Marc Roark

About Marc Roark

Marc L. Roark’s research primarily considers how narratives and norms are scaled in property conflicts around housing. Together with Lorna Fox O’Mahony (University of Essex), he is the author of “Squatting and the State: Resilient Property Theory in an Age of Crisis.” His primary areas of work are in the study of housing and homelessness through the lens of property norms. Roark has published 27 articles in U.S. law journals, including: “Homelessness at the Cathedral” (2015) 80 Missouri L. Rev. 53; “Human Impact Statements” (2015) 54 Washburn L. J. 649; “Under-propertied Persons,” 26 Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy 1 (2017); and “Scaling Commercial Law in Indian Country,” 8 Texas A&M L. Rev. In “Scaling Commercial Law in Indian Country,” Roark describes how resources, tribal structures, and uniform legal processes influence adoption of secured finance legislation on Indian tribes. His work was the basis of the first economic impact study of secured transactions laws on Indian tribes (See Dippel, Frye, Feir, and Roark, “Secured Transactions Laws and Economic Development on American Indian Reservations, AEA Papers and Proceedings 1” (2021). He is currently working on several projects focused on applying vulnerability theory in the context of resilience gaps and resilient property theory across numerous areas including housing, ruralism, Indian law, and commercial law.His current projects consider the role of the state in responding to squatters, the role of the property system in shaping housing norms, and the impact of model Article 9 legislation on tribal economic development. Professor Roark practiced with the firms Phelps Dunbar in New Orleans and Smith Gambrell and Russell in Atlanta before moving to academia full time. He holds a J.D. degree from Loyola University New Orleans and an LL.M from Duke University Law School. Research and Teaching AreasProperty Law, Real Estate Transactions, Housing Law and Policy, Urban Land Use, Zoning, Commercial Law, Security Devices, Law and Humanities

Experience

1. Interim Dean

   The University of Tulsa

   Jul 2025 — Present · Tulsa, OK, US

Education

• Louisiana State University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), History

  1994 — 1997

• Loyola University New Orleans

  Doctor of Law (JD), Civil Law

  1999 — 2002

• Duke University School of Law

  Master of Laws (LLM), Law

  2004 — 2006

• Duke University

  Master of Laws (LLM), Law

  2004 — 2007

Skills

• Commercial Litigation
• Intellectual Property
• Teaching
• Legal Research
• Legal Writing
• Westlaw
• Litigation
• Criminal Law
• Civil Litigation
• Mediation
• Courts
• Research
• Public Speaking
• Corporate Law
• Higher Education
• Constitutional Law
• Family Law
• Non-Profits
• Employment Law
• Editing
• Appeals
• Nonprofits
• International Law
• Dispute Resolution
• Lexis
• Public Policy
• Estate Planning
• Trials
• Immigration Law
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Torts
• Arbitration
• Administrative Law
• Banking Law
• Legal Issues
• Cyberlaw
• Copyright Law
• Entertainment Industry