Rebecca Williams is a Professor of Public Law and Criminal Law at the University of Oxford, affiliated with Pembroke College. She serves as Admissions Co-ordinator and has held previous fellowships at Robinson College, Cambridge. Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Birmingham, and undergraduate/BCL studies at Worcester College, Oxford. Her research focuses on law-technology intersections, criminal/public law, and unjust enrichment. She co-founded the Oxford LawTech Education Programme (OLTEP) with Prof. Tom Melham and Dr. Václav Janeček, addressing legal technology education. Her work influences global courts, including the European Court of Justice and Australia's High Court. Key research areas include algorithmic accountability frameworks, administrative law adaptation for technology, and comparative public law approaches. She participates in initiatives like the Future of Technology and Society Discussion Group and Computers and Law Research Group. Teaching: Administrative Law, Criminal Law (Mods) Projects: LawTech education frameworks, regulatory technology applications Awards: Runner-up Peter Birks Prize (2011) Her scholarship bridges legal theory and practical challenges posed by technological advancements, emphasizing accountability and regulatory frameworks for emerging systems.
Nicholas Blomley is Professor of Geography at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, he has established himself as a leading scholar in legal geography with over thirty years of research focusing on the intersection between law and geography, particularly regarding property relations and their spatial implications. His work bridges geography and legal studies, examining how spatial arrangements influence legal relations and vice versa. Professor Blomley's research centers on legal geography, with particular emphasis on property law, spatiality of legal practices, and the worldmaking consequences of legal geographies. His scholarship demonstrates how legal frameworks create and maintain spatial exclusions while also revealing possibilities for resistance and alternative spatial arrangements. His work spans theoretical explorations of legal geography to empirical studies of homelessness, gentrification, indigenous land rights, and the regulation of urban space. Through his concept of 'legal geographies,' he has illuminated how law is not merely applied to space but is constitutive of spatial relations. Blomley's extensive publication record reveals consistent engagement with critical questions about property, territory, and spatial justice. His work demonstrates increasing attention to precarious housing, the regulation of homelessness, and the territorial dimensions of property relations, reflecting both continuity with his longstanding interests and responsiveness to contemporary urban challenges. His scholarship shows how property relations are fundamentally spatial, showing how territory becomes a crucial technology through which property relations are communicated, imagined, legitimized, enforced, naturalized and contested. Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada Professor Blomley actively supervises a diverse group of graduate students working on critical legal geography topics through the Legal Geography Research Group at Simon Fraser University. His mentorship extends beyond traditional academic supervision to fostering collaborative research and providing a space for interdisciplinary dialogue about law, space, and power. His students' research spans topics including vehicle residency, landlord-tenant relations, tent settlements, and alternative housing models, reflecting the breadth of his intellectual influence. His work has attracted research funding supporting projects on housing insecurity, legal geographies of homelessness, and indigenous treaty processes in British Columbia. As leader of the Legal Geography Research Group, Blomley cultivates a vibrant intellectual community examining the complex interrelationships between law, space, and social relations. The research group brings together scholars examining how people who live in vehicles are positioned and regulated in society, the dynamics of property relations in liberal capitalist and settler colonial contexts, and the legal frameworks shaping landlord-tenant relations. This collective work demonstrates how legal geographies operate across multiple scales, from intimate bodily spaces to international legal frameworks, revealing the profound spatial dimensions of legal power and resistance.
