Professor Cortez teaches and writes in the areas of health law, FDA law, administrative law, and the legislative process. His scholarship focuses on international and comparative health law and regulation, particularly the regulation of emerging international markets in health care and biotechnology. He has published in the peer-reviewed Food and Drug Law Journal, and has a forthcoming article in the Indiana Law Journal. His current research will be featured in a symposium on cross-border health care sponsored by the Wisconsin International Law Journal. Professor Cortez has also written articles for the Computer & Internet Lawyer, the Journal of Payment Systems Law, and the ABA's National Institute on White Collar Crime, and contributed a chapter for a forthcoming book, Preclinical Safety Evaluation of Biopharmaceuticals.
Before joining the SMU law faculty, Professor Cortez practiced with the Washington, D.C., law firm Arnold & Porter, where he represented medical technology clients in administrative, legislative, litigation, and corporate matters, with a special emphasis on health care fraud and abuse, FDA enforcement, and health privacy. While at Arnold & Porter, Professor Cortez litigated pro bono cases with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and was a Board Member of the D.C. Hispanic Bar Foundation. In 2006, he was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Rutgers-Camden Law School. He teaches courses in administrative law, health law, FDA law, and the legislative process.