Our Research
Research is central to Liverpool Hope’s strategic plan and members of the School of Law are actively engaged in research and publishing with internationally renowned publishers.
Below are our Academics Research Profiles, detailing their areas of research expertise, priorities as a research community, as well as scholarly interests and passions.
Dr Roshan de Silva-Wijeyeratne
Dr Roshan de Silva-Wijeyeratne is a seasoned academic having published over 20 articles in both journals and edited collections, with his first book Nation, Constitutionalism and Buddhism in Sri Lanka being published in 2014. Taking his cue from the anthropologist Marshall Sahlins “that law and history always reveals its cultural form” he argued that modern Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism and its legal forms emerge through the conjunction of discourse, power and knowledge at a distinct moment in the trajectory of the colonial State and its post-colonial successor.
His research has evolved from an initial focus on South Asia (colonial/post-colonial Sri Lanka in particular) to increasingly focus on the comparative relationship of law, religious and nationalist forms in South and Southeast Asia. He has recently completed co-editing a collection of essays (Rethinking Sovereignty: Religious Boundaries and Transgressions in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australasia) for Chiang Mai University Press in Thailand – it will be published in 2022.
Dr de Silva-Wijeyeratne’s on-going research is on the intimate relation between the ritual, the ritualised nature of nationalism in South and Southeast Asia, and the constitutionalisation of religion in the predominantly Buddhist societies of the region.
He is currently collaborating with Dr Bill Grantham on a workshop on Nomos, Theos and Cultures of Violence which he anticipates running at Liverpool Hope University in 2022.
Education: School of Oriental and African Studies, London School of Economics and University of Kent (PhD)
Research Areas: Law and Religion (with a focus on Buddhist Studies), Comparative Constitutionalism and Social Theory
Supervisory Areas: Legal History, Law and Post-colonial Studies, Comparative Constitutionalism and Legal Theory (broadly defined)
Recent Publications:
- With Edward Synot, ‘On the Problem of Nation(alism): Persistence and Absence in the Indian Post-Colony.’ Law, Culture and the Humanities (2021). This is an invitation only special issue of Law, Culture and the Humanities in memory of the scholarly legacy of the late Professor Peter Fitzpatrick.
- With Tim Peters & John Flood, ‘Disruption, temporality, law: the future of law and society scholarship?’ Griffith Law Review (2019), Vol. 26 (4), 1-10.
- With Niranjan Casinader and Lee Carol Godden 'From Sovereignty to Modernity: Ceylon and the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission.' Comparative Legal History (2018) Vol. 6, (1), 34-64. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2049677X.2018.1469273).
Contact:
t: 0151 291 2150 e: desilvr@hope.ac.uk
Dr Ian Johnson
Initially a Barrister by profession (1983-2006) Dr Johnson practised at the Chancery Bar and had chambers in Liverpool (Atlantic Chambers) and London (5 Stone Buildings). He spent 11 consecutive years named as one of the leaders in my field of practice in Chambers’ Directory of the Bar (1992-2003). He is also doubly-qualified mediator and works as a consultant with a firm of solicitors in Cheshire.
In 1998, Dr Johnson joined MMU as a senior lecturer, teaching primarily on its Bar Course, but also Land Law on its LL.B. In 2004, he moved to LJMU in the same capacity, teaching Land Law, Equity and Trusts, Business Law, ADR and Succession on their LLB and Commercial Leases on their LL.M programmes. During his time at LJMU he also validated and became the programme leader for their LL.M in Legal Practice.
Dr Johnson joined Liverpool Hope University in 2014 and is presently the course leader for several courses in property and commercial law on LHU’s undergraduate law programmes. He also serves as the School of Law’s Senior Academic Advisor. During his academic career he has held external examiner posts at BPP University, City University, London and the University of Strathclyde.
Education: School of Oriental and African Studies, London School of Economics and University of Kent (PhD)
Research Areas: Law of Succession, specifically contentious probate and inheritance family provision, and also in Alternative Dispute Resolution
Supervisory Areas: Any area of property law (land, equity and trusts, commercial landlord and tenant, the law of succession – but not intellectual property) and in the field of alternative dispute resolution.
Recent Publications:
- Article - “Conditions Not to Dispute Wills and the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975”, the Liverpool Law Review Vol.1/2004 January 2004.
- Article - ‘Bounty Claims’ (under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975), New Law Journal, 29th June 2007.
- Article – ‘Mediation in (Legal) Practice: The View from Across the Pond’, Peacemaker Quarterly, September 2012.
Contact:
t: 0151 291 3741 e: johnsoi@hope.ac.uk
Dr Demet Caltekin
Prior to joining the School of Law in September 2021, Dr Caltekin taught at Ankara Y?ld?r?m Beyaz?t University, Law School, Turkey. Her research investigates the theoretical, sociological, and empirical aspects of law by employing feminist and socio-legal methods (see the list of publications).
