Professor Katja Weckström is a faculty member at the University of Eastern Finland's Law School, part of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. Her research focuses on emerging markets, global trade regulation, digitalization's impact on commerce, intellectual property rights (IPRs), and food law. She explores hybrid governance models to address fraud in international supply chains and supports innovative entrepreneurship through regulatory frameworks. Her work bridges legal frameworks with technological advancements, particularly in digital content, e-commerce, and IPR enforcement. Key areas include policing criminal activity in IPRs, food security through legal innovation, and comparative analyses of EU and Vietnamese IP laws. She contributes to research groups like 'Global Development' and 'Commercial and Trade Law.' Publications span book chapters, journal articles, and policy reports, emphasizing themes like trademark law, cybercrime, and sustainable market regulation. Her recent work includes analyses of farmer's privilege exemptions and EU consumer law fitness checks.
Neal Geach is an Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching at the University of Hertfordshire. His affiliations include the Centre for Future Societies Research, the Centre for Learning, Access and Student Success, and the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. He holds degrees of LLB and LLM and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). His research focuses on Law of Torts, Equity and Property Law, Legal Education, Technology Enhanced Learning, and Assessment Design. He has authored and edited works analyzing dissenting judgments in legal cases, emphasizing judicial reasoning and legal principles. In 2021, he co-investigated a project on equality and diversity in the Sentencing Council's administrative structure, examining sentencing guidelines and demographic impacts. His publications explore landmark legal dissents, corporate libel, and tort law. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, but his work contributes to legal education and reform. His advising and grants are tied to collaborative projects like the 2021 Sentencing Council study. He is affiliated with interdisciplinary teams focused on legal pedagogy and justice equity.
Luís Miguel Simões Lucas Pires is an Assistant Professor at the University of Aveiro, Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences. He holds a PhD, MSc, and Law degree from the University of Coimbra. His research focuses on Public Employment Law, Public Procurement, Insolvency Law, and Sports Law. He lectures courses in Law Introduction, Public Law, and Public Procurement. He serves as an arbitrator in multiple courts and is a member of GOVCOPP (Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies research center). His work spans legal analysis of public sector employment, administrative procedures, sports governance, and insolvency frameworks. Educations: PhD in Law, University of Coimbra MSc in Law, University of Coimbra Law Degree, University of Coimbra Research interests emphasize regulatory frameworks for public employment, legal innovations in labor policies, and cross-jurisdictional analysis of Angolan and Timor-Leste legislation. His publications address topics like contractual termination in public sectors, lien regulations, and constitutional challenges to employment dismissal. He contributes to the legal discourse on administrative justice, sports arbitration, and creditor privilege systems. Recent publications (2016-2014) focus on budgetary law analysis, public procurement innovations, and sports disciplinary procedures. Earlier works (2013-2004) delve into foundation regulations, labor credit guarantees, and bankruptcy law dynamics. He advises on legal matters as an external counselor and participates in international research collaborations. His affiliations include SCOPUS and Web of Science indexed projects, reflecting engagement with global legal scholarship.
Maria Planas Ballvé is a Researcher in the Department of Private Law at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). She holds a Degree in Derecho (2011) and a Master in European Integration (2012) from UAB. Her work focuses on Law, Fundamental Rights, Sharenting, Trustee, Equal Rights, Catalan Studies, Mental Disability, and Non-discrimination . Masters: European Integration, UAB (2012) Degree: Derecho, UAB (2011) Her research spans inheritance law, surrogacy, legal usury, child rights in family proceedings, and criminal procedural ethics. She has published extensively since 2012, with 54 research outputs, including peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Recent trends in her publications emphasize surrogacy regulations, child advocacy in judicial processes, and testamentary freedom harmonization in Europe . Maria has contributed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in education and academic qualification. She authored two theses: Los pactos de renuncia al derecho a la legítima futura (2017, Doctoral thesis) and Armonización europea del principio de libertad de testar y posición del cónyuge/conviviente supérstite (2012, TFM).