Prof Ana Filipa Vrdoljak is a Professor of Law at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and holds the UNESCO Chair in International Law and Cultural Heritage. She is co-coordinator of the UNESCO-UNITWIN Network on Culture in Emergencies and has authored seminal works on cultural heritage law, including International Law, Museums and the Return of Cultural Objects and Oxford Handbook on International Cultural Heritage Law . Her research focuses on international legal frameworks for cultural heritage protection, human rights, and sustainable development. She has held visiting positions at the University of Cambridge and New York University, and served as Secretary of the International Cultural Property Society. Vrdoljak has advised international organizations like UNESCO and UNIDROIT and contributed to major treaties governing cultural object trade and heritage preservation. Her work integrates legal, historical, and sociopolitical dimensions of cultural heritage, emphasizing equity and global justice. Educations: Doctor of Philosophy (Law), University of Sydney (2003) Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Sydney (1993) Bachelor of Laws (Honours), University of Sydney (1992) Research Interests: Prof Vrdoljak’s work bridges international law, cultural heritage, and human rights. She explores legal mechanisms for protecting cultural objects from illicit trade, the role of UNESCO conventions, and the intersection of cultural heritage with sustainable development goals. Her recent focus includes post-conflict cultural restitution, indigenous rights in heritage governance, and the impact of digital platforms on cultural object markets. Articles Overview: Her publications analyze multilateral treaties (e.g., 1970 UNESCO Convention), legal responses to cultural destruction in conflict zones, and sustainable development principles in heritage law. Key themes include customary law evolution, state obligations, and participatory governance models. Grants & Leadership: ARC Discovery Project Grant (2022–2025): Journeys and Legacies of European Émigré Lawyers in Australia UTS Chancellor’s Research Fellowship (2021): Indigenous Language Renewal UNESCO Chair initiatives on cultural heritage in emergencies Labs/Teams: Leads UTS’s cultural heritage law research cluster and collaborates with global networks like the UNESCO-UNITWIN program and Heritopolis UN-Habitat consortium. She edits the Oxford Commentaries on International Cultural Heritage Law and chairs the International Journal of Cultural Property editorial board.
Professor Graham Virgo serves as Master of Downing College and Professor of English Private Law at the University of Cambridge, where he holds pivotal roles including Chair of the LLM Examiners within the Faculty of Law. His academic identity is deeply rooted in Cambridge's legal ecosystem, complemented by his status as a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn and Honorary King's Counsel (KC). Education: Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) from the University of Oxford, Master of Arts (MA) Virgo's research concentrates on Criminal Law, the Law of Restitution, Contract Law, and Equity and Trusts, producing foundational textbooks such as The Principles of Equity and Trusts (5th ed., 2023) and The Principles of the Law of Restitution (4th ed., 2024). His scholarship critically examines intersections between property law, trusts, and unjust enrichment, alongside doctrinal evolution in criminal law—particularly homicide—and contractual remedies. He actively contributes to criminal law pedagogy through Simester and Sullivan's Criminal Law: Theory and Doctrine (8th ed., 2022). Analysis of his recent publications reveals sustained focus on restitutionary principles, including defences against unjust enrichment claims, illegality doctrines, and practical applications of trust law in wealth management. His criminal law work consistently addresses judicial reasoning and legislative reform, notably regarding joint enterprise liability and the Serious Crime Act 2007. Honorary King's Counsel (KC) Bencher of Lincoln's Inn As an educator, Virgo shapes legal training through the LLM program and co-authored guides like What about Law?: Studying Law at University (3rd ed., 2021). His leadership as Master of Downing College encompasses institutional governance and student welfare advocacy, reflecting his dual commitment to academic excellence and collegiate community.
Prof. Dr. Veljko Turanjanin is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Kragujevac, specializing in Criminal Law. His research focuses on penal theory, criminal procedure, human rights law, and judicial reform. He actively contributes to Serbian legal scholarship through articles addressing contemporary legal challenges such as human trafficking, pandemic-related legal responses, and police use of force. His work bridges theoretical legal analysis with practical policy implications, emphasizing compliance with international standards like the European Convention on Human Rights. He is engaged in advancing judicial transparency and combating transnational crimes while advocating for victims' rights through legal frameworks. Research interests include criminal sanctions reform, digital forensic procedures, and the intersection of public health with criminal justice during crises. Turanjanin's recent publications highlight innovative approaches to Serbia's legal system, such as combating doping in sports and exploring ethical dilemmas in medical autonomy. He maintains an active academic profile with a focus on domestic and comparative legal studies.
