Paul Brest (born c. 1940) is an American legal scholar who is a former president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation[1] and a former dean of Stanford Law School.

[4] He also practiced as a civil rights litigator with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in Mississippi.

[4] Brest returned to Stanford Law School in 2012 and continues to teach courses on philanthropy, decision-making, and impact investing.

[6] Between 1983 and 1984, Brest served as a fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences; he is now the chairman of the board of directors.

[10] Brest holds honorary degrees from Northwestern University School of Law and Swarthmore College.