Before joining Babson, Professor Petty practiced law with the Federal Trade Commission. He was the founding legal developments editor for the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing and is the founder and executive secretary of the Marketing Law section of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business. Professor Petty has published more than 40 articles on marketing law and has received awards in both marketing and law for his work. He is the author of the book, The Impact of Advertising Law on Business and Public Policy, published by Quorum Books in 1992.

Professor Petty held the Roger A. Enrico Term Chair from 1992 through 1997. Professor Petty regularly teaches in Mods I & II of the graduate program, and teaches electives in Intellectual Property and Branding Law in the graduate program. He enjoys developing unusual courses, most notably his Wintersession offering: "The Bicycle: Vehicle for Societal Change."