The 天美影视传媒 School of Law has received a $7.1 million commitment from Honolulu-based real estate investor Jay H. Shidler to augment the technology and intellectual property programs at the UW School of Law. 听
The gift, which will be realized over the next 10 years, cements the School of Law鈥檚 global reputation in the fields of technology and intellectual property (IP) law.听
鈥淥ur听students and faculty are enriched by the generosity of Jay Shidler and his commitment to听supporting innovations in the area of听technology听and听intellectual property听law,鈥澨齭aid Tamara听F.听Lawson,听the Toni听Rembe听Dean听of the听School of Law.听鈥淯W Law is uniquely situated听in a region known throughout the world for听technology and innovation.听These resources will support our community听and keep us听competitive听in this听environment.鈥澨�听
With this gift,听Shidler听鈥� a philanthropist and听investor in educational infrastructure听who has听owned听interests in听more than 2,000 properties worldwide听鈥斕齝ontinues a tradition听he鈥檚 established听of听honoring听his uncle,听Roger Shidler, a 1924 graduate of the UW School of Law听who听was听an early听trailblazer听in technology law听alongside听William Gates, Sr.听
The gift will allow the School of Law to:听
- Establish a Shidler Endowed Chair who will lead the听Technology and Intellectual听Property听Law programs, while also covering adjacent needs including torts and contracts.听听
- Recruit a full-time scholar-in-residence to manage and听grow听the existing Shidler Lecture Series.听
- Support scholarships and fellowships awarded to students focused on Technology and Intellectual Property Law. The first year will support three students in the J.D. program with a $50,000 award for each. 听
鈥淲e are honored to steward Jay Shidler鈥檚 transformative investment in the critical intersection of technology and law,鈥� said UW President Robert J. Jones. 鈥淗is generous gift will help the UW School of Law attract the most talented faculty and students at a moment when expertise in IP and Technology law is urgently needed. We are thrilled to be able to expand our global reach in this important field.鈥� 听
鈥淚 am very fortunate to be able to financially support universities and colleges on the West Coast and in Hawaii. UW Law has had a special place in my family鈥檚 lore for almost 100 years,鈥� Shidler said.听
The听gift builds听upon听previous听gifts from Jay Shidler听to the UW, including听an听ownership interest in听a 2.6-acre property in Seattle鈥檚 South Lake Union neighborhood,听which was celebrated听in 2018.听Half听of the ownership of the land and buildings will be transferred to the UW听in 2115听to be divided equally between UW Medicine and the UW School of Law. The other half goes to Shidler鈥檚 alma mater, now called the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.听听
Shidler also contributed听$600,000听to the School of Law in听2016听for the creation of the听lecture series honoring Roger Shidler.听听
The UW recognized Jay Shidler and his wife, Wallette, as Presidential Laureates upon having generously contributed more than $10 million to the UW in 2017.
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