Michael K. Addo

Michael K. Addo is a Professor of Law and Director of the London Law Programme at the University of Notre Dame. He joined the institution in 2017 from the University of Exeter, where he held leadership roles in academic administration. His expertise lies in international human rights law and the intersection of business policies with human rights. Addo holds degrees from the University of Ghana, the Ghana Law School, and the University of Essex, and is a member of the Ghana Bar. He has extensive experience supervising postgraduate research, reviewing research funding applications, and serving as an external examiner for doctoral theses globally.

Professionally, Addo has been deeply involved in United Nations initiatives, notably as a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (2011–2018), where he contributed to policy papers, thematic reports, and guidance for governments, corporations, and advocacy groups. He also chaired the UN Special Procedure Mandate Holders’ Coordination Committee (2015–2016). His academic leadership includes directing the Notre Dame London Law Programme, celebrating 50 years of teaching U.S., U.K., EU, and international/comparative laws in 2018.

His research focuses on transnational corporate responsibility, cultural diversity in human rights frameworks, and global governance. He has authored or edited numerous books and peer-reviewed articles on these themes, including landmark works like THE LEGAL NATURE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS (2010) and INTERNATIONAL LAW OF HUMAN RIGHTS (2006). Addo also serves as General Editor of the Library of Essays on Globalization and the Law, overseeing volumes on topics like global crime, intellectual property, and investment law.

His contributions extend to policy coherence for sustainable development, as seen in reports for the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly. He actively engages with emerging issues like measuring compliance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and has conducted field missions in countries like Brazil and Azerbaijan to assess corporate human rights practices.