University of Georgia School of Law
219A Hirsch Hall
Athens, GA 30602
United States
B.A., Harvard University
M.Litt., University of Aberdeen
J.D., University of Chicago
Civil Procedure
International Litigation
International Arbitration
International Business Transactions
Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge holds the Talmadge Chair of Law.
From 2015 through 2024, he served as dean of the University of Georgia School of Law. Over that decade, he steered the law school to be one of the nation’s best returns on investment in legal education. During Rutledge’s deanship, the law school set multiple fundraising records – including several of the largest gifts in law school history – and eclipsed its goal during the Commit to Georgia Campaign. By the time Rutledge stepped down, he had raised nearly $90 million in new commitments, and the overall value of the School of Law’s endowment had more than doubled. Much of this funding was poured into student support which, coupled with a near-complete tuition freeze, has reduced student indebtedness by almost 55% since 2013 and more than doubled the percentage of J.D. students obtaining their legal education debt free. Curricular and other innovations during Rutledge’s deanship included an overhaul of the first-year curriculum, the rollout of a new undergraduate minor, the development of a nationally recognized mentorship program, the creation of several new law clinics funded by public/private partnerships, the establishment of several compressed dual degrees and the build-out of several online programs. These and other innovations helped to produce nationally recognized outcomes like the country’s highest employment rate for the J.D. Class of 2021, Ultimate Bar Passage Rates hovering around 99% and a decade-long defense of the highest first-time bar exam pass rate in Georgia. This return-on-investment strategy has been recognized in a variety of media, including Reuters and Bloomberg, and the school has been rated the nation’s #1 Best Value in legal education by National Jurist for five of the past seven years. The School of Law recently posted, and defended, its highest U.S. News & World Report ranking in history (#20 overall and #7 among publics). At the time he stepped down, Rutledge was the fifth-longest-serving public law school dean in the United States.
Prior to his appointment as dean, Rutledge served as the associate dean for faculty development working closely with the law school's faculty, especially its untenured professors, to expand and promote scholarly and research activities.
He is the author of the book Arbitration and the Constitution and co-author with Gary Born of the book International Civil Litigation in United States Courts. His works have been published by the Yale University Press, the Oxford University Press and the Cambridge University Press, and his articles have appeared in a diverse array of journals such as The University of Chicago Law Review, the Vanderbilt Law Review and the Journal of International Arbitration. He also regularly advises parties on matters of international dispute resolution (litigation and arbitration).
In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court appointed Rutledge to brief and argue the case Irizarry v. United States as amicus curiae in defense of the judgment below. He subsequently won the case, joining the ranks of a select few advocates who have successfully defended a judgment below when the government refused to do so. Notably, he has served as a judicial clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Clarence Thomas and at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for Chief Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III.
Given his interest in international dispute resolution, Rutledge has taught and spoken at numerous foreign universities. In 2010-11, he was a Fulbright Professor at the Institut für Zivilverfahrensrecht at the University of Vienna Law School. Foreign universities where Rutledge has been invited to speak include: Oxford University, Cambridge University, the University of Mainz, Jagiellonian University, Stockholm University and the University of Oslo.
An accomplished teacher, he has received several teaching awards, including the 2016 John C. O'Byrne Memorial Award for Contributions Furthering Student-Faculty Relations.
In addition to his academic and legal work, Rutledge remains active in professional circles. He has advised parties on matters of international dispute resolution and has served as an expert in both litigation and arbitration. He is a listed arbitrator with several international organizations. He has testified on several occasions before Congress on pending arbitration legislation, regularly spoken to broadcast and print media, and delivered speeches to a range of professional audiences on matters such as international dispute resolution, arbitration and the Supreme Court. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Society for the Rule of Law.
Before entering the teaching academy, Rutledge practiced at Wilmer Cutler & Pickering (now Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr), where his practice included international dispute resolution and Supreme Court matters, and at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where his practice concentrated on international arbitration.
He holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard University, an M.Litt. in Applied Ethics from the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) and a J.D. with high honors from the University of Chicago, where he served as executive editor of The University of Chicago Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif.
BOOKS
International Civil Litigation in United States Courts, 7th ed. (with G. Born) (Wolters Kluwer, 2022).
International Civil Litigation in United States Courts, 6th ed. (with G. Born) (Wolters Kluwer, 2018).
Arbitration and the Constitution (Cambridge Univ. Press 2013).
International Civil Litigation in the United States, 5th ed. (Aspen 2011) (with G. Born).
