Elizabeth Sheargold

Elizabeth Sheargold is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at Monash University, specializing in international economic law with a focus on the intersection of trade/investment agreements and environmental policy. Her research addresses climate policy, natural resource management, and weaponized trade threats. She leads the Department of Defence-funded project 'Australia and Weaponised Trade: Threats and Responses' (2023–2025). Previously, she held roles as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong, Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne's Global Economic Law Network, and Associate Director of Columbia University's Center for Climate Change Law. She holds a PhD and BA/LLB(Hons) from the University of Melbourne, and an LLM from Columbia University.

• Education:
  • PhD, University of Melbourne (2018)
  • LLM, Columbia University (2012)
  • BA/LLB(Hons), University of Melbourne (2009)
• Professional Experience:
  • Legal Adviser to Judge O. Thomas Johnson, Iran–U.S. Claims Tribunal (2016–2017)
  • Associate Director, Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia University (2012)

Her research interests center on reconciling international trade/investment frameworks with environmental and public health imperatives. Key themes include climate change carve-outs in treaties, regulatory autonomy in economic law, and ISDS reform. She frequently engages with multilateral organizations like the OECD and UNCITRAL on treaty modernization.

Recent work highlights include analyzing early dismissal mechanisms in ISDS proceedings and advocating for climate resilience in investment policies. She collaborates internationally, particularly in Asia-Pacific regional trade architecture and Australia-China treaty dynamics.

Grants & Projects:

• Australia and Weaponised Trade: Threats and Responses (Monash University, 2023–2025)
• Defence Department-funded analysis of trade as a geopolitical tool

Labs/Teams: Engaged with Monash Law's Global Law Research Group and international networks through her Defence-funded project.