David Birchall

Dr David Birchall is a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University Law School, where he conducts research on business-related human rights issues with a focus on socio-economic rights and the marketization of basic needs. He is affiliated with multiple research centers including the Transforming Energy Markets Research Centre, Environmental Law Research Centre, B&HR Access to Justice Lab, and Ethics and Agency Research Centre.

His research interests include:

• The role of constitutive business law in affecting access to socio-economic rights
• Understanding the purpose and aims of business law today
• Climate litigation
• Human rights due diligence laws
• Corporate social responsibility frameworks

Dr Birchall's recent publications reveal a strong focus on corporate human rights responsibility, European human rights law's impact on global business, and the relationship between business strategy and human rights risks, particularly in the private equity sector. His work demonstrates how human rights frameworks are increasingly shaping business law and corporate practices worldwide.

He has presented his work at prestigious institutions including Oxford, Harvard, and University of New South Wales. Dr Birchall co-edited the Edward Elgar Research Handbook on Human Rights and Business (2nd edition forthcoming in 2025) and co-edits the Springer book series 'Business, Human Rights, and the Environment'.

Dr Birchall completed his PhD at City University of Hong Kong in 2019 and maintains active research projects including Consultation to UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and Business Human Rights Hong Kong project.