Douglas Guilfoyle

Professor Douglas Guilfoyle is a Professor at UNSW Canberra within the School of Humanities & Social Sciences, where he joined in 2018. He is a 2022-2025 Australian Research Council Future Fellow working on "Small States' use of law of the sea litigation against greater powers" (FT210100186). He is also a non-resident fellow at the Sea Power Centre - Australia and was a Visiting Legal Fellow at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2018-2019).

Professor Guilfoyle's educational background includes:

• Doctor of Philosophy (International Law), University of Cambridge, 2007
• Master of Laws (International Law), University of Cambridge, 2004
• Bachelor of Arts (Hons I) and Bachelor of Laws (Hons I) Australian National University, 2000

Professor Guilfoyle's research focuses on maritime security, the international law of the sea, and international and transnational criminal law. His particular areas of specialism include maritime law-enforcement, the law of naval warfare, international courts and tribunals, and the history of international law. His work examines how small States use UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) dispute settlement mechanisms to gain political advantages in conflicts with greater powers.

His research crosses over from the maritime domain to international criminal law generally, including questions of the effectiveness of international criminal tribunals and the law of superior responsibility. He has made significant contributions to understanding counter-piracy efforts, maritime interdiction operations, and the protection of submarine cables in the context of modern security challenges.

Professor Guilfoyle's recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward examining the intersection of emerging technologies and maritime law, particularly regarding autonomous vessels. His work also shows a deep engagement with the strategic use of international law by small states, maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, and the evolving role of international courts and tribunals in resolving complex maritime disputes. His scholarship consistently bridges theoretical legal frameworks with practical security concerns.

Professor Guilfoyle has received several prestigious awards and fellowships:

• 2022-2025 Australian Research Council Future Fellow
• Gates Cambridge Scholar, 2004-2007
• British Council Chevening Scholar, 2003-2004
• British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship, 2012-2013

Professor Guilfoyle has secured significant research funding including an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship ($948,000, 2022-2025) for his project on "The use of strategic law of the sea litigation by small States against greater powers," and an Australian Research Council Discovery Project ($158,000, 2020-2023) on "Legal Regulation of Marine Autonomous Vehicles." His research is informed by extensive consultancy work with various government and international organizations. Prior to joining UNSW Canberra, he held academic positions at Monash University and University College London, and has practical legal experience as a judicial associate in the Australian Federal Court and as a commercial litigation solicitor in Sydney.

Professor Guilfoyle is a frequent contributor to leading international law blogs such as EJIL:talk and Opinio Juris, demonstrating his active engagement with the international legal community and current developments in the field.