College of Law

Faculty and Staff

B.A., University of Colorado (1977), With Distinction
M.B.A., University of Colorado (1981)
J.D., University of Arizona (1986), With High Distinction
Order of the Coif; Articles Editor, Arizona Law Review

Email: eaw@uwyo.edu
Phone: (307) 399-8036
 

Publications
Presentations
CV

Elaine Welle is the Carl M. Williams Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Wyoming College of Law. Professor Welle has been a member of the law faculty since 1993. She teaches Contracts, Secured Transactions, Securities Regulation and Bankruptcy. In addition, she has taught Payment Systems, Electronic Payment Systems and seminars on advanced business law topics relating to securities regulation and bankruptcy.

Professor Welle has been acknowledged on numerous occasions for her abilities as a teacher and scholar. Professor Welle previously served as the Centennial Distinguished Professor of Law and the Winston S. Howard Distinguished Professor of Law.

A dedicated classroom teacher, Professor Welle is a recipient of the University of Wyoming's 1998 John P. Ellbogen Meritorious Teaching Award and was honored as Outstanding Faculty Member by the UW College of Law graduating classes of 2017, 2013, 2008, 2003, 2001, 1999 and 1996. She has been selected by UW College of Law graduating classes to serve as a hooder at commencement ceremonies in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2003, 2001, 1999, 1998 and 1996.

Professor Welle's scholarship and current works for publication focus on commercial, corporate and securities law topics. Professor Welle has served as advisor, consultant and expert witness for the United States Attorney, the Colorado Securities Commission and the Colorado Attorney General's Office.

While on sabbatical, Professor Welle taught securities regulation and commercial law courses in Beijing, China as a visiting professor in a Master of Laws Program jointly sponsored by Temple University School of Law and China University of Political Science and Law. The Master of Laws Program educates Chinese judges, government officials, law professors and lawyers in U.S. and international law with an emphasis on commercial law topics pertinent to China's emerging economy.

Prior to commencing her academic career, Professor Welle was a partner and associate with the law firm of Holland & Hart in Denver, Colorado. Through her practice, Professor Welle acquired significant practical experience in such areas as mergers and acquisitions, asset sales, public and private offerings of securities, bank financings and the formation of business entities. She also served as securities counsel for many publicly-traded companies. During that period, Professor Welle was a Lecturer of Law at the University of Denver College of Law where she taught courses in securities regulation.

Professor Welle graduated with honors from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1986. While a student at the University of Arizona, she was awarded membership in the Order of the Coif and served as an editor of the Arizona Law Review.

Before beginning her legal career, Professor Welle worked for six years in a variety of managerial and staff positions dealing with financial, product and strategic planning in the telecommunications industry. In 1981, she earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Colorado. Professor Welle received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, with distinction, from the University of Colorado in 1977.

Teaching: Bankruptcy, Contracts I, Secured Transactions, Securities Regulation