Ben Hall

Ben Hall is a PhD candidate at Durham University's Durham Law School, specifically within the Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences (CELLS). His current role involves legal participatory action research (PAR) focused on addressing weak climate governance, particularly in the energy sector. He is also affiliated as a member of the Durham Law School and has held previous roles such as Research Associate at the University of the West of England and Research Assistant at Swansea University. In 2024, he contributed to policy development at the UK Government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, exploring locational electricity pricing options.

Ben holds an LLM in Environmental Law and Sustainable Development from Durham University, where he earned the Edward Elgar Prize for highest overall performance. His research critiques market-based instruments in climate governance, advocating for stronger regulatory frameworks to accelerate decarbonization. His work includes challenging spurious 'green' marketing claims in court, as demonstrated in his successful litigation against Shell UK over carbon-neutral advertising misrepresentations.

Ben's research interests center on legal mechanisms to hold energy suppliers accountable for environmental claims, using participatory action research and ethnographic methods. He has received a Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Scholarship for his innovative approach to climate governance through litigation and policy analysis.

Ben’s contributions extend to collaborative efforts, including work on Green Infrastructure legislation in Wales and policy design for energy pricing at the UK Government. His academic journey combines legal scholarship with practical activism, aiming to bridge gaps between environmental law, policy, and real-world climate action.