Prof. Dr. Dirk Uwer is an Honorary Professor at the Department of Management Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, and a partner at Hengeler Mueller, specializing in public commercial law, compliance, and white-collar criminal law. He is also a lecturer at the Free University of Berlin, Technical University of Berlin, and the University of St. Gallen's Executive School. Education: Dr. iur. (Humboldt University Berlin), LL.M. (Northumbria University), Mag.rer.publ. (German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer), Dipl.-Jur. (University of Trier) Dirk Uwer's research focuses on public economic law, regulated industries, and corporate governance. His expertise spans environmental law, energy law, healthcare/life sciences, data protection, compliance, and foreign trade law. He is a recognized authority in constitutional and administrative law, particularly in the context of regulated markets and corporate liability. His work emphasizes efficient, proportionate regulation and challenges monopolistic structures. The 15 most recent articles demonstrate a consistent focus on regulatory law, constitutional challenges in energy and digital markets, compliance frameworks, and the legal implications of emerging technologies and business models. Key themes include environmental and energy regulation, data protection, corporate social responsibility, and the legal aspects of internal investigations and anti-money laundering. His publications frequently appear in leading legal journals and handbooks. Professional Affiliations and Leadership: Member, Statutory Assembly of the Federal Bar Association Board Member, Düsseldorf Bar Association (2015–2023) Member, Legislative Committees on Professional Law and Europe, German Bar Association Advisory Board Member, Law School of the University of St. Gallen Advisory Board Member, Research Institute for Gambling and Betting, Sankt Augustin Member, Association for the Promotion of the Institute for Lawyers' Law, University of Cologne Prof. Uwer actively supervises junior researchers and co-authors publications, indicating a mentoring role. He has advised on numerous high-profile corporate transactions and regulatory disputes, representing clients in sectors such as energy, healthcare, banking, and technology. His legal practice is deeply informed by his academic research, creating a strong synergy between theory and practice. He is a member of several academic and professional societies, including the Research Center for Environmental Law (Berlin), Society for Environmental Law (Berlin), German-Italian Lawyers Association, and the White Collar Criminal Law Association.
Craig Johnston is Professor of Law at Lewis & Clark College Law School, where he has taught since fall 1991. His expertise focuses on environmental law enforcement, hazardous waste regulation, and Supreme Court environmental jurisprudence. He serves as adviser to the Environmental Law Moot Court Team and maintains active engagement with legal practice through scholarly commentary. His academic credentials include a BA from the University of Rochester (1978) and a JD magna cum laude from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College (1985). BA, University of Rochester (1978) JD magna cum laude, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College (1985) Johnston's research examines the intersection of statutory frameworks and judicial interpretation in environmental regulation. His scholarship critically analyzes CERCLA liability mechanisms, Clean Water Act enforcement challenges, and the practical implications of Supreme Court decisions for environmental practitioners. He emphasizes the tension between regulatory objectives and constitutional constraints, particularly regarding property rights and federalism. His work consistently bridges theoretical legal principles with real-world enforcement scenarios. His publication history reveals evolving focus from foundational hazardous waste regulation in the 1990s toward contemporary Supreme Court impacts on environmental enforcement. Key thematic threads include liability allocation under CERCLA, water quality standard implementation, and the role of judicial review in shaping administrative environmental policy. The longitudinal perspective demonstrates adaptation to changing regulatory landscapes while maintaining core focus on enforcement efficacy. Notable recognitions include EPA Bronze Medal for Commendable Service (1987) for significant enforcement contributions Bernard F. O’Rourke Award for excellence in natural resources law (1985) As academic mentor, Johnston guides the Environmental Law Moot Court Team, developing student advocacy skills through competition preparation. His professional background informs practical teaching approaches, drawing from EPA enforcement experience and private practice founding the environmental section at Perkins Coie. This practitioner-scholar duality enriches his supervision of student legal analysis and argumentation. Outside academia, he organizes the cross-country relay initiative RunAmerica.org, reflecting personal commitment to endurance athletics and community engagement through long-distance running events.