International Civil Litigation in the United States, 4th ed. (Aspen 2007) (with G. Born).
ARTICLES AND BOOK CHAPTERS
"An Empirical Assessment of Arbitration Clauses in Credit Card Agreements," in Beyond Elite Law (S. Estreicher Ed., Cambridge Univ. Press, 2016).
The Testamentary Foundations of Commercial Arbitration, 30 Ohio St, J. on Disp. Resol. 275 (2015).
Arbitration, the Law Market and the Law of Lawyering, 38 Int'l Rev. L. & Econ. 87 (2014) (with E. O'Hara).
"Sticky" Arbitration Clauses? The Use of Arbitration Clauses after Conception and Amex, 67 Vand. L. Rev. 955 (2014) (with C. Drahozal).
"Guerilla Tactics at Other International Institutions" in Guerilla Tactics in International Arbitration (G. Horvath ed.) (Kluwer 2013).
With Apologies to Paxton Blair, 45 N.Y.U. J. Int'l L. & Pol. 1063 (2013).
"The Proportionality Principles and the (Amount in) Controversy" in American Illness, (Yale Univ. Press, 2013).
"Forum Shopping in International Arbitration - Forum Non Conveniens and Lack of Personal Jurisdiction" in Forum Shopping in the International Commercial Arbitration Context (F. Ferrari ed.) (Sellier European Law Publishers, 2013).
Contract and Choice, 2013 BYU L. Rev. 1 (2013) (with C. Drahozal).
"Schiedsgerichte in Nordamericka" in Hamburger Handbuch des Exportrechts, 2nd ed. (2013) (with I. Hanefeld).
Toward a Functional Approach to the Sovereign Equality of Nations, 53 Va. J. Int'l L. 181 (2012).
Convergence and Divergence in International Dispute Resolution, 19 J. Disp. Res. 49 (2012).
"Zugang zum OGH aus Sicht der USA" in Der Zugang zum OGH in Zivil- und Strafsachen (Judicial Conference of the Supreme Court of Austria 2012).
Arbitration Clauses in Credit Card Agreements: An Empirical Study, 9 J. Empirical L. Studies 536 (2012) (with C. Drahozal).
TRIPS and BITS: An Essay on Compulsory Licenses, Expropriation, and International Arbitration, 13 N.C. J. L. & Tech. 149 (online ed.) (2012).
"Zugang zum Hoechstgericht aus Sicht der USA" in Zugang zum OGH in Zivil- und Strafsachen (Manz., 2012).
Contract and Procedure, 94 Marq. L. Rev. 1103 (2011) (with C. Drahozal).
Samantar, Official Immunity and Federal Common Law, 15 Lewis & Clark L. Rev. 589 (2011).
Samantar and Executive Power, 44 Vand. J. Transnat'l L. 885 (2011).
Arbitration and Kompetenz, 3 Y.B. Arb. & Mediation 217 (2011).
Decisional Sequencing, 62 Ala. L. Rev. 1 (2010).
Arbitrating Disputes Between Companies and Individuals: Lessons From Abroad, 65 Disp. Resol. J. 30 (2010) (with A. Howard).
Common Ground in the Arbitration Debate, 1 Y.B. Arb. & Mediation 1 (2009).
Arbitration Reform: What We Know and What We Need to Know, 10 Cardozo J. Conflict Resol. 579 (2009).
Introduction: The Constitutional Law of International Commercial Arbitration, 38 Ga. J. Int'l & Comp. L. 1 (2009).
Medellin, Delegation and Conflicts (of Law), 17 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 191 (2009).
"Schiedsgerichte in Nordamerika" in Hamburger Handbuch des Exportrechts (Dieckmann, 2009) (with Inka Hanefeld).
"United States Arbitration Law," in Practitioner's Handbook on International Arbitration, 2nd ed. (Oxford 2008) (with Rachael Kent and Christian Henel).
Who Can be Against Fairness: The Case Against the Arbitration Fairness Act, 9 Cardozo J. Conflict Res. 1201 (2008).
Whither Arbitration?, 6 Georgetown J. L & Pub. Pol'y 549 (2008).
Arbitration and Article III, 61 Vanderbilt L. Rev. 1189 (2008).
Discovery, Judicial Assistance and Arbitration: A New Tool for Cases Involving American Entities?, 25 J. Int'l. Arb.171 (2008).
Clerks, 74 U. Chi. L. Rev. 369 (2007).
