Colin Marks

Biography

Colin Marks, J.D., graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif from the University of Houston Law Center in 2001, where he served as an associate editor on the Houston Law Review. After law school, he clerked for the Hon. Harold R. DeMoss Jr. on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for two years. In the fall of 2003, Marks joined the law firm of Baker Botts, L.L.P., in Houston, Texas, where he was an associate in the trial department. At Baker Botts, Marks’ practice concentrated on commercial litigation, as well as some pro bono criminal work. Marks left Baker Botts in the summer of 2006 to join the St. Mary’s University School of Law.
At St. Mary’s, Marks was the Ernest W. Clemens Professor of Corporate & Securities Law. During his time at St. Mary’s, he served in a variety of roles including Vice Provost for Graduate Education at the University, Associate Dean of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation, Associate Dean for Graduate and Summer Programs, and the COVID-19 Law School Response Coordinator. At St. Mary’s he received a number of awards including the University Excellence Award (awarded to one faculty member per year at the University for outstanding service to the University) and the University’s Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Marks joined the faculty at UMKC in the fall of 2025 but continues as an Affiliate Professor at St. Mary’s. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute. He has served as the Chair of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Section on Contracts, on the executive committee for the AALS Section on Agency, Partnerships, LLCs and Unincorporated Associations, Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s UCC Annual Survey, President of the Southeast Association of Law Schools (SEALS), and as the Co-chair the SEALS Scholarly Research Committee. His scholarship focuses on contract law, corporate social responsibility, business organizations and securities regulations. He is the co-author of numerous books including The Law of Business Torts and Unfair Competition: Cases, Materials and Problems, (2nd ed. West 2023) (co-author with Douglas K. Moll) and White & Summers Uniform Commercial Code, 8th edition (West Hornbook Series forthcoming) (co-author with Daniel D. Barnhizer and Wayne R. Barnes). He also has developed a coloring book for secured transaction titled Color Me Secured: Secured Transactions Activity and Coloring Book (Peter Lane Publishing 2017) (co-author with Marc L. Roark).

• Member of the American Law Institute
• President (2019-2020), Southeastern Association of Law Schools
• University Excellence Award, St. Mary’s University, 2017-2018
• Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2014-2015
• Business Law Section, UCC Annual Survey Subcommittee Co-Chair, Fall 2013-Present
• AALS Section on Contracts, Executive Committee, 2018-Present
• AALS Section on Agency, Partnerships, LLCs and Unincorporated Associations, Executive Committee, 2013-Present
• Selected for the 2010 Call for Papers on Freedom of Contract Presented by the Federalists Society and the John Templeton Foundation