Faculty Profiles


steve-bretsen-2023

Stephen Bretsen, J.D.

William Volkman Professor of Business and Law, Associate Professor of Business and Law, Pre-Law Advisor

On Faculty since 2003
630.752.5899
Memorial Student Center 315


Stephen N. Bretsen is Professor and William Volkman Chair of Business and Law at Wheaton College. He received his J.D. from the University of Colorado, and prior to his work in academia, Professor Bretsen was an in-house attorney and a director-level corporate development executive for several Fortune 500 companies. His articles have appeared in several law reviews, Christian Business Academy Review, and Journal of Biblical Integration in Business. He is a member of the Christian Legal Society, Christian Business Faculty Association, and the Academy of Legal Studies in Business.

University of Colorado
J.D., Law, 1986

College of William and Mary
B.A., Government, 1983

  • Christianity and the Corporation
  • Water Law
  • Business as Mission
  • Midwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business: past president
  • State of Colorado: licensed attorney
  • MBAAI: board member
  • Academy of Legal Studies in Business: member
  • Christian Business Faculty Association: member
  • Christian Legal Society: member
  • B/EC 452 Business Law
  • B/EC 493 Business Strategy
  • B/EC 494 Senior Seminar
  • PS 271 Introduction to Law
  • PS 381 Constitutional Law

Current research interests include water law, business as mission, and Christianity and the corporation.

Rainwater Harvesting in Colorado and the Quandary of a Taking, Texas A&M Journal of Property Law, 4:3 (2017-2018): 165-192, Stephen N. Bretsen

Rainwater Harvesting Under Colorado's Prior Appropriation Doctrine: Property Rights and Takings, Fordham Environmental Law Review, 21:3 (Spring 2011): 159-232, Stephen N. Bretsen

In Competition with Godless Hoards: Are Some Strategic Approaches More Appropriate for a Faithful Business?, The Journal of Biblical Integration in Business, 13 (2011), 110-127, Stephen N. Bretsen

Water Markets as a Tragedy of the Anticommons, William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review, 33:3 (2008-2009) 723-783, Stephen N. Bretsen and Peter J. Hill

The Creation, the Kingdom of God, and a Theory of the Faithful Corporation, Christian Scholar's Review XXXVIII: 1 (Fall 2008):115-54, Stephen N. Bretsen

Irrigation Institutions in the American West, UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy 25:2 (2006/2007):283-331, Stephen N. Bretsen and Peter J. Hill

The Faithful Business as a Publicly Traded Corporation - Testing the Outer Limits of Corporate Law, The Journal of Biblical Integration in Business (Fall 2006): 42-80, Stephen N. Bretsen

Bringing the Appellate Court to the Classroom, Christian Business Academy Review 1:1 (Spring 2006): 57-63, Stephen N. Bretsen

Water Rights and the Anticommons, Aquanomics: Water Markets and the Environment, Stephen N. Bretsen and Peter J. Hill
eds. Randy Simmons and B. Delworth Gardner (Oakland, CA: Independent Institute, 2012)