Taylor Simpson-Wood, LL.M.

Bio

Professor Taylor Simpson-Wood received her J.D. from Tulane Law School, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and was elected by the faculty as a member of the Order of the Coif. While earning her law degree, she was also an Associate Editor of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal. She then continued her legal education as the Maritime Law Center Fellow, earning her LL.M in Admiralty with distinction. Upon graduation, she received the Edward A. Dodd award for graduating first in her class. Professor Simpson-Wood began her legal career as an associate in the maritime department of Lane Powell, a major firm in Seattle, Washington, with offices also in Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles, California. Her law practice experience also includes serving as an Assistant Vice President and Associate General Counsel for a national bank and as an in-house counsel for a multinational telecommunications company.

Professor Simpson-Wood began her law teaching career at Regent University, where she initially served as a Visiting Professor for two years. She then taught at Barry University School of Law in Orlando, Florida where she ultimately attained the rank of full professor. Most recently, she was a Professor and Visiting Maritime Scholar at the University of Miami School of Law, where she had the opportunity to design her own courses in Admiralty and Maritime law. Throughout her academic career, Professor Simpson-Wood has presented numerous papers at symposia in the United States and internationally, and her scholarship includes articles published in journals and reviews ranging from The Journal of Maritime Law & Commerce to the Texas Review of Entertainment & Sports Law.

Before beginning her legal studies, Professor Simpson-Wood was a professional actress for several years. She trained at the Juilliard School in New York City, the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago (now the Theater School at DePaul University), earning her B.F.A., and later attended the M.F.A. program at the Asolo Conservatory in Sarasota, Florida. She has performed in regional theaters across the country as well as in Broadway/National touring companies. She has also accumulated a fair number of T.V. and film credits. She is a long-time member of Actors’ Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists.

Credentials

• LL.M., Tulane Law School
• J.D., Tulane Law School
• B.F.A., Goodman School of Drama, DePaul University

Memberships and Affiliations

• Actor’s Equity Association
• Screen Actors Guild
• American Federation of Radio and Television Artists

Honors and Awards

• Edward A. Dodd Award, Tulane University
• Order of the Coif, Tulane University