Associate Professor of Business Law & Legal Studies

J.D., Harvard Law School, 1982

B.A., Univ. of the South (Sewanee), 1978 - Completed in 3 years

University of Florida

1994- , Assoc. Prof. of Business Law & Legal Studies

1988-94, Asst. Prof. of Business Law & Legal Studies

Johns Hopkins University

1983-88, Instructor in Business Law

Harford Community College, Bel Air, Maryland

1984-88, Instructor in Business Law

Harvard Law School

1981-82, Research Assistant, Communications Law

University of Maryland (College Park)

1979-80, Teaching Assistant, U.S. History

University of the South

1977-78, Swimming & Water Safety Instructor; Lifeguard

Weinberg and Green (Law Firm), Baltimore, Maryland

1987-88, Assoc. Att'y, litigation (full-time)

Wright, Constable & Skeen (Law Firm), Baltimore, Maryland

1983-87, Assoc. Att'y, litig. & bus. prac. (full-time)

Miles & Stockbridge (Law Firm), Baltimore, Maryland

1982-83, Assoc. Att'y, litigation (full-time)

Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Law Firms

1975-81, Summers; Law Clerk/Intern

WUTS-FM, Sewanee, Tennessee

1975-78, Disc Jockey, News Reporter, and News Editor

Winner, Holmes-Cardozo Award for Best Article (Cash Award) - American Business Law Ass'n/Acad. of Legal Studies in Business (all four times that paper was entered: 1991, 1992, 1995 & 1997: the highest award for scholarship given by my discipline's academy) 

Junior Faculty Achievement Award, Finalist, Academy of Legal Studies in Business, 1994

Admitted to Beta Gamma Sigma Honorary Business Fraternity, 1997 

Award Winner, University of Florida Teaching Improvement Program, Fall 1993 and Fall 1996 (including, each time, a 7-10% permanent salary increase for outstanding teaching accomplishments) - won the award both years in which eligible

Since 1990, every year that was eligible for the College of Business Teacher of the Year Award, either: Winner (1991, 1996, 1998 & 2000 - Unanimous Choice) (Cash Award), or Finalist (1990, 1993 & 1995)

Winner, Lambda Chi Alpha, University of Florida Chapter, Spring 1998 - First Ever Award, Teacher of the Year

Uniformly among the very top College of Business Admin. professors in evaluations by students, 1989-present

Voted One of Gainesville's 20 Most Interesting Persons, Insite Magazine, March 1999

Who's Who in American Law, 

Outstanding Young Man in America Award

Summa Cum Laude (Honors in Major), 

E.G. Richmond Prize (top University student in Social Sciences), ODK

Phi Beta Kappa, National Merit Scholar, Wilkins Scholar, Order of Gownsmen, Third in class of 250, Perfect score on U.S. History Achievement Test, College Bowl, Eagle Scout, National Honor Society

Editorial Positions

Staff Editor (1991-94, 1995-98) and Articles Reviewer (1989-91, 1994-95, 1998-), American Business Law Journal - have completed extensive reviews of approx. 50 manuscripts (avg. manuscript - about 50 pages long)

Case Reviewer, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, "Marketing and the Law," 1990-present

Advisory Board, Florida J. of Law and Public Policy, 1989- 

Harvard Journal on Legislation, 1980-81, Editor

Other Academic Activities and Memberships

Faculty Mentor, University Scholar (Research) Program, March 1999 - present

Harvard Law School Alumni Mentoring Program, 1998-

Lecturer on Law, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, Feb. 1997

Director, Research Consortium, Annual Meeting of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business, Dallas, Texas, Aug. 1994, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Aug. 1995, in Quebec City, Quebec, Aug. 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia, Aug. 1997, in San Diego, California, Aug. 1998 and in St. Louis, Missouri, Aug. 1999

Reviewer, Papers submitted for the 1993, 1994, 1996 & 1998 Holmes-Cardozo Prize as best paper at the annual meeting of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business

Lecturer on Business Law topics for CPA Exam Review, Univ. of Florida, Fisher School of Accounting, Spring 1993

Univ. of Fla., Public Policy Research Ctr., Grant Recipient and Principal Investigator, 1990

Academy of Legal Studies in Business/Am. Business Law Ass'n, Member, 1987-Present; Regional Ass'n Member, 1988-

Member: Business Ethics Section, International Law Section, and Employment Law Section; Delegate to the Academy, 1996; Alternate Delegate, 1997-98

Southeastern Academy of Legal Studies in Business: Secty.- Treas., 1992-93; Vice-Pres., 1993-94; Pres.-Elect & Program Chair, 1994-95; President, 1995-96

Business Law Consultant for various publishing companies, 1988-present: duties have included comprehensive reviews of various business law texts and the questions and answers to CPA business law examination questions

Lecturer in Business Law, Florida High School Business Leadership Program, Summer 1989

Moot Court Judge, Univ. of Baltimore Law School, 1984-85

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES and MEMBERSHIPS

Expert Witness (Invited by the Committee) before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Small Business, Hearing on Self-Regulation of Franchising, June 30, 1994

Franchise Law Consultant for attorneys and businesses, 1991- 

Adviser, Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, 1994-

Fla. Insurance Research Ctr., Researcher/Writer, 1989-91

Admitted to Maryland Bar, 1982-Present; Federal Trial Bar (Certified in 1983); U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 1984

Baltimore City Bar Association, Fee Arbitrator & Speakers' Bureau Lecturer, 1984-88

Balto. City Bar Ass'n, Lawyer Referral Panel Member, 1983-88

U.S. District Court (Md.), Lawyer Volunteer Service, 1985-87

Harvard Law School Show, "Contempt of Courtship," Director and Writer, 1980-81, "Paradise Remanded", Actor and Writer, 1978-79

Equal Justice Foundation, 1979-81

Harvard Law School Forum, 1978-81

Ames Moot Court Competition, 1979

UNIVERSITY SERVICE

Speaker for Univ. Family Weekend, Oct. 23, 1999, "Business Law in the New Millennium: An Interactive Approach - Bells, Whistles, Costumes, and More!"

