review 1187 (2002); “Binary Economics, Fiduciary Duties and Corporate Social Responsibility: Comprehending Corporate Wealth Maximization for Stockholders, Stakeholders, and Society,” 76 Tulane Law Review 1531 (2002); "A New Market Paradigm for Sustainable Growth: Financing Broader Capital Ownership with Louis Kelso's Binary Economics,” Volume XIV, Praxis, The Fletcher Journal of Development Studies, pp. 25-59 (1998); "Socio-Economics: What Is Its Place in Law Practice?" Volume 1997 Wisconsin Law Review 611 (1997); "Louis Kelso's Binary Economy," Volume 25 Journal of Socio-Economics pp. 1-53 (1996) (available on westlaw.com in its jjsocecon data base), “The Binary Economics of Louis Kelso: A Democratic Private Property System for Growth and Justice,” Chapter 6 in Curing World Poverty: The New Role of Property, (1994), John H. Miller, C.S.C., S.T.D., editor; Banking Law, Volume 5 Banks and Securities Regulation Supplement, Matthew Bender (1993), “The Binary Economics Louis Kelso: The Promise of Universal Capitalism,” 22 Rutgers Law Journal 3 (1990) (available on www-camlaw.rutgers.edu/publications/lawjournal/ashford.htm); “Take What You Have Gathered From Coincidence: The Importance of Uncertainly Analysis in Legal Inference and Probability.” 66 Boston University Law Review 943 (1986); “Implied Causes of Action Under Federal Laws: Calling the Court Back to Borak,” Northwestern University Law Review 227 (1984); “Evaluating the Potential Use of a Consumer Stock Ownership Plan for Financing the Capital Requirements of Public Utilities,” Proceedings of fourth NARUC Biennial Regulatory Information Conference, The Ohio State University (1984); “Negligence v. Strict Liability: The Workers Compensation Example,” 12 Seton Hall Law Review 725 (1982) (co-authored with William G. Johnson); “Presumptions, Assumptions and Due Process in Criminal Cases: A Theoretical Overview.” 79 Yale Law Journal 165 (1969) (co-authored with D.M. Risinger).

Professor Ashford's current research interests include the relationship between socio-economic principles and the professional responsibilities of lawyers; the fiduciary duty of inquiry in a market economy; the history of law and economics; Federal Reserve monetary policy; Christianity and economics, and binary economics.

Professor Ashford began law practice in the tax department of Morrison & Foerster in San Francisco. Later he joined Louis Kelso in forming the law firm of Kelso, Hunt, Ashford and Ludwig, and the investment banking firm Kelso and Company where he served as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. His law practice included tax, corporate law, securities regulation, and appellate litigation. While in private practice, he was elected President of the Barristers Club of San Francisco (1973) and a Director of the Bar Association of San Francisco (1978).

"Binary Economics and the Case for Broader Ownership" (An earlier version of this article was presented to The Seventh International Post-Keynesian Workshop, June 30 - July 2, 2002, University of Missouri, Kansas City.)

"Using Christian Principles to Enhance Economic Theory and Practice: Louis Kelso's Binary Economics as the More Christian and Scientific Way"

Professor Ashford is the founder and principal organizer of the Section on Socio-Economics of the Association of American Law Schools

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