Abbe Brown

Professor Abbe Brown is a leading scholar in Intellectual Property Law at the School of Law, University of Aberdeen. She holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, an MA from the University of Cambridge, and a Dip IP from the University of Bristol. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (elected 2025) and a solicitor (non-practising) in England and Wales, Victoria, and Scotland. Her roles include Director of Research for the Law School, former University Dean for Student Support, and REF21 School Lead.

• BA/MA (Cantab) Law, 1992 – University of Cambridge
• DipIP Intellectual Property Law and Practice, 1997 – University of Bristol
• PhD Law, 2009 – University of Edinburgh

Abbe Brown's research lies at the intersection of intellectual property, climate change, marine biodiversity, disability studies, and public health. She explores how legal frameworks can address societal challenges through innovation and equity. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in energy law, digital environments, and human rights. She has contributed to major policy consultations with the UN, IUCN, UKIPO, and the European Commission.

Her recent publications focus on marine genetic resources under the BBNJ Agreement, IP and climate change, access to medicines, and the legal dimensions of place branding. The articles reflect a consistent trend toward global environmental governance, benefit-sharing, and the ethical implications of IP in science and health. She frequently engages in interdisciplinary research, especially with chemists and marine scientists.

• University of Aberdeen Principal's Outstanding Research Award (2022)
• Nominated for Green Gown Award 2022 "Sharing the Benefits of the Ocean"

Abbe Brown supervises PhD students in technology and innovation law and has secured funding from AHRC, Wellcome Trust, British Academy, UKRI, and EU Horizon programmes (MARBLES, BlueRemediomics). She is a Co-Investigator on projects like InVisible Difference and leads interdisciplinary efforts on ocean governance. She has served as external examiner at multiple universities and is an active peer reviewer and editorial board member.

She is a member of the MARBLES and BlueRemediomics EU-funded projects, focusing on marine biotechnology and sustainable innovation. She co-developed the 'Song of the Ocean' for public engagement and participates in UN processes including COP26 and WIPO conferences. She is also involved in RSE-funded projects on scientific knowledge and ocean equity.