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Our research

Research is central to Liverpool Hope’s strategic plan and members of the School of Law and Criminology are actively engaged in research and publishing with internationally renowned publishers.

Below are our Law Academics Research Profiles, detailing their areas of research expertise, priorities as a research community, as well as scholarly interests and passions.

 

Dr Mark Bennett

Dr Mark Bennett is a Lecturer in Law in the School of Law and Criminology.

Prior to joining Liverpool Hope University in September 2021, Dr Bennett completed undergraduate and postgraduate Law degrees at Liverpool John Moores University, and recently completed a PhD at the University of Liverpool, where he was also a Graduate Teaching Assistant. His doctoral research project, for which he was awarded funding by the AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership, explored the constitutional implications of the UK's contemporary counter-terrorism response(s) through the conceptual lens of ‘political’ constitutionalism.

Dr Bennett’s research interests lie primarily in the fields of public and constitutional law (particularly from a UK perspective), counter-terrorism, conflict and security, and human rights.

Dr Bennett is a Member of the Society of Legal Scholars and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE). He is currently a Blog Manager of the UK Constitutional Law Association Blog.

Education: Liverpool John Moores University, 2014, LLB (Hons); Liverpool John Moores University, 2015, LLM in Global Crime, Justice and Security; University of Liverpool, 2021, PhD; Liverpool Hope University, 2023, PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

Research areas: Public Law; Constitutional Law; Counter-Terrorism; Conflict and Security; Human Rights Law

Supervisory areas: Public Law; Constitutional Law; Counter-Terrorism; Conflict and Security; Human Rights Law

Recent publications:

  • Bennett, M. (2024) Parliamentary Scrutiny of Counter-Terrorism Targeted Killings: Democratic Accountability Challenges of, and for, the Political Constitution. Public Law Jan, pp.45-69
  • Bennett, M. (2022) Protecting Free Speech whilst Preventing Terrorism: The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill and the ‘Prevent Duty’ [blog post]. UK Constitutional Law Association Blog, 28 June 2022. Available here
  • Bennett, M. (2021) Exploring the Constitutional Implications of the UK’s Contemporary Counter-Terrorism Response(s) through the Lens of ‘Political’ Constitutionalism. PhD. Thesis, University of Liverpool
  • Bennett, M. (2019) Book Review: Parliament’s Secret War. Legal Studies, 39(4), pp.735-738
  • Bennett, M. (2018) The Ever-Expanding ‘Emergency’ Exception: Syria, the War Powers Convention, and the Bypassing of Prior Parliamentary Debate [blog post]. UK Constitutional Law Association Blog, 25 April 2018. Available here

Contact:

e: bennetm@hope.ac.uk

Dr Debbie Kobani

Dr Debbie Kobani is a Lecturer in Law in the School of Law and Criminology.

Dr Kobani joined Liverpool Hope University in October 2021. Prior to this appointment, she was an Associate Lecturer in Aberystwyth University Law Department, where she recently completed her PhD on ‘A Legal Framework for Host Community Participation in the Oil and Gas Industry of Nigeria’. She is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).

Education: Abia State University, Nigeria, BSc in Chemistry and Education; Aberystwyth University, LLB (Hons); Aberystwyth University, LLM in International Commercial Law and the Environment; Aberystwyth University, PhD

Research areas: Debbie's research lies broadly in the interface between environmental regulation and international law. She explores international environmental law and policy, with interests in public participation and participatory frameworks, environmental regulation and enforcement, corporate social responsibility, International human rights, and environmental justice.

Supervisory areas: International Law; International Environmental Law; International Human Rights Law

Recent publications:

  • Kobani, D. A. (2021) A Legal Framework for Host Community Participation in the Oil and Gas Industry of Nigeria. PhD. Thesis, Aberystwyth University

Contact:

e: kobanid@hope.ac.uk

Dr Onyeka Okongwu

Dr Okongwu joined the School of Law at Liverpool Hope University in 2018 as a Lecturer. She holds a PhD in Equality and Discrimination Law from De Montfort University Leicester and an LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Leicester, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Dr Okongwu also holds positions as a licensed Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Prior to joining Hope, Dr Okongwu held academic positions with the University of Chester and serves as a Law Faculty member of the UNICAF University Cyprus. Her experience in legal practice comes from having worked with an organisation in Chester as a Discrimination Adviser and Caseworker where she was responsible for a varied employment caseload ranging from unfair dismissal cases to discrimination at work. Dr Okongwu has represented clients at the Employment Tribunals and was involved in negotiating settlements between clients and their employers either directly or through ACAS or their solicitors. Dr Okongwu has gone on to author a number of publications around her primary area of interests, namely equality and discrimination focusing on the influence of culture, religion and social norms on gender issues and sex discrimination.