Speaker for the Univ. Office of Staff and Student Development, December 1997, "So You Want to be a Lawyer?"

Univ. Center for Excellence in Teaching, Lecturer, "Lecture Planning: Selecting Content and Improving Organization," TA Development Course, UF Teaching Center, Jan. 21, 1997

Univ. of Fla. College of Bus. Admin. & Students' Bus. Admin. College Council, Main Speaker for Welcoming Reception, Jan. 1995, Sept. 1996 & Jan. 1998; Guest Talk, Sept. 1998

Univ. of Fla. Business Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, Main Speaker at Annual Reception, Aug. 1995 & Sept. 1997

Univ. of Fla. College of Bus. Admin. & Students' Bus. Admin. College Council, Forum on Majors and Other Programs, 1995, 1997, and 1998

Faculty Adviser, Sigma Pi, University Honors Fraternity, 1999-

Univ. of Fla. College of Bus. Admin., Scholarships Petitions Committee, 1995, and Academic Probation/Suspension Committee, 1994-

University Senate, 1994-95 (elected), 1995-96 (re-elected), 1997-99 (elected)

College Faculty Advisory Board, 1993-94 (elected), Chairman, 1994-95

College Research Committee, 1997-

College Core Classes Committee, 1993-

College Televised Courses Committee, 1994-

College Undergraduate Committee, 1994-

College Petitions Review Committee, 1995-

College Scholarships Selection Committee, 1996-

College Minority Affairs Committee, 1988-94 (numerous activs., incl. drafting the College's faculty-approved Equal Opportunity Policy Statement)

College Nominating Committee to the Faculty Senate, 1989-93 & 1996

College Committees for Selecting Teaching and Advising Award Winners, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, and 1999

Univ. of Fla. Business Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, Faculty Adviser, 1995-

Dept. Review of Tenure and Promotion candidate, Chair, 1998

Department Chairman Search Committee, 1994 (elected)

Department Committee for Third-Year Review of Assistant Professors, 1995, 1998 & 2000

Department Grade Appeals Board, 1994

Marshall, University of Florida Commencements, 1993-96 & 1998-99

Faculty Advisor, Sigma Pi fraternity, 1993-

Judge, Gator Expo, University Homecoming, October 1996

Reviewer of Business Law Independent Study Courses for the

Florida University System, 1988-89

Reviewer (informal) of colleagues' papers prior to submission to law journals - e.g., papers on economics and law issues, antitrust law discussions

Univ. of Fla. Pre-Legal Honorary Society, Annual Speaker, 1990- 

Univ. of Fla., Johns Hopkins Univ., and Harford Comm. College, Pre-law Student Advisor and Speaker, 1983-present

Subject of Newspaper Accounts

Emerson's Teaching as the focus of newspaper accounts - several articles in the past few years, including "Gainesville's 20 Most Interesting Persons," Insite Magazine, March 1999; "UF Instructor Uses Garb as Teacher's Aid: Costumes Liven Up What Is Sometimes Boring Material," Orlando Sentinel, Nov. 27, 1997, at B22; "Professor Makes Dull Class Fun: Skits, Outrageous costumes Keep Student Interest High," Boca Raton News, Oct. 19, 1997, at 8A; Doug Martin, "Show Business: Robert Emerson Will Try Just About anything to Pump Life into His Business Law Class," Gainesville Sun, Oct. 8, 1997, at 1A; "Hatman" (Internet Article, ca. 1995)

Community Service

Littlewood Elem. School: Reading Tutor, 1992-94; Field Trips Chaperone, including camp counselor, 1991-99; Guest Speaker on Law, 1993-99

Oak Hall School, Volunteer, including camp counselor, 1997-

Cub Scouts of America, Gainesville (Treasurer), 1991-93

Little League Baseball Coach, 1991-96

St. John's Epis. Church, Budget/Fundraising Head, 1986-88

Maryland State Bar Association, Law Day Speaker, 1984-87

WBAL "Call for Action," Law Respondent, 1984-87

Sponsor and Volunteer, "Dance Alive" professional dance company, 1995-

"Cracked Nut" Dance Performer (1997, 1998 & 1999)

"Dance Alive!" Ballet Guild, 1999-  (Including Performance as William Shakespeare, 2000)

"Next Generation" Reporter, 1999

Sponsor and Volunteer (Marketing/P.R.), "All Children's Theatre," 1999

Business Law expert for consultation on various news stories - WUFT-FM and WUFT-TV, 1996-

Insurance claims fraud

Franchise law concerning: franchisee groups - their rights and liabilities; tort liability to consumers; agency/indep. contractor issues; public knowledge, or lack thereof, about franchising; franchise contract terms; rescission; withheld royalties; labor law issues; FTC regulation; definitional issues; antitrust tie-ins; discrimination in selection, treatment, and termination of franchisees; affirmative action and franchising; non-compete covenants; uniformity and disparity of state laws; international law; codes of ethics; encroachment

Disciplining of attorneys (professional sanctions), especially administrative agencies' disciplinary actions

Litigator (1982-88) and Arbitrator (1984-88)