João Félix Pinto Nogueira is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law, Portuguese Catholic University , and a Researcher at the Católica Research Centre for the Future of Law (CEID). He serves as Deputy Academic Chairman at IBFD and Editor-in-Chief for various tax journals, including the World Tax Journal . With over 20 years of teaching experience, he oversees multilingual EU/international tax law master's programs and supervises prize-winning academic works at all levels. PhD in Tax Law (Portuguese Catholic University) Honorary Associate Professor (University of Cape Town, 2018) 2012 Prémio Eng. António de Almeida awardee His research focuses on international tax law , European tax frameworks , and digital economy taxation . Collaborating with institutions across 30+ countries , he works on cryptoasset regulation , tax dispute resolution , and EU tax harmonization . As a UN Sustainable Development Goals contributor, he emphasizes tax law education and digital fiscal innovation . Scientific Awards : Prémio Eng. António de Almeida (2012) Honorary Associate Professor, University of Cape Town (2018) He chairs the 2025 International Fiscal Association Congress in Lisbon and serves on editorial boards for European Taxation and other journals. His work bridges academic research , governmental consultancy , and international arbitration for transnational tax disputes.
Amel Ahmed is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, specializing in democratic studies with a focus on elections, voting systems, legislative politics, party development, and voting rights. Her research combines historical and comparative perspectives across Europe and the United States. Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania B.A. from Dartmouth College Her seminal work, Democracy and the Politics of Electoral System Choice: Engineering Electoral Dominance (Cambridge University Press, 2013), won the Best Book Award from the European Politics and Society Section of the American Political Science Association. She is currently completing a new book titled Conflict and Cooperation: Institutional Sequencing, Legislative Politics and Democratic Stability , analyzing the long-term impact of institutional sequencing on political development. Her research spans comparative politics, democratization, and research methodology, with publications in journals like Comparative Political Studies , Perspectives on Politics , and Democratization . She teaches courses in Comparative Politics, West European Politics, American Political Development, and Research Methods. Best Book Award (European Politics and Society Section, APSA) A prominent advocate for mixed-method research designs, she has contributed to debates on methodological pluralism and the role of historical analysis in the social sciences. Her work connects comparative area studies with institutional analysis, emphasizing cross-regional insights between Europe and the United States.
Professor Keith Thompson serves as Professor of Law at The University of Notre Dame Australia's Sydney Campus School of Law, specializing in Constitutional Law, Evidence Law, Legal History, and Law and Religion with particular expertise in religious freedom and confession privilege. Education: LLB (Hons), University of Auckland M Jur, University of Auckland PhD, Murdoch University Dip Export, IMD (Hons) ACIArb (London) Notary Public qualification Research Focus: His scholarship centers on Religious Confession Privilege , Jury Vetting , and Theosis (deification), examining historical and contemporary intersections of law and religion. Current editorial projects include Current Issues in Constitutional Law and Law and Love , with frequent analysis of Book of Mormon legal narratives and religious freedom frameworks across Australia, the US, and Singapore. Scholarly Trends: Recent publications reveal sustained emphasis on religious freedom in educational contexts, constitutional challenges to religious practices, and historical foundations of legal principles. A distinctive thread connects Latter-day Saint theology with legal analysis, particularly regarding confession privilege and religious identity preservation in institutional settings. Academic Leadership: Professor Thompson has supervised 3 PhD completions, 2 LLM (research) completions, and 38 undergraduate honors/directed research projects. He secured approximately $400,000 in research funding for SEIROS, an economic think tank he founded, demonstrating commitment to both theoretical and applied legal scholarship. Community Integration: Beyond academia, he serves as Managing Director of SEIROS and National Public Communications Director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with decades of church leadership service complementing his legal advocacy in religious freedom submissions to parliamentary committees.