Dr Caltekin has explored the right to conscientious objection, focusing on the legal recognition of the right under the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The resultant outcome was published in Critical Military Studies. Her first monograph, Conscientious Objection in Turkey: A Socio-legal Analysis of the Right to Refuse Military Service, is currently in production at Edinburg University Press. It provides a socio-legal analysis of the right to conscientious objection in Turkey. It empirically investigates the experiences of antimilitarists with law, with a particular focus on the socio-cultural elements behind the non-recognition of the right to conscientious objection. Drawing on interviews with eighteen objectors and an expert in Turkey, it argues that any attempt to create a social change also necessitates understanding and challenging current legal frameworks.
Education: LLM in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from the University of Essex, School of Law, PhD from Durham University, Law School.
Research Areas: Critical military studies, Human rights law, gender and socio-legal studies
Supervisory Areas:
Recent Publications:
- Caltekin DA, ‘Making Sense of Militarism through Antimilitarists’ Resistance Strategies’ [2020] Critical Military Studies 1-16.
- Caltekin DA, ‘Challenging the “Normal”: Curious Women Conscientious Objectors to Military Service in the Male Conscription System in Turkey’ [2020] Critical Military Studies 1-19.
- Caltekin DA, ‘Feminizmin Lokalle?me Süreci: Osmanl? Kad?n Hareketi Örne?i (How Feminism is Localised: A Case of Ottoman Women Movement)’ [2019] 1(1) Feminist Tahayyül 29-58.
Contact:
t: 0151 291 2148 e: caltekd@hope.ac.uk
Dr Angelica Rutherford
Dr Rutherford is a Lecturer in Law at the School of Law and a qualified lawyer (Brazil). She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), a member of the Society of Legal Scholars, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies and the Brazilian Bar Association.
She is currently investigating the regulatory framework for fusion energy.
Education: PhD in International Economic Law (trade & energy) from the University of Liverpool (funded by the ESRC studentship), LLM in International Business Law from the University of Liverpool, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the BPP Law School, Manchester and LLB from the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil.
Research Areas: Intersection of commercial law broadly conceived and environmental law, focusing on the legal challenges with the commercialisation of emerging clean energy technologies.
Supervisory Areas: Energy Law, Environmental Law, World Trade Law, Global Business & Human Rights.
Recent Publications:
- Rutherford, A, 'The Application of the Environment Act 2021 Principles to Carbon Capture and Storage' (2022) 11(1) Laws 15. DOI:10.3390/laws11010015
- Rutherford, A, Energy Security and Green Energy: National Policies and the Law of the WTO (Springer 2020)
- Rutherford, AP, 'Regulatory Framework for Biofuels in Brazil: History and Challenges under the Law of the WTO' (2016) 34(2) Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law 213. DOI:10.1080/02646811.2016.
1147900 - Rutherford, AP, 'Linking Emissions Trading Schemes: Lessons from the EU-Swiss ETSs' (2014) 8(4) Carbon and Climate Law Review 282
Contact:
t: 0151 291 2170 e: ruthera1@hope.ac.uk
Mrs Monika Lynch
Before being appointed as Professional Tutor in Law at Liverpool Hope University, Mrs Lynch was employed as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Edge Hill University. Currently she is writing up doctoral thesis into the role of the law in the processes of state dissolution and state formation. This will be submitted over the next few months. Mrs Lynch has experience of legal practice having worked within the UK's largest employment law consultancy firm, as well as for several substantial solicitors’ firms in the area of civil litigation. In addition, she is a qualified public service interpreter.
Mrs Lynch read law at Edge Hill University and was awarded prizes for outstanding academic achievements. These included: The Beryl Russell Academic Achievement Scholarship in recognition of achieving highest APM in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, The Duncan Gibbins Solicitors Scholarship and The Edge Hill University Mooting Excellence Award. Her 2017 LLM thesis entitled 'EU Solidarity: Constitutional Myth or Flawed Reality. A Study of the EU's Response to the Migration Crisis' was selected as the best postgraduate dissertation in the field of immigration and asylum by Journal of Immigration Asylum and Nationality Law.
Alongside doctoral research Mrs Lynch has co-authored a number of publications in the area of EU competition and public law.
She a Member of the European Society of International Law and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
In the Academic Year 2021/2 Mrs Lynch serves as Coordinator for Level C and a Course Leader for Legal Methods and Legal Praxis, while also delivering EU Law and Equity and Trusts seminars.
Education: Law Undergraduate Degree/ Edge Hill University, 2015, LLB First Class honours, Master of Laws through Research Edge Hill University, 2018, LLM PGCert in Higher Education, 2019 - Distinction
Research Areas: The Role of Law in System Transformation, European Union Law, Comparative Law, Applied Linguistics (legal/historical), Refugee and Migration Law, International Human Rights Law.
Supervisory Areas: European Union Law, Refugee and Migration Law, International Human Rights Law
Recent Publications:
- Rizzuto F. and Lynch M.E. (2021) 'On the continued inadmissibility of preliminary references from national competition authorities; time for a change?' (2021) 42 (11) European Competition Law Review
- Rizzuto, F & Lynch M (2021) 'Has the Slovak Telekom ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union declared the principle of ne bis in idem virtually redundant in cases of the parallel public enforcement of EU competition law?' 5 (2) European Competition and Regulatory Law Review 1.