Prof Mirko Bagaric is a Professor of Law at Swinburne University of Technology, affiliated with the School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship. He previously served as Dean of Swinburne Law School (2019–2022) and Dean/Head of Deakin University’s Law School (2003–2006 and 2012–2015). He holds a PhD from Monash University (2001) and a BA/LLB (Hons) from the same institution (1992). His research focuses on punishment and sentencing, migration/refugee law, and human rights law. He has authored/co-authored over 30 books and 200 articles in top law journals, including the Harvard Human Rights Journal and Stanford Law and Policy Review. His work has influenced court judgments globally and emphasizes reforming sentencing systems to reduce mass incarceration and bias through AI-driven solutions. Bagaric has received the Alfred Deakin Professorship (2015) and contributed to influential works like Future Proofing Australia . He actively engages in public discourse via media and opinion pieces, addressing socially relevant legal issues. His grants include projects on criminal justice reform and AI in space governance, funded by organizations like the Institute of Public Affairs and CSIRO. He supervises PhD students on topics like AI in sentencing and cyberlaw. His teaching and research emphasize bridging theory with practice, advocating for evidence-based legal frameworks.
Prof. Pieter Desmet is a Full Professor of Quantitative Empirical Legal Studies at the Erasmus School of Law, part of Erasmus University Rotterdam. His academic role involves advancing interdisciplinary research at the intersection of law, economics, and psychology. He was reappointed to his current chair as of 2025 and contributes to the Netherlands Academy for Empirical Legal Studies' digital platform initiative. His research focuses on legal sanctions, compensation mechanisms, and behavioral aspects of legal systems. Notable themes include the psychological effects of apology versus financial compensation, jury decision-making bias, and the design of effective sanction schemes. He explores how economic incentives and social norms shape compliance with legal rules, particularly in tort law and healthcare priority settings. Prof. Desmet engages in collaborative projects, such as launching the digital platform 'The Academy,' and publishes widely in empirical legal studies. His work bridges theoretical legal frameworks with real-world applications, emphasizing quantitative methods to evaluate legal policies. Though no specific awards are detailed, his contributions reflect significant scholarly impact in his field. He advises three PhD candidates, though their names are not listed here. His teaching spans legal economics and empirical research methodologies, and he regularly contributes expert perspectives through columns on legal and societal issues.
Alejandro Luis De Pablo Serrano is a criminal law researcher at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, focusing on human rights , international criminal law , and environmental criminology . He holds a PhD in Criminal Law from Universidad de Valladolid (2014) with a thesis on honor crimes in Spanish and comparative law, supervised by Dr. Mercedes Alonso Álamo. Education: Dr. in Criminal Law, Universidad de Valladolid (2014) Current Role: Post-Doc Researcher, University of Castilla-La Mancha His research examines intersections between criminal liability of multinational corporations , hate speech regulation , and transnational crime . Key themes include: Corporate accountability for environmental corruption Free expression vs. honor protection across legal systems Modernizing penal frameworks through comparative analysis Recent publications analyze 21st-century organized crime , hate speech in digital contexts , and human rights in penal policy . His work often incorporates green criminology and comparative constitutionalism , addressing challenges in pluralistic societies. He is particularly engaged in legal philosophy regarding hate speech sanctions , prison reform , and cross-border legal coordination . His scholarship contributes to debates on criminal responsibility of political entities and balance between civil liberties and penal restrictions .
Jon Schmidt serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of St. Thomas School of Law while holding the role of Judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. His practice focuses exclusively on criminal appeals involving constitutional law, convictions, sentencing restitution, and federal habeas petitions. He currently oversees the appeals unit managing all criminal appellate, postconviction, and federal habeas cases. Education: JD from William Mitchell College of Law BA from University of Minnesota His teaching engagement includes LAWS 715-05 Lawyering Skills III, which emphasizes appellate advocacy skills including brief writing and oral arguments. Though no specific awards are listed, his professional roles indicate significant judicial and academic contributions to criminal law and procedure. Current responsibilities include mentoring students through mock appellate processes and maintaining his judicial duties in Minnesota's appellate courts.