Jens Elo Rytter is Professor of Constitutional Law (Human Rights) at the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen since 2010, previously serving as Associate Professor (2003-2010) and Assistant Professor (2000-2003). He holds leadership roles in the European Group of Public Law and Danish Institute of Human Rights Board. Education: Ph.D., Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen (2000) LL.M., Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen (1993) General Certificate of Aducation A-Level, Ordrup Gymnasium (1987) Research Focus: His work centers on European human rights law dynamics between national/supranational systems and judicial roles versus legislatures. Current projects include Danish constitutional law in European context, press freedom boundaries, and EU Charter of Fundamental Rights implications. He examines tensions in human rights protection during national emergencies and migration crises. Publication Trends: Recent outputs (2020-2024) reveal intensified focus on climate litigation’s legal limits, expulsion law human rights thresholds, and digital-era press freedoms. His scholarship consistently bridges theoretical constitutional frameworks with urgent real-world applications across European and Danish legal systems. Professional Engagement: Rytter actively contributes to public discourse through media commentary on constitutional crises (e.g., Minkgate scandal) and legislative critiques. His multilingual proficiency (English excellent, German good, French workable) supports transnational legal collaboration.
Megan Thiele is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences within San Jose State University's College of Social Sciences. Her work bridges environmental sociology, social justice, and educational inequality, focusing on dialogical approaches to climate action and institutionalized harm. Academic Rank: Associate Professor Department: Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences University: San Jose State University Her research explores: Collective dialogue as a mechanism for climate and social justice action Environmental trauma processing and sustainability strategies Intersectional analysis of institutionalized racism, classism, and sexism Alternative frameworks challenging anthropocentrism and human-nature bifurcation Key article trends reveal interdisciplinary engagement with: Environmental justice frameworks in climate crisis response Longitudinal analysis of educational policy impacts Critical examination of class dynamics in elite institutions Quantitative-qualitative integration in social class research
Valeria Falce is a Professor of Economic Law at the European University of Rome, serving as Rector's Delegate for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Coordinator of the PhD Program "Persona e benessere". Key appointments include: Non-Governmental Advisor to the Global Network of Competition Authorities Member of the Appeals Commission against Trademarks and Patents Office Decisions Member of the Banking and Financial Arbitrator - Milan College Director of CREDA Co-Founder of the Italian Academy of Internet Code Chair holder of the Jean Monnet Chair in European Innovation Policy Her research centers on regulation, competition and innovation; intellectual property; and consumer protection. She examines legal challenges in digital markets, big data, and smart cities, focusing on competition law's role in fostering innovation while protecting consumers and intellectual property rights in evolving technological landscapes. Recent publications reveal consistent analysis of digital market regulation, trade secrets harmonization, and smart city governance. Her work bridges competition law with innovation policy, particularly addressing big data challenges, platform dominance, and the interplay between intellectual property rights and market competition in European and global contexts. As Scientific Coordinator of the PhD Program "Persona e benessere", she oversees doctoral research in interdisciplinary human well-being studies. Her leadership in CREDA and the Jean Monnet Chair directs research teams on economic law, European innovation policy, and the development of ethical frameworks for digital spaces through the Italian Academy of Internet Code.
Dr. Alan Berman serves as Associate Professor of Law and Dean of Law at Charles Darwin University's Faculty of Arts and Society. With over two decades of academic leadership, he maintains active research in international human rights frameworks and domestic legal applications. His primary research domains encompass hate crimes regulation, gender/sexuality jurisprudence, and indigenous rights within international law. Berman's scholarship critically examines intersections between constitutional protections, international human rights obligations, and domestic legislative frameworks across multiple jurisdictions including Australia, Malaysia, and the United States. His publication portfolio demonstrates consistent contribution to high-impact legal discourse through journals like Stanford Journal of International Law and Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law . Recent work explores artificial intelligence's impact on educational assessment and contemporary religious discrimination legislation. National Human Rights Award nomination for research on homophobic/transphobic violence Principal Investigator for Queensland Department of Justice-funded study on legal responses to hate crimes Invited participant at 1997 White House Conference on Hate Crimes Berman supervises postgraduate research including HDR projects examining social media's influence on legal perceptions. His leadership extends to directing Charles Darwin University's law programs since 2018 while maintaining active scholarship through peer-reviewed publications and policy engagement.
