Florida State University will host the fourth annual Business Review Symposium on March 6, 2026, bringing together legal scholars, industry experts and legal professionals to discuss how behavioral insights influence corporate law and governance. The event, organized by the Florida State University College of Law, will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and will be accessible both in person and through a virtual attendance option. Organizers say the symposium is designed to encourage discussion on how human behavior, decision-making patterns and psychological biases affect corporate regulation, legal frameworks and boardroom governance.
The theme of this year’s symposium, “Behavioral Perspectives on Corporate Law,” reflects a growing academic interest in how behavioral economics and psychology shape corporate decision-making. Traditional corporate law often assumes that decision-makers act rationally when evaluating risks and opportunities. However, researchers increasingly argue that corporate leaders and investors may also be influenced by cognitive biases, social pressures and behavioral incentives that can affect business outcomes and regulatory effectiveness.
The symposium will feature a keynote address by Craig Glidden, a Florida State University College of Law alumnus who graduated in 1983 and recently retired after a long career as an executive in the automotive industry. Organizers say Glidden’s keynote presentation will draw on his experience in corporate leadership to provide practical insights into how behavioral factors influence major strategic decisions in large companies. His perspective is expected to connect academic research with real-world corporate governance practices.
In addition to the keynote session, the symposium will host several panel discussions featuring leading legal scholars who will present new academic research related to corporate law and behavioral theory. Among the speakers are Professor Jessica Bregant from the University of Houston, Professor Jay Kesten from Florida State University, Professor Tim Samples from the University of Georgia, and Professors Jennifer Robbennolt and Verity Winship from the University of Illinois. Their research articles will form the basis of panel discussions examining emerging ideas about how behavioral principles can reshape legal thinking about corporate accountability, risk management and regulatory compliance.
Legal experts say the integration of behavioral insights into corporate law has become increasingly relevant as businesses face complex regulatory environments and rapidly evolving financial markets. Behavioral approaches aim to better understand how executives, shareholders and regulators actually behave in practice rather than assuming idealized decision-making models. This approach can help policymakers design rules that improve transparency, strengthen corporate governance and reduce systemic risks in financial markets.
The symposium will also serve as a platform for discussion among academics, legal practitioners and students interested in the intersection of corporate law and behavioral science. Organizers noted that the event is free and open to the public, making it accessible to a wide audience including lawyers, business professionals and students interested in corporate governance.
The Florida Bar has approved the symposium for 5.5 Continuing Legal Education credits, including credits related to ethics and legal technology. Such accreditation allows practicing attorneys to fulfill professional education requirements while engaging with current academic research and policy discussions.
Participants attending virtually will be able to follow the sessions online and interact with speakers during question-and-answer segments. Organizers say the hybrid format aims to expand access to the discussions and encourage broader engagement from professionals across different regions.