Widener University School of Law today announced that Professor Lawrence A. Hamermesh, who has been the Ruby R. Vale professor of corporate and business law and the director of the Widener Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law, will be on leave of absence through June 30, 2011 to serve as attorney fellow with the Office of Chief Counsel of the Division of Corporation Finance at the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.In his position with the SEC, Hamermesh is expected to provide counsel on issues confronting the SEC, in its rulemaking and other activities that touch on matters of state corporate and business law.Meredith Cross, director of the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance, said she expects that “Professor Hamermesh’s appointment will enhance the ability of the SEC to promote investor protection by coordinating federal and state law in areas, including corporate governance, in which both sets of laws play a significant role.”As Hamermesh explained, “This is a significant step not just for me, but for both the SEC and the State of Delaware in particular.“We can expect,” he added, “that Delaware corporate law and federal securities law will continue for a long time to play critical roles in establishing the legal framework for the securities markets and for investor protection, and I applaud the SEC for taking the initiative to promote greater communication and coordination between federal and state law.”