Jeff Lord joins ASU Law as Professor of Practice

The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University announced the appointment of Jeff Lord as a professor of practice.

Based in Phoenix, Lord will be affiliated with the Center for Law and Global Affairs and will teach a U.S. foreign relations law seminar in the spring semester. He will also teach additional courses in the future.

“I look forward to engaging with students and colleagues on the complex legal and policy issues that shape U.S. foreign relations and international business. ASU’s innovative and globally minded environment is the ideal place to explore these challenges and opportunities,” Lord said.

Lord has worked at the intersection of law, business and technology for nearly 30 years as both an attorney and a business executive, with a longtime focus on international issues such as U.S. sanctions and export controls, global business transactions and international politics.

During his legal career, Lord has worked on international trade, sanctions and export controls with national and international law firms including Scale LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, and ArentFox Schiff LLP, as well as his own boutique law practice and in-house counsel roles. His clients have included international corporations, individuals and governments worldwide. He has taught a course on sanctions, export controls and foreign policy at Georgetown University for the past three years. 

Lord was the first executive vice president and general counsel for a real estate technology startup, where he professionalized the company’s legal function and internal controls, helping to secure its first round of venture capital funding. He has also served as head of trade compliance and chief privacy officer for a federal information technology services provider and as a consultant with a global firm advising clients on trade compliance across the world.

Before becoming an attorney, Lord worked in the business affairs group at America Online in both Virginia and London, where he negotiated multimillion-dollar technology licensing and network service agreements.

Lord holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center, a Master of Arts in government and international politics from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from American University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff Lord to our faculty,” said Stacy Leeds, Willard H. Pedrick Dean and Regents and Foundation Professor of Law. “Jeff brings a unique blend of real-world leadership and academic insight at the intersection of law, business and technology. His work in U.S. foreign relations and international trade will provide our students with a clear understanding of how law operates across borders and in rapidly evolving global markets. He is a strong fit for our commitment to preparing future lawyers who are ready to lead and solve complex challenges — wherever their careers may take them.”

Written by Kourtney Kelley