Business Law Program
Faculty Research and Profiles
Program Coordinator:
Jennifer S. Taub is a full-time lecturer and coordinator of the Program. Prior to joining the faculty in September 2004, she served as an Associate General Counsel at Fidelity Investments in Boston. She advised senior management within the Fidelity transfer agents, broker-dealers and investment advisers on compliance with the Federal Securities Laws. As chief lawyer for the Fixed Income division, she met with regulators including the SEC and MSRB concerning rule changes. Over the course of her private practice, Jennifer hired and supervised the work of internal and external lawyers. She specialized in many areas within the category of trade regulation, including advertising, e-commerce, securities law and electronic funds transfers. Jennifer brings her areas of research interest into the classroom, including the use of film to teach management principles, alternative business models and the way in which law reflects and enforces the social status quo. Admitted in New York and Massachusetts, Jennifer received a B.A. in English from Yale College and her Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School.
Adjunct Instructors:
Frank A. Caruso offers his energy and commercial law expertise to the University in a variety of ways. In addition to acting as a Partner in the Springfield-based Mulberry Law Group, Frank volunteers as a coach for the women's rugby team at U-Mass and acts as a part-time lecturer in the Isenberg School. Teaching both Introduction to Law and CPA Law, Frank brings long-developed practical knowledge of business law to the classroom. His practice includes representation of financial institution creditors in debt collection workout and loan packages. As the trusted advisor for many businesses in Western Massachusetts, Frank stays current on the ever-changing laws related to his clients' enterprises and also on the practical impact these changes have on business. Frank is admitted in Massachusetts and has nearly 25 years of business law teaching experience. He earned his B.A. from the State University of Oswego and his Juris Doctorate from Western New England College of Law.
Ronald H. Cody brings to the classroom extensive experience as an educator in the sciences as well as expertise in intellectual property law. A registered patent attorney, Ron blends his interests in Biology with his legal focus. He offers students both substantive expertise as well as the awareness that career success often involves shifting from one occupation to another over the course of one's working years. Ron's solo practice includes civil and criminal practice trials, appeals and intellectual property work. Ron's teaching experience began over 25 years ago when he trained to become a secondary school science teacher. He has taught business law classes at the Isenberg School for more than 5 years. Admitted to the bar in Maine and Massachusetts, Ron earned a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from the University of Maine, a teaching certificate from Westfield State College, and his Juris Doctorate from Western New England College of Law.
Michael Malkovich co-partners a law office in Northampton specializing most recently in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, civil rights, consumer rights, education and criminal law. Not only does Mike bring regular trial experience to bear on his teaching, but he also draws on his previous practice of public interest law. As an undergraduate, he helped coordinate long-term counseling at a runaway crisis center. During and after law school, for over five years, he worked at Legal Aid and specialized in areas including consumer rights, welfare law, and landlord tenant law. He has taught at the Isenberg School for more than 10 years. Admitted in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Michigan, Mike received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctorate from Antioch School of Law.
Jennifer Merton specializes in estate planning and probate, elder law and long-term care planning, as well as family business planning and succession. She divides her professional time between her solo private law practice, assisting in the operation of a family-owned boating supply company, and teaching Introduction to Law and the Law of Enterprise Organization at the Isenberg School. Jennifer brings her interest in legal research and theory to the classroom. Her expectations for her students are equal to those for herself. She has developed a course syllabus, class notes and projects that enrich, stretch and enlighten her students and colleagues. Jennifer has taught assorted law-related classes for over fifteen years, first at the University of Connecticut School of Business, then at Elms College, and here at the Isenberg School for over seven years. She has collaborated with other Isenberg School faculty on implementing a core course portal and on developing cross curriculum, core course assignments. Jennifer is admitted to the Massachusetts bar. She earned her B.A. in Politics from Mount Holyoke College and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