Education: University of Leicester, LLM in International Commercial Law; De Montfort University Leicester, PhD in Equality and Discrimination Law

Research areas: Equality and Discrimination Law specifically focusing on sex discrimination and gender inequality; and Employment Law

Supervisory areas: area of Equality Law (sex discrimination and gender equality; race discrimination, religious discrimination and disability discrimination) and in the field of Employment Law

Recent publications:

  • Okongwu, O. (forthcoming 2023) Sexual Harassment Laws in Nigeria: Lessons from the United Kingdom. African Journal of International and Comparative Law
  • Okongwu, O. (2021) Are Laws the Appropriate Solution: The Need to Adopt Non-policy Measures in Aid of the Implementation of Sex Discrimination Laws in Nigeria. International Journal of Discrimination and the Law, 21(1), pp.26-46

Contact:

e: okongwo@hope.ac.uk

 

Dr Grant Firkins

Dr Grant Firkins is a Lecturer in Law in the School of Law and Criminology.

Prior to joining Liverpool Hope University in March 2023, Dr Firkins completed an LLB (Hons) at the University of Liverpool and worked in legal practice before graduating from the University of Birmingham with an LLM in Criminal Law. Dr Firkins was then subsequently awarded a PhD from the University of Liverpool, where he was also a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Law.

Dr Firkins’ current research interests are in criminal law theory and doctrine; specifically, causation and its relationship with criminal responsibility in English criminal law.

Education: University of Liverpool, LLB (Hons); University of Birmingham, LLM in Criminal Law; University of Liverpool, PhD

Research areas: Criminal Law

Supervisory areas: Criminal Law; Criminal Evidence

Publications:

  • Firkins, G. (2023) Rethinking Causation in English Criminal Law. Journal of Criminal Law, 87(1), pp.18-38

Contact:

e: firking@hope.ac.uk

Dr Ahmed Nazeer

Currently serving as a member of the School of Law and Criminology, Liverpool Hope University, Dr Ahmed Nazeer presents an impressive blend of academic rigor and practical expertise, rooted in diverse jurisdictions. His journey began in the Maldives, where, aside from gaining formidable legal expertise in civil litigation representing one of the nation's largest companies, he also delved into criminal litigation as a State Prosecutor. His commitment to justice is further demonstrated by his significant pro bono contributions, particularly in cases revolving around police negligence and unlawful arrests. Alongside, Dr Nazeer continues his association with various Maldivian law firms. His academic forays, especially his doctoral research, have bridged gaps in global constitutional democracy discourses, making significant contributions to the realm of constitutional law and human rights.

Currently, Dr Nazeer is the Course Leader for Legal Theory and contributes to teaching across various courses including Public Law and Human Rights. Before joining Liverpool Hope University, Dr Nazeer taught Public Law and Human Rights at the University of Portsmouth.

Education: Maldives, LLB (First Class); Maldives, LLM (Distinction); University of Portsmouth, PhD in Law, specialising in Constitutional Law and Human Rights

Research areas: Dr Nazeer’s research gravitates toward the intricate dimensions of constitutional law and human rights. He is intensely engaged with the phenomena of democratic decline, transitions to constitutional democracies, and democratic backsliding. His investigations extend to the designs of modern constitutions, separation of powers, roles of Guarantor Institutions, human rights limitations, and the dynamics of emergency powers and civil-military relations.