- Rizzuto, F & Lynch M (2021), ‘The Independence of National Regulatory Authorities: Is There Now an Autonomous EU Law Concept of Independence of General Application? (C-378/19 President of the Slovak Republic)', 5 (1) European Competition and Regulatory Law Review 64.
- Rizzuto F. and Lynch M.E. (2020) 'The Private Enforcement of EU Competition Law: Recent Developments in the Case Law of the Court of Justice of the European Union' 13(1) Global Competition Litigation Review
- Rizzuto F. and Lynch M.E. (2020) Generics UK 'pay-for-delay' ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union. Case C-307/18 Generics UK Ltd and Others v Competition and Market Authority of the 30th January 2020' 4 (3) European Competition and Regulatory Law Review
- Rizzuto F. and Lynch M. E. (2020), 'The Procedural Implications of The Otis And Others Ruling of The European Court of Justice of The European Union “Clarification of The Scope of 'Any Individual' Who May Bring A Claim for Damages in Private Enforcement Proceedings' 41 (7) European Competition Law Review
- Rizzuto F. and Lynch M.E. (2020) ˜The Court of Justice Rules in PZU Zycie that National Competition Law is alive and kicking thanks to the threefold test for idem 4 (3) European Competition and Regulatory Law Review.
- Lynch. M.E. (2019), 'Assessment Perfection. Demystifying Students' Idea of the Most Suitable Assessment Methods - the Case of Shifting Perspective' - SOLSTICE Conference 2019, 5th/6th June 2019.
- Lynch, M.E. (2018), 'Unite or Unravel? The Future of the European Union'. Festival of Ideas 2018, Edge Hill University, 3rd June 2018.
Contact:
t: 0151 291 2129 e: lynchm1@hope.ac.uk
Dr Mark Bennett
Dr Mark Bennett is a Lecturer in the School of Law. 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. Dr Bennett’s doctoral research project, for which he was awarded funding by the AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership, explores 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. He is currently developing key aspects of his doctoral research project for publication, which includes an article exploring the constitutional implications of “drone” strikes authorised by, or (in situations involving partnered “drone” strikes with foreign allies) with the support of, the UK Government.
Education: Liverpool John Moores University (LLB (Hons) and LLM in ‘Global Crime, Justice and Security’), University of Liverpool (PhD)
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:
- M Bennett, ‘Exploring the Constitutional Implications of the UK’s Contemporary Counter-Terrorism Response(s) through the Lens of ‘Political’ Constitutionalism’ (Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2021);
- M Bennett, ‘Book Review: Parliament’s Secret War’ (2019) 39 Legal Studies 735;
- M Bennett, ‘The Ever-Expanding ‘Emergency’ Exception: Syria, the War Powers Convention, and the Bypassing of Prior Parliamentary Debate’ (UK Constitutional Law Association Blog, 25 April 2018) https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2018/04/25/mark-bennett-the-ever-expanding-emergency-exception-syria-the-war-powers-convention-and-the-bypassing-of-prior-parliamentary-debate/
Contact:
t: 0151 291 2167 e: bennetm@hope.ac.uk
Dr Debbie Kobani
Dr Kobani joined Liverpool Hope University School of Law as a Lecturer in law 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: LLB Hons, LLM in International Commercial Law and the Environment, and PhD from Aberystwyth University. BSc in Chemistry and Education from Abia State University, Nigeria.
Research Areas: Debbie's research lies broadly in the interface between environmental regulation and international law. She explores environmental law and policy, with interests in participation and participatory frameworks, environmental regulation and enforcement, corporate social responsibility, human rights and environmental justice.
Supervisory Areas: International law, Environmental law, Human Rights law.
Recent Publications:
- Who is who, and how important is the 'who' to the participatory process? : The Case for Adequate Representation in Host Community Participation in the Niger Delta? (Forthcoming);
- Two Kings in the Jungle: The Economies of Oil in the Niger Delta (Forthcoming);
- Oil Theft and Health Pollution in Nigeria: What is the Law? (Forthcoming)
Contact:
t: 0151 291 2185 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 a Masters Degree in International Commercial Law from the University of Leicester, and is a Fellow of the Institute of 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 Okonqwu 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 Okonqwu 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.
Dr Okongwu currently serves as the final year lead and dissertation coordinator alongside teaching in the areas of Employment Law, Equality and Discrimination Law, Contract Law and Tort Law
Education: LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Leicester (LLM) and PhD in Equality and Discrimination Law from the De Montfort University Leicester
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:
- Are laws the appropriate solution: the need to adopt non-policy measures in aid of the implementation of sex discrimination laws in Nigeria in the International Journal of DIscrimination and the Law 2021.;
Contact:
t: 0151 291 3646 e: okongwo@hope.ac.uk