Partner Ellen Messing Cited in Boston Globe Article About Larry Summers, Jeffrey Epstein, and Tenure
When the Boston Globe sought to understand the protections keeping Larry Summers on Harvard’s tenured faculty despite his documented ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, reporters turned to MRW partner Ellen J. Messing.
At the time of publication, Summers had stepped down from some commitments, but notably still planned to continue to teach at Harvard. Attorney Messing explained the circumstances in which a college can, and can’t, remove a tenured faculty member. As she noted,
“a university may seek to revoke a tenure contract if the situation concerning a faculty member specifically involves their activities at the school or is closely tied to the criminal justice system, which hadn’t yet happened in the Summers situation.”
Attorney Messing further went on to say the more likely outcome would be that Professor Summers would likely step back from teaching, perhaps under pressure. That prediction almost immediately proved true: the day after publication, Summers announced he would not finish teaching this semester.
Attorney Messing also pointed out that given MRW’s “longstanding and proud tradition of representing women fighting against gender discrimination in academia,” it was unlikely that Summers would seek representation from MRW if Harvard revoked his tenure.
If you have concerns about your tenured status, or if you are encountering obstacles in pursuit of tenure, please contact us for a confidential legal review
The full article can be viewed here with a Boston Globe subscription: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/18/metro/amid-calls-harvard-cut-ties-with-former-president-larry-summers-tenure-looms-familiar-barrier/