David Renton

Professor David Renton is a Professor of Practice in ICOP and Law at SOAS University of London's School of Law, Gender and Media since 2021. He holds dual roles as a historian and barrister at Garden Court Chambers, specializing in employment, housing, and free speech litigation. His legal work has addressed landmark cases involving blacklisted construction workers, pandemic-era teacher activism, and Occupy Movement supporters, focusing on trade union rights, anti-discrimination, and free speech protections.

• Previous Roles: Visiting Professor in Sociology at Johannesburg University (pre-SOAS), National Equality Official of the University and Colleges Union (UCU)
• Research Focus: Anti-racist movements, historical fascism, legal-political intersections, and the societal impact of pandemic-era legal shifts

His scholarly contributions include over 20 books translated into 12 languages, exploring topics like authoritarianism, liberation movements' internal discrimination, and the evolving role of law in political conflicts. Current research examines the expansion of legal systems into political spheres and its implications for class power dynamics.

He contributes regularly to The Guardian and London Review of Books, and maintains active social media presence via @livesrunning and @dkrenton.