Xinxin Han is an Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health and Emergency Management, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen, China. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration (Health Policy Track) from George Washington University and a Master of Science in Health Services Research, Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota. Prior to her current position, she served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Tsinghua University's School of Medicine and was a Senior Research Associate at the Fitzhugh Mullan Professor of Health Workforce Equity, Health Workforce Research Center at George Washington University. Her educational background includes: 2015-2019: Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration (Health Policy Track), George Washington University 2013-2014: Master of Science in Health Services Research, Policy and Administration, University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) 2008-2012: Bachelor of Art, Guangxi Medical University Dr. Han's research primarily focuses on health policy evaluation, health workforce, primary care, access to care, and community-based digital chronic care management. Her work examines evaluating the impact of health insurance policy (i.e., Medicaid expansion), health workforce policy (i.e., the National Health Service Corps), and health technology (i.e., telehealth) on enhancing the distribution of health care resources and the capacity of community health centers. She also investigates the hierarchical medical system under the Healthy China context and emergency epidemic response management and prevention policy. Her research employs multi-source data to conduct studies in health policy and management, aiming to empower evidence-based health decision-making and improve health system efficiency, quality, and accessibility. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strong focus on health workforce policy, community health centers, and health policy evaluation across both the United States and China contexts. Her work spans diverse subfields including health workforce distribution, primary care access, Medicaid policy effects, and telehealth implementation. A significant portion of her research examines the National Health Service Corps and its impact on community health centers, while more recent work has expanded to Chinese healthcare contexts including rural medical practice, psychiatric hospital working conditions, and radiology training. Dr. Han has received numerous scientific awards and recognitions: 2025: AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting Best Abstract, Best of ARM 2019: Tsinghua University Shui Mu Tsinghua Scholar 2018: AcademyHealth Health Workforce Interest Group Outstanding Abstract 2017: George Washington University Kee Doctoral Research Award 2016/2019: The Journal of Rural Health Exceptional Reviewer 2019: China Postdoctoral Science Foundation International Postdoctoral Exchange Fellowship She serves as a peer reviewer for several major journals including Medical Care, Journal of Rural Health, and BMC Health Services Research. Dr. Han has secured significant research funding from multiple sources including the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Guangdong Provincial Research Funds, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, and previously from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Her current research projects focus on digital-driven community chronic disease management, health policy evaluation using econometrics and simulation, and chronic disease risk prediction using machine learning. She leads a research team committed to using multi-source data to conduct health policy and management research aimed at evidence-based health decision-making.
Faye E. Jones serves as Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Memorial Law Library at the University of Illinois College of Law, where she has worked since 2015. With over 30 years of experience in law librarianship and legal education, she develops faculty research support programs and expands legal research curricula while teaching Privacy and Cybersecurity Law, Advanced Legal Research, and Introduction to Legal Research. Her educational background includes a JD from Nova Southeastern University Center for the Study of Law, an MS in Library Science from Florida State University, and a BA cum laude in Library Science from the same institution. Professor Jones specializes in Legal Research methodologies , Privacy and Security Law frameworks , and Cybersecurity policy development . Her scholarship examines the intersection of technology and legal practice, with particular emphasis on data protection mechanisms and evolving digital research tools. This work bridges traditional legal scholarship with contemporary technological challenges facing legal institutions. Her publications span two decades (1998-2015), revealing a consistent focus on digital governance and legal information systems. Early work addressed foundational internet regulation (SPAM, search engines), while later research explored institutional management (library fundraising, intranet design) and privacy frameworks, demonstrating adaptation to technological evolution within legal contexts. Her professional recognition includes: Navy Achievement Medal for leadership as Commanding Officer of VTU-Law 2207 Professor Jones actively contributes to academic discourse through conference presentations, including the 2024 Popular Culture Association Annual Conference ("The Death and Life of Privacy in Contemporary Popular Music") and the NOVA Law International Conference on "Protecting children online." Her military service as a U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Corps officer (retiring as Commander) complements her legal expertise, with admission to practice in Florida and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. As Library Director, she oversees all operations of the Albert E. Jenner Law Library, leading teams that support the College of Law's research and teaching missions while developing innovative digital resource management systems.
