Richard Gaffney

Richard Gaffney is an associate professor and the Director of Advanced Analytics, Director of the JD/MBA Joint Degree Program and Director of the Business Essentials for Lawyers Micro-credential Program at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University. Professor Gaffney teaches courses in commercial law and taxation, including courses in Contract Law, Sales and Leases of Goods, Federal Income Taxation, and Remedies at Law & In Equity. He has also taught courses in Labor Law and Legal Research and Writing. From 2006 to 2020, he created and directed the School of Law's nationally-ranked Bar Studies Program.

Before accepting an appointment at Duquesne in 2006, Gaffney practiced law with the Aluminum Company of America and private law firms in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, where he concentrated his practice in commercial transactions, energy law, and employment litigation. He has been licensed as an attorney since 1991 and is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the United States District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania.

Gaffney holds a B.A. in journalism from the Pennsylvania State University, with a minor in nuclear engineering, an MBA in finance, cum laude, from the Duquesne University Palumbo-Donahue Graduate School of Business, and a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he was on the editorial boards of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review and the Journal of Law and Commerce. He was elected to and is a member of the Order of the Coif.

Gaffney enjoys playing guitar and piano, and coaching Little League baseball. He lives in Sewickley with his beautiful wife, talented son and miniature schnauzer. He is an active member of his church's worship team and parish council, and he serves on boards and as counsel for several other non-profit organizations.

• J.D., magna cum laude, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
• M.B.A., cum laude, Duquesne University Palumbo-Donahue Graduate School of Business
• B.A., Journalism, The Pennsylvania State University

• Contract Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Employment Law
• Federal Income Taxation