Dr. Michal Agmon-Gonnen is a Visiting Professor in Practice at the LSE Law School, London School of Economics and Political Science, and an affiliate Professor at Tel Aviv University’s Buchman Faculty of Law. She is a presiding Judge in the Israeli Federal District Court (Commercial Division) with over three decades of judicial experience. Born in 1961, she earned her LL.B. and Ph.D. from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, focusing on restitution in contractual contexts. Her academic career includes visiting roles at Harvard Law School (2018), the University of Oxford (2020), and the London Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (2006). Research focuses on gender and law, women’s rights, corporate governance, and ESG frameworks. Notably, she co-authored No More Old Boys’ Club (2021), addressing board gender diversity through fiduciary duty. Current projects examine gender-based poverty, women refugees’ asylum processes, and the Refugee Convention’s adequacy in addressing gender issues. Her judicial contributions highlight human rights advocacy, particularly domestic violence and refugee rights. Teaching spans corporate law, public law, and mergers & acquisitions at Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University. Over 30 years of legal practice include roles as a law clerk to Israel’s Supreme Court President and as a commercial litigation judge. Grants and awards are not explicitly listed, though her impactful rulings and publications reflect significant scholarly and legal influence. She contributes to interdisciplinary teams exploring intersections of law, gender, and corporate responsibility.
Paul Cazalbou is a University Professor at the University Toulouse Capitole, affiliated with the Institute for Research in European, International and Comparative Law (IRDEIC) and the European School of Law Toulouse. His academic work focuses on Private Law and Criminal Sciences, with a strong emphasis on legal jurisprudence, European Law, and comparative penal systems. He has authored numerous articles and book chapters analyzing criminal law topics such as business crimes, procedural law, and sentencing principles. His research also addresses issues like judicial precedents, legal redundancies in penal codes, and the integration of European legal frameworks into French criminal law. Professor Cazalbou's publications span from 2015 to 2023, covering themes such as nullity in legal acts, criminal association, malfeasance in corporate environments, and the evolution of probation systems. He frequently contributes to legal journals like La Gazette du Palais , Lexbase Penal , and Prison and Criminal Law Review , demonstrating expertise in both theoretical and applied aspects of criminal law. His work often critiques legal doctrines and proposes reforms based on contemporary judicial challenges. His research interests are reflected in recent articles analyzing the intersections between business practices and criminal liability, the application of European directives in national legal systems, and the ethical dimensions of legal proceedings. Despite the absence of listed awards, his prolific output and institutional affiliations underscore his significant contributions to legal academia and practice.
Dr. Melanie Reid serves as the Associate Dean of Faculty and Professor of Law at Loyola Marymount University's Duncan School of Law. Prior to her academic role, she worked as a trial attorney in the Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section at the U.S. Department of Justice, an Assistant United States Attorney in Florida, and a law clerk for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a member of the Florida Bar and holds a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, an M.A. from Middlebury College, and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. Her research focuses on criminal procedure, comparative law, national security, and international criminal law. She has lectured globally on topics including narcotics trafficking, asset forfeiture, and intelligence-derived evidence in prosecutions. Notable engagements include the DEA Office of International Training, the National Advocacy Center, and the University of Latvia via a Fulbright grant (2018). Her work addresses modern legal challenges such as robo-cops, economic espionage, and the global war on drugs. Reid has received the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Grant and presented widely on topics like mass incarceration, Snowden disclosures, and drone technology in policing. Her teaching portfolio includes Criminal Procedure, Federal Criminal Law, and National Security Law. She actively contributes to legal education through initiatives like Academic Success programs and innovative course design.
