About Ryan Vacca

Ryan Vacca is the John D. Lawson Professor of Law. Prior to joining Mizzou Law, he was a professor at the University of New Hampshire School of Law (2017-2024) and at the University of Akron School of Law (2010-2017), where he was the David l. Brennan Professor of Law, director of the Center for Intellectual Property Law & Technology, and interim co-dean. He has also served as a visiting professor at the University of Oregon School of Law, the University of Denver College of Law, Swinburne University of Technology (Melbourne, Australia), and at Wuhan University of Technology (Wuhan, China).

Professor Vacca’s research focuses on intellectual property law and judicial administration. His articles have appeared in the California Law Review, Harvard Journal of Law & Technology, Illinois Law Review, Colorado Law Review, Temple Law Review, and many other journals. He is also the author of a copyright casebook and the co-editor of the book, The Jurisprudential Legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Professor Vacca frequently speaks at national and international conferences relating to intellectual property law and judicial administration, including talks in China, Ecuador, India, Brazil, and Australia. He is also regularly quoted in legal publications and the popular press on pending legal issues.

Prior to joining the academy, Professor Vacca practiced law at Stinson LLP in St. Louis, where he advised clients on intellectual property, entertainment, sports, and products liability matters.

Areas of Expertise

• Copyrights
• Patents
• Trade Secrets
• Trademarks
• Contracts
• Evidence
• Judicial Administration

Educational Background

• BA, Amherst College
• JD, University of Missouri School of Law
• LLM, New York University School of Law