From Wachtell and Simpson Thacher to BYU Law Faculty

From Wachtell and Simpson Thacher to BYU Law Faculty

April 17, 2026

The recent move of William W. Clayton from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to join the BYU Law faculty as a professor of corporate law has sent ripples through legal circles nationwide, but its resonance feels particularly sharp in Provo, Utah, where the university’s J. Reuben Clark Law School sits just blocks from the historic Provo Tabernacle and the bustling intersection of University Avenue and Center Street. Clayton’s background—spanning high-stakes M&A work at one of Wall Street’s most elite firms and private funds expertise at another top-tier practice—brings a rare blend of transactional depth to a campus nestled against the Wasatch Front, a detail that matters not just for aspiring lawyers in Utah Valley but for the broader ecosystem of legal talent shaping the Intermountain West.

This hire isn’t merely an academic addition; it’s a signal of how elite law firm experience is increasingly valued in legal education, especially as schools like BYU Law seek to bridge theory and practice for students aiming to compete in national markets. Clayton’s two decades at Wachtell, where he advised on landmark deals involving clients like Match Group, Expedia, Home Depot, and Pfizer, followed by his tenure at Simpson Thacher advising private funds, means he brings firsthand knowledge of the very transactions that shape corporate America. For students in Provo, this translates to classroom insights grounded in real-world negotiations—think structuring a leveraged buyout akin to the $1.3 billion Gibson Industries-OmniMax deal Clayton recently guided, or navigating the regulatory thickets of a cross-border merger involving a Utah-based tech firm eyeing expansion into European markets.

The timing is notable. As Utah’s Silicon Slopes continues to mature—with companies like Qualtrics, Pluralsight, and Domo headquartered along the I-15 corridor between Salt Lake City and Provo—demand for lawyers who understand both venture capital dynamics and public market M&A has grown. Clayton’s background aligns neatly with this shift; his work with private equity clients at Simpson Thacher mirrors the kind of capital raising and fund formation activity seen in Utah’s growing venture ecosystem, where firms like Pelion Venture Partners and Mercato Partners actively back local startups. His presence could help BYU Law deepen ties with these players, potentially creating pipelines for students into roles that once felt accessible only to those studying on the coasts.

Beyond placements, Clayton’s hire reflects a broader trend: top law schools are increasingly recruiting practitioners not just to teach doctrine but to instill practical judgment. At BYU Law, where the curriculum emphasizes both intellectual rigor and ethical grounding—shaped by the school’s unique mission within the Church Educational System—having a professor who’s navigated the pressure cooker of Wall Street M&A while maintaining professional integrity offers a distinctive model. Students learn not only how to draft a merger agreement but how to advise a client through the human dimensions of a deal, whether it’s managing employee retention post-acquisition or balancing shareholder demands with long-term strategic vision.

Given my background in corporate law and legal education, if this trend of elite firm lawyers transitioning to academia impacts you in Provo or the wider Utah Valley, here are the three types of local professionals you need to know about:

  • Legal Career Advisors Specializing in Academia Transitions: Seem for advisors who understand the nuances of moving from partner-track law firm roles to faculty positions—particularly those familiar with ABA hiring trends, law school tenure expectations, and how to frame transactional experience for teaching portfolios. They should have proven success placing candidates in Mountain West or religiously affiliated law schools and understand the importance of aligning personal values with institutional mission.

  • Curriculum Development Consultants for Practice-Oriented Law Programs: Seek consultants with experience designing clinically integrated courses—think simulation-based M&A labs, deal structuring workshops, or private funds practicums—that mirror real firm workflows. Ideal candidates will have worked with ABA-accredited schools to bridge doctrinal teaching and skills training, preferably with exposure to Intermountain West legal markets or faith-based educational contexts.

  • Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Providers Focused on Practical Transactional Skills: Prioritize providers offering hands-on, scenario-driven training in areas like cross-border M&A, fund formation, or shareholder rights litigation—skills Clayton himself practiced at Wachtell and Simpson Thacher. The best providers tailor content to regional needs, incorporate Utah-specific corporate law nuances (like those under the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act), and feature instructors with recent, verifiable deal experience rather than purely theoretical backgrounds.

Ready to identify trusted professionals? Browse our complete directory of top-rated legal education experts in the Provo, Utah area today.