Felicity Kaganas

Felicity Kaganas is an Honorary Professor of Law at Brunel Law School, which is part of the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences at Brunel University. She holds office in Elliott Jaques 004 and can be contacted at felicity.kaganas@brunel.ac.uk or by phone at +44 (0)1895 266235. Professor Kaganas currently serves as Director of Teaching and Learning and is a member of the Appeals Panel at Brunel Law School.

Her educational background includes:

• BA from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa (1976)
• LLB (First Class) from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa (1978)
• Attorney of the Supreme Court of South Africa (1980)
• LLM from London (1984)

Professor Kaganas' primary research and teaching interests are in family and child law, with a strong emphasis on feminist theory and gender studies within legal contexts. Her work critically examines the intersection of law, gender, and family dynamics, particularly focusing on contact disputes, domestic violence, child protection, and the family justice system. She has made significant contributions to understanding how legal frameworks impact vulnerable family members, especially children and women in domestic violence situations. Her research often employs socio-legal methodologies to analyze how legal principles are interpreted and applied in real-world family disputes.

Her extensive publication record demonstrates consistent focus on evolving family law principles, particularly regarding parental involvement, contact arrangements, and the impact of domestic violence on family legal proceedings. Through her scholarship, Professor Kaganas has critically examined legal presumptions in family law, the role of emotion in judicial decision-making, and the tension between individual rights and collective family welfare.

Professor Kaganas has held several administrative positions at Brunel Law School:

• Deputy Head (Programmes) (2013-2014)
• Divisional Lead (2014-2015)
• Skills Tutor (2015-2016)
• Member of Student Appeals, Complaints and Misconduct panel (2015-present)
• Director of Teaching and Learning (2018-present)

She is actively involved in research through the ICCYFR research group and maintains membership with the APPG on Domestic Violence, demonstrating her commitment to both academic scholarship and practical impact in family law policy and implementation.