"Post-Hague Hangover: Three Predictions About the Future of the Law Governing the Enforcement of Foreign Judgments and Arbitral Awards," in European Union Issues from a Portuguese Perspective (The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law 2007).
Market Solutions to Market Problems: Re-examining Arbitral Immunity as a Solution to Unfairness in Securities Arbitration, 26 Pace L. Rev. 113 (2005).
Miranda and Reasonableness, 32 Am. Crim. L. Rev. 1011 (2005).
Apprendi, Blakely and Federalism, 50 S.D. L. Rev. 427 (2005).
Toward a Contractual Approach to Arbitral Immunity, 39 Ga. L. Rev. 151 (2004).
An End of Term Exam: OT 2003 at the United States Supreme Court, 54 Cath. U. L. Rev. 151 (2004) (with Nicole Angarella).
The Standard of Review for the Voluntariness of a Confession on Direct Appeal in Federal Court, 63 U. Chi. L. Rev. 1311 (1996).
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
The Case Against the Arbitration Fairness Act, Dispute Resolution Magazine (Fall 2009).
What is the Definition of an "Organ" Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act?, 34 Supreme Court Preview 351 (2007).
Termorio and the Problem of Local Standards Annulments , Transnational Dispute Management (Sept. 2006) (with Barney Ford).
Looking Ahead: October Term 2006, Cato Sup. Ct. Rev. 361 (2006).
Apprendi and Federalism, 18 Fed. Sent. Rep. 100 (Dec. 2004).
Review of Douglas Walton's Legal Argumentation and Evidence, 58 Rev. Metaphysics 208 (2004).
Private Modifications of the Ground for Judicial Review of Arbitral Awards: A Question of Institutions, 18 Mealey's Int'l Arb. Rep. 35 (Oct. 2003).
On the Importance of Institutions: Judicial Review of Arbitral Awards for Legal Errors, 19 J. Int'l Arb. 81 (Apr. 2002).
BRIEFS
Supreme Court of the United States
- Briefed and Argued as Amicus Curiae appointed by the Supreme Court in successful defense of the judgment below in Irizarry v. United States, 76 U.S.L.W. 4401 (2008)
- Brief Amicus Curiae on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of American in support of certiorari in Am. Isuzu Motors, Inc. v. Ntsebeza , 76 U.S.L.W. 3608 (2008)
- Brief Amicus Curiae on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the American Chemistry Council in support of certiorari in Dow Chem. Co. v. United States, 127 S.Ct. 1251 (2007)
- Brief Amicus Curiae on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America , the National Association of Manufacturers in support of certiorari in Coltec Indus. v. United States, 127 S.Ct. 1261 (2007)
- Brief Amicus Curiae on behalf of the National League of Cities and the International Municipal Lawyers' Association in support of certiorari in City of Mesa v. Petersen, 543 U.S. 814 (2004)
- Petition for a writ of certiorari and reply brief in Fitzpatrick v. Missouri, 127 S.Ct. 729 (2006)
- Petition for a writ of certiorari and reply brief in Fuse v. United States, 544 U.S. 990 (2005)
Other Courts
- Brief Amicus Curiae for the National Foreign Trade Council, the Chamber of Commerce of the United States , the United States Council for International Business, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Organization for International Investment in the United States in Sinaltrainal v. Coca-Cola Co., 256 F. Supp. 2d 1345 (11th Cir. 2005)
- Brief Amicus Curiae for the National Association of Manufacturers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers in FMS, Inc. v. Volvo, 349 F.3d 376 (7th Cir. 2003)
- Appellant's Brief, Reply Brief and Supplemental Brief on behalf of Appellant in Hairston v. United States (D.C. Cir.)
- Appellant's Brief, Reply Brief and Transfer Petition on behalf of Appellant in Fitzpatrick v. State, 193 S.W.3d 280 (Mo. App. 2006)
EXPERT WITNESS and CONSULTANT
Testimony
- Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution--Arbitration Fairness Act (December 2007)
- House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law--Arbitration Fairness Act (October 2007)
Consultant Work
- Served as consulting expert for a major European corporation in an international commercial arbitration arising out of an investment in Eastern Europe
- Served as consulting expert for a major German telecommunications company concerning validity of service of process under Hague Service Convention and specialized federal statute governing non-resident patent holders.
- Served as consulting and testifying expert for an international business consortium concerning issues of sovereign immunity and diplomatic immunity.