TALLAHASSEE—Florida State University College of Law Professor Lois Shepherd has been appointed the D’Alemberte Professor of Law. 

The D’Alemberte Professorship was donated to the law school by the Miami-based law firm of Steel Hector & Davis. It was named for Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte, a former partner in the law firm. D’Alemberte served as dean of the law school from 1984-1989, and as president of the university from 1993-2003. 

“Steel Hector & Davis is committed to the Florida State University College of Law and the success of its outstanding students,” said Joseph Klock, the firm’s managing partner. “Several of the firm’s partners and associates are graduates. We are delighted that this endowment was awarded to Lois.” 

Shepherd, an associate professor, teaches Contracts, Professional Responsibility and Bioethics and the Law. Her upcoming book, titled The Bioethics and Law Casebook, is being published by the Aspen Press. She received her law degree in 1987 from Yale University, where she was a senior editor of the Yale Law Review. Before coming to Florida State, she was with the Charlotte, N.C., law firm of Robinson, Bradshaw, and Hinson. 

“I feel honored to receive this recognition and am grateful to the university, to Dean Don Weidner, and to the friends and supporters of Sandy D’Alemberte who made this possible,” says Shepherd. “I believe the FSU College of Law is an exciting place to be at this time. It has an unmistakable energy devoted to the pursuit of ideas.” 

Says Dean Don Weidner, “Lois is an important asset to our law school and because of the generous gift from Steel Hector & Davis, we are able to honor her for her outstanding scholarship.” 

Steel Hector & Davis LLP is a full-service international law firm with offices in Florida, Latin America, and London.