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Mark D. West is the Nippon Life Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School. He is recognized as a leading American scholar of the Japanese legal system. West served as the 17th dean of the Law School from 2013 to 2023, during which he focused on enhancing student life and building a broader intellectual community. He was instrumental in establishing summer funding programs for first-year students and ensuring legal clinic opportunities were available to law students, including launching a clinic to provide legal services to veterans. West's research primarily focuses on Japanese law; he is the sole author of four books, including 'Law Everyday Japan,' and has coauthored a leading casebook on Japanese law. His scholarly work has been published in top journals in both the United States and Japan. West's earlier research addressed corporate governance and economic organization in Japan and has evolved to explore topics such as defamation, honor, and the role of law in Japanese society. He joined the Michigan Law faculty in 1998, has served as director of the Center for Japanese Studies, and held various administrative roles. Additionally, West has been a consultant to the World Bank and has practiced law in New York and Tokyo. He is also a recipient of the Abe Fellowship from the University of Tokyo and a Fulbright Scholar.
University of Michigan Law School • Ann Arbor, MI
Focused on Japanese law and enhanced student engagement through novel program initiatives.
University of Michigan Law School • Ann Arbor, MI
Oversaw academic and administrative functions of the Law School.
World Bank •
Provided advisement on legal frameworks.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP • New York, Tokyo
Practiced law specializing in corporate issues.
Administered by University of Michigan Law School; exact department name 'Department of Law' refers to the LLM program.