Supervisory areas: Constitutional Law; Human Rights; Democratic Decline and Transitions; Legal Theory; Public Law

Publications:

  • Nazeer, A. (2023) The Maldives: A Parable of Judicial Crisis and Institutional Corrosion. In: Jhaveri, S., Khaitan,T., and Samararatne, D. eds. Constitutional Resilience in South Asia. Oxford.Hart Publishing,211-233
  • Nazeer, A. (2020) Violation of Constitution has no Consequences, Rules Supreme Court of Maldives [blog post]. Blog of the International Journal of Constitutional Law, 8 December 2020. Available from: <http://www.iconnectblog.com/violation-of-constitution-has-no-consequences-rules-supreme-court-of-maldives/>
  • Nazeer, A. (2018) Opportunism on the Bench: The Maldivian Supreme Court's Decision Upholding the 2018 Election Result [blog post]. Verfassungsblog, 22 November 2018. Available from: <https://verfassungsblog.de/opportunism-on-the-bench-the-maldivian-supreme-courts-decision-upholding-the-2018-election-result/>

Contact:

e: nazeera@hope.ac.uk

Dr Danyal Khan

Dr Danyal Khan is a Lecturer in Law in the School of Law and Criminology.

With almost 12 years of teaching and research experience, Dr Khan aspires to pursue his career as an academic and researcher. Currently, he is serving as a Lecturer in Law in the School of Law and Criminology at Liverpool Hope University. Before joining Liverpool Hope University, he had been exploring the area of intellectual property rights and creative economy in Pakistan at the UCL Faculty of Laws under the supervision of Professor Sir Robin Jacob. Dr Khan’s research at the UCL Faculty of Laws was funded by the Punjab Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. Over his research and teaching career, Dr Khan has persistently contributed to peer-reviewed publications in refereed journals published by Science Direct, Walters & Kluwer, and Brill-Nijhoff. During the next 10 years, he aims to become an effective teacher and a productive researcher in the field of law.

Dr Khan’s research interests lie primarily in the fields of intellectual property rights, especially the issue of access to health products under monopolies.

Education: LLB (Hons); LLM in Corporate Law; Brunel University London, PhD

Research areas: Intellectual Property Rights, Right to Health, Medical Law

Supervisory areas: Intellectual Property Laws; Health Law; Medical Law

Recent publications:

  • Khan, D. (2023) Analysis of Adolescents’ Perception and Awareness Level for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in Pakistan. Health Science Reports [online], 6(1). Available here
  • Khan, D. (2023) Access to COVID-19 Vaccination for Transgender Community in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. Health Care for Women International, 44(7)-(8), pp.824-837
  • Khan, D. (2022) Pakistan’s Constitution and the Right to Health. In: Juss, S. ed. Pakistan and Human Rights. London: Lexington Books
  • Khan, D. (2022) Redefining the Interaction between Patents and Access to Medicines; Will World Trade Organisation (WTO) Show Solidarity by Accommodating Human Rights?. The Asian Yearbook of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, vol.6., pp.270-289: Brill Nijhoff
  • Khan, D. (2021) Toward Creating Equity in Access to COVID-19 Vaccination for Female Population in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. Health Care for Women International. Available here
  • Khan, D. (2021) Pandemic-Plus: The Covid-19 Lockdown and Its Correlation with Domestic Violence. Pakistan Journal of Social Research, 3(2), pp.49-54
  • Khan, D. (2020) Predictive Modelling of COVID-19 Death Cases in Pakistan. Infectious Disease Modelling, 5, pp.897-904
  • Khan, D. (2020) Role of Medicine Patent Pool (MPP) in Resolving Conflict between Patents and Access to Essential Medicines. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 9(3), pp.601-609
  • Khan, D. (2019) Intellectual Property Rights and Creative Economy; Way Forward for Pakistan. Review of Economics and Development Studies, 5(3), pp.469-478
  • Khan, D. (2019) Modeling the Role of Maternal Care in the Educational and Health Development of the Children. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2), pp.63-69
  • Khan, D. (2018) Domestic Violence against Women: Statistical Analysis and Legislative Solutions. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(2), pp.374-380
  • Khan, D. (2018) Cyber-Bullying in Pakistan; Statistical Analysis of Legal and Social Framework. Employee Relation Law, 44(3)
  • Khan, D. (2018) Reduction of Economic Burden on State Exchequer by Using Various International Legal Flexibilities under TRIPS Agreement 1994 of WTO. Review of Economics and Development Studies, 4(1), pp.61-70
  • Khan, D. (2018) Book Review: Shaheen Sardar Ali, Modern Challenges to Islamic Law. The Asian Yearbook of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, vol.2, pp.504-506: Brill Nijhoff

Contact:

e: khand@hope.ac.uk