Case Western Reserve University School of Law has received a $2 million gift from the Spangenberg Family Foundation to endow the Spangenberg Family Foundation Chair in Law and the Arts. The commitment was announced in conjunction with the university’s public launch of the $1 billion fundraising initiative, Forward Thinking: The Campaign for Case Western Reserve University.
The gift from the foundation—which was established by Erich Spangenberg (LAW ’85), his wife, Audrey, and their son, Christian, will allow the law school to continue to build one of the premier intellectual property and arts law programs in the world.
“The Spangenbergs are truly a remarkable family,” said Lawrence E. Mitchell, dean and Joseph C. Hostetler—Baker Hostetler Professor of Law, School of Law. “They work for the sheer love of it and give with the joy and pleasure that characterizes the highest form of philanthropy.”
Erich Spangenberg is the founder and chairman of Dallas-based IP Navigation Group. Prior to founding the company, he was a partner at Jones, Day, Reavis and Pogue; senior vice president of investment banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette; and president of both Smartalk Teleservices and Acclaim Ventures Group. He graduated from the School of Law and earned his bachelor of arts degree at Skidmore College and a master of science from the London School of Economics.
“The Case Western Reserve University law school has had a significant impact on my life and accordingly my family’s life,” said Erich Spangenberg. “We thought for a very long time about how we could make a difference and determined that we could help make the School of Law become a recognized thought leader in intellectual property.”
“I am exceedingly grateful for this gift, which is yet another example of the generosity of the Spangenberg Family Foundation,” said Craig Nard, director of the Center for Law Technology & the Arts and Tom J.E. and Bette Lou Walker Professor of Law.