Remembering Claire Moore Dickerson

Last week, I received news that a great mentor and colleague in corporate law, Claire Moore Dickerson, passed away.  I feel very fortunate to have been one of the many recipients of her warm and generous spirit.  The following comes from Lynne Dallas:

Claire passed away Wednesday morning, September 2, 2015, from pancreatic cancer.  She was one of the founders of our Women’s Corporate Law Professor Group and a great scholar, teacher, colleague, and dear friend to many of us. 

A compilation of her scholarly work is published under the title “Challenging Borders in Business Law,” published by University of British Columbia Law Faculty 2014, ISBN 978-088865-152-5.  Dr. Janis Sarra edited the book and worked tirelessly to publish it before her death. Terry O’Neill, Kellye Testy, Dr. Martha S. Tumnde, Dr. Janis Sarra, Faith Stevelman, Cheryl Wade, Cynthia Williams and myself wrote introductions to her many articles for the book.  Claire was very pleased and honored by this tribute to her work.

Claire died peacefully, pain-free, and surrounded by her family. Post diagnosis – a period of two years –she experienced a good quality of life.  She took advantage of her retirement from Tulane, reading good books, taking long walks around Gloucester, and visiting with family and friends.  She was a delight to talk to virtually up to the end.  Her humor, concern for all those around her, and intelligence animated all her conversations. She has provided an inspirational model for those of us in contact with her during this period due to the courage and upbeat attitude she exhibited throughout her illness.

Claire’s husband, Tom Dickerson, informs me that there will be a burial service in either Gloucester or Beverly Farms, Massachusetts on Saturday, September 12th at 11am, as well as a memorial service in Rye, New York on Saturday, October 17th at 2pm. Please e-mail Tom,[email protected], if you are able to join his family at either of these events, so that he can provide details when they become available.

Donations may be made in Claire’s memory to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, http://www.dana-farber.org/gift.

 

“ABOUT CLAIRE DICKERSON” from Challenging Borders in Business Law, The Scholarship of Claire Moore Dickerson (Dr. Janis Sarra ed. 2004)

“Professor Claire Moore Dickerson is Senator John B. Breaux Professor Emerita of Business Law at Tulane University Law School, United States, and permanent visiting Professor at the University of Buea in Cameroon, Professor Dickerson has been awarded the International Academy of Comparative Law, Medaille d’honneur, Centre Francais du commerce exterieur, Republic of France.  Acknowledged globally as a distinguished scholar in business associations, contracts, comparative law, and international business transactions, her scholarship frequently examines the intersection between commerce and human rights.

Claire Moore Dickerson practiced at the international law firm of Coudert Brothers in New York, and following twelve years and partnership there, she became partner of, and later counsel to, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, a Philadelphia-based firm.  In 1986, Professor Dickerson began her teaching career at St. John’s University School of Law, New York, and then held the title of Professor of Law and Arthur L. Dickon Scholar, Rutgers Law School, Newark.  She was co-director of Rutgers’ Global Legal Studies program, and, later, holder of the Visiting Lowenstein Chair.  

Professor Dickerson’s research interests include the application of socioeconomic principles to business-related areas of law, her research allowing her to travel extensively within Africa, the United States and internationally.  Claire Moor Dickerson graduated AB magna cum laude, 1971, Wellesley College; graduated JD in 1974 from Columbia Law School where she was a Stone Scholar; and she holds an LLM in taxation, 1981, New York University.

Active in several legal organizations, including the Law & Society Association and the American Society of International Law, Professor Dickerson has served on the executive committee of the socioeconomic section of the Association of American Law Schools.  In 2008, she authored a report for the World Bank, assessing the legal framework for nano-businesses in developing countries.  She is a founding member of the ad hoc women’s corporate law scholars’ collective. 

Claire is fluently bilingual in French and English, and is a passionate kayaker, skier and mountain hiker all of which she does with her wonderful daughters, Caroline Dickerson and Susannah Dickerson, and her husband and co-traveler of many years, Tom Dickerson.”

Notification has gone out from the Business Law Section of the AALS that Claire will be honored at the 2016 meeting for her “thoughtful, caring and inspiring mentorship.”