Jena Martin

Education

• B.A., McGill University, 1994
• J.D., Howard University School of Law (cum laude), 1997
• LL.M., University of Texas, 2006

Biography

Jena Martin is a professor at West Virginia University College of Law. Her research is in the field of business and human rights, where she has written extensively on many issues, including the intersection of securities regulation with human rights impacts. She is the author of several articles on the subject, including "The End of the Beginning? A Comprehensive Examination of the U.N.’s Business and Human Rights Agenda" (Fordham Journal of Corporate and Financial Law), which earned her WVU Law's Significant Scholarship Award and "Hiding in the Light: The Misuse of Disclosure to Advance the Business and Human Rights Agenda" (Columbia University Journal of Transnational Law). 

Professor Martin has also co-edited and co-authored a number of books in the field of securities regulation and business and human rights, including "The Business and Human Rights Landscape: Moving Forward, Looking Back" (Cambridge University Press); "When the Levees Break: Re-visioning Regulation of the Securities Markets" (Lexington Books), and "Dying to be Heard: Businesses’ Impact of Communities" (forthcoming Anthem Press). She has also presented her research at the United Nations.

Professor Martin draws upon her extensive practice experience including her work as a senior counsel at the United States Securities & Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement and as a member of the RFK’s Center for Human Rights Global Advisory Team.

Professor Martin earned an LL.M. from the University of Texas Law School in International Law. She received her J.D. from Howard University School of Law (cum laude) and her B.A. from McGill University.

Publications, Research, and Intellectual Contributions

Books:

• DYING TO BE HEARD: BUSINESS' IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES, Anthem Press (2020).
• WHEN THE LEVEES BREAK: REVISIONING REGULATION OF THE SECURITIES MARKETS, Lexington Books (2017) (with Karen Kunz).
• THE BUSINESS & HUMAN RIGHTS LANDSCAPE: MOVING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK, Cambridge University Press (2015) (ed., with Karen Bravo).

Articles:

• ""It's Complicated: The Challenge of Prosecuting TNCs for Criminal Activity under International Law," 29 Ind. Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 219 (2019)
  
• "Easing "[T]he Burden of the Brutalized": Applying Bystander Intervention Training to Corporate Conduct," 68 Catholic L. Rev. 1 (2019)(lead article)
• "Hiding in the Light: The Misuse of Disclosure to Advance a Business and Human Rights Agenda" (2nd ed., vol. 56). New York City, NY: Columbia University Journal for Transnational Law. (2018) http://jtl.columbia.edu/
• "Parallel Worlds: Comparing Rural Development to Development in Global Communities." Morgantown WV: West Virginia University. (with Powell, K. J.) West Virginia Law Review (2018)
• "Changing the Rules of the Game: Beyond a Disclosure Framework for Securities Regulation," 118 WV. L. REV. 59 (2015).
• "Into the Breach: The Increasing Gap between Algorithmic Trading and Securities Regulation," Vol. 44, JOURNAL OF FINANCIAL SERVICES RESEARCH No. 2 (peer reviewed journal) (with Karen Kunz)(Oct. 2013)
• "Business and Human Rights, What’s the Board got to do with it?," 2013 ILL. L. REV. 959 (2013)
• "The End of the Beginning?: A Comprehensive Examination of the U.N.’s Business and Human Rights Agenda from a Bystander Perspective," 17 FORDHAM J. CORP. FIN. L. 871 (2012)(lead article)
• "What’s in a Name? Transnational Corporations as Bystanders to the Rule of Law in a Globalized Society," 85 ST. JOHN L. REV. 1 (2011)(lead article)
• "The SEC and Shareholder Empowerment - Analyzing the New Proxy Regime and its Impact on Corporate Governance," BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES REPORT (2011)
• "In Praise of Process: An Exploration of the SEC, Rule 14a-(8)(i)(8) and AFSCME v. AIG," 5 U.MD. J. BUS. L. & TECH 23 (2010)
• "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly? A New Way to Look at the Intercountry Adoption Debate," 13 U.C. DAVIS J. INT’L L. & POL’Y 173 (2007)

Book Chapters:

• “The Evolving Business and Society Landscape: Can Human Rights Make a Difference,” in THE BUSINESS & HUMAN RIGHTS LANDSCAPE: MOVING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK, Cambridge University Press (2015)(Martin & Bravo, eds.)
• “Transnational Corporations as Bystanders under International Law,” (with Michael Addo) in BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS, Sage Publications (2013)(Manoj Sinha, ed).

Teaching Experience

• Faculty Co-Administrator, Human Rights and Trade Law in Geneva (Geneva Academy)
• Faculty Co-Administrator, Comparative Law in Mexico (University of Guanajuato)
• Faculty Co-Administrator, Comparative Law in Brazil (University of Vila Velha)
• Adjunct Faculty at West Virginia University, Business School
• Legal Writing Instructor – Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C., 2007-2009

Professional Experience

• Legal Analyst- contracted with Bloomberg, L.P., Washington, D.C., 2006-2008
• Senior Counsel- U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, Division of Enforcement, Washington, D.C., 2000-2005
• Associate- Ross, Dixon & Bell (formerly Ross, Dixon & Masback), Washington, D.C., 1997-2000