Hank Shea serves as Senior Distinguished Fellow at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. His full-time academic roles include interdisciplinary leadership in ethical leadership through the Holloran Center. A graduate of Harvard Law (JD) and Georgetown (BS), his expertise spans business ethics, restorative justice, and white-collar crime. He pioneered collaborations with former offenders to create ethics education programs, blending his 20-year career as a federal prosecutor with academic rigor. As a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Shea prosecuted major white-collar cases, recovering over $50 million in restitution. He received national accolades including the DOJ Commendation (2003) and Minnesota State Bar Excellence Award (2007). His teaching portfolio includes courses like ‘Ethical Leadership in Litigation’ and ‘White Collar Crime,’ emphasizing real-world ethical dilemmas. Research focuses on restorative justice frameworks and the psychological underpinnings of misconduct. He co-authored key publications analyzing post-conviction rehabilitation and institutional accountability in churches. Community involvement includes board roles at Youth Frontiers and Benilde-St. Margaret’s School, reflecting his commitment to ethical education beyond academia.
Dr. Hubert Mielnik is a Lecturer at the Department of History of State and Law , Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) , where he has worked since 2016. He earned his doctorate in 2020 from the Institute of Legal Studies at UMCS, focusing on the judiciary of the General Government during WWII. Education: Law graduate from UMCS (2015). His research centers on Legal History , particularly the judiciary and legal systems in Nazi-occupied Poland (General Government and Third Reich). Key subfields include criminal law under wartime conditions , special courts (Sondergerichte) , legal colonialism , and judicial practices in authoritarian regimes . Recent publications analyze legal theses by Polish courts, property confiscation , and child rights under Nazi legislation . Scientific awards highlight his contributions, including 1st place in Best Legal Historical Monograph (2020-2022) and multiple institutional scholarships. He is a member of the European Society for the History of Law , the Polish Society for the History of Law , and the editorial board of Glosa: Economic Law in Judgments and Commentaries . Teaching recognitions include the Homo Didacticus award for excellence in pedagogy (2022/2023).
Cristina Guisasola Lerma is a Professor of Criminal Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Valencia (Spain), actively affiliated with the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Science (ICCP) and the SGyDF research group focused on Global Security and Fundamental Rights. Her scholarly work bridges theoretical analysis with practical legal applications across Spain's justice system. Education: Doctorate from Universitat Jaume I (2000), thesis: 'Delitos contra el patrimonio cultural artículos 321 a 324 del código penal', supervised by Dr. José Luis González Cussac and Dr. Tomás Salvador Vives Antón. Research Interests: Professor Guisasola Lerma specializes in contemporary criminal phenomena with emphasis on cultural heritage crimes (plunder, illicit export), cybercrime involving minors (online grooming/sexting), and human trafficking legislation. Her work critically examines penal compliance systems in art markets, transnational crime coordination challenges, and privacy rights in digital contexts. She also analyzes penitentiary treatment programs and immigration-related criminal measures, particularly expulsion of foreigners as sentence substitutes. Article Trends: Recent publications (2018-2023) reveal three dominant trends: (1) Development of criminal compliance frameworks for art markets addressing fraud and intellectual property crimes; (2) Empirical jurisprudential analysis of cybercrimes against minors under Penal Code articles 183 ter and 197; (3) Advocacy for comprehensive human trafficking legislation with gender-specific provisions. Her work consistently integrates judicial data from Spain's Fiscalía General del Estado with European legal developments. Scientific Awards: No scientific awards were explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Advising and Grants: While her Academia.edu profile references thesis supervision, no student names appear in the texts. Research projects are implied through ICCP affiliation and publications on police forensic practices (e.g., UJI Scientific Police Laboratory), but specific grants remain undocumented. Her work demonstrates institutional collaboration with Spain's judiciary and law enforcement agencies. Labs and Teams: She operates within the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Science (ICCP), contributing to Spain's National Security Threats research agenda. As part of SGyDF (Global Security and Fundamental Rights), she analyzes police internet data access legitimacy, drug trafficking in prisons, and cultural heritage protection through multidisciplinary teams involving judicial authorities and international bodies like the Council of Europe.
