I am a Senior Law Lecturer at Derby University and UNESCO advisor.
Born in Manchester, I studied overseas, before reading law at Manchester University graduating with an LL.B. (Honours) and an LL.M (European Law and Policy).
My research looks at cyberlaw, and consumer protection. I am an advisor to UNESCO on law and education, specialising in cybersecurity and online safety in digital education within the context of Agenda 2030.
I hold several visiting professional posts at INSEEC and Université Jean Moulin (France). I have been visiting a law professor at the University of Western Ontario (Canada), Aix Marseille Université (France), Université Cergy Pontoise (France), UNISOB (Italy), and the University of Georgia in Athens (USA).
In recognition of my scholarship, research and teaching, in 2019, I was awarded the Richard H. McLaren Visiting Professorship in Business Law by the University of Western Ontario.
I am lead editor on two books for Routledge looking at financial crime and cybercrime (due out in 2024 and 2025). These are part of a research project I lead involving over forty contributors including academics, practitioners and individuals working for Interpol and the OECD.
I am conference organiser and convener for the annual series of white-collar crime conferences chief editor for a special issue for the Journal of Business Law on corporate criminal liability. I have published several academic books and papers in national and international peer-review journals including the Irish Journal of European Law and European Business Law Review.
Teaching responsibilities
On the LLB programme at the Law School, I teach commercial and consumer law. On the LLM programme, I teach a module on international banking and finance law (covering compliance and Islamic finance), and national and international sales of goods (covering international commercial agreements and private international law).
Since 2014, I have been teaching international business law on the J.D. programme at Western Law (Law School, University of Western Ontario).
Also, I hold a visiting position at the Business School (IAE) of Université Jean Moulin (Lyon III University) and have held visiting positions at the law schools of Université Cergy Pontoise (France), Université Aix-Marseille (France) and University of Georgia in Athens (USA).
Between 2007-2016, I was Adjunct Professor and then Associate Professor of Law, at the Law School of Lyon III University, and Participating Faculty at Grenoble Ecole de Management (Grenoble Business School), where I taught law on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (Masters in International Business and MBA). During my tenure at the Law School of Lyon III University, I founded and directed two postgraduate programmes in law on which I also taught.
For over a decade, I have successfully supervised and continue to supervise the research work of postgraduate students in the areas of banking, Islamic finance, compliance and private international law. In this capacity, I have supervised graduate dissertations at Université Aix-Marseilles, Grenoble Ecole de Management (Grenoble School of Management), Université Jean Moulin (Lyon III University) and University of Derby.
I moderate exams and assessments for partners of University of Derby in the UK, Asia and Europe.
Professional interests
Before joining academia, I worked as a solicitor in England specialising in commercial and insurance litigation, first in the private sector and later on as in-house counsel for local government.
For a year, I worked as an intern for the French Delegation to the European Commission advising the public and business on EU policies and law.
Currently, beyond my work as a compliance consultant, I consult in the fields of trade law (EU and WTO), private international law and technology transfer agreements.
Research interests
There are a number of strands to my research:
Compliance - Beyond my research into European and international regulation of AML, CTF and ABC, I look at the development and reform of policies, procedures and regulation.
European corporate law - In this context, I look at the concepts of corporate mobility, freedom of establishment, supranational corporate forms, and reform of EU corporate law.
International commercial agreements - My work in this area looks at cross-border agreements with particular focus on dispute resolution (judicial and extra-judicial), the treaties governing jurisdiction, choice of law, and recognition and enforcement of judgements and arbitral awards, and EU competition law and policy.
Technology transfer - My research interests in this field span research and development, technology transfer, licensing and assignment, reciprocal and non-reciprocal arrangements.
Franchising - In this context, I look at reform of franchise law through a comparative prism.
Membership of professional bodies
I am a practising solicitor and a member of the Law Society of England and Wales
In November 2018, I was awarded a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
Qualifications
1991-1994 LL.B. with Honours, University of Manchester
1994-1995 Diploma in Legal Practice, Manchester Metropolitan University
1998 Professional Skills Course, BPP
April 1999 Admission as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court in England and Wales, Law Society (England and Wales)
2002-2003 LL.M. in European Law and Policy, University of Manchester
2005-2006 Diplôme Supérieur ‘Langue et Culture Française’, Alliance Française, France
2013 Course on anti-money laundering (AML) procedures and legislation, BPP
2014 AML advanced training, International Compliance Training
2018 Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
Experience in industry
Present work
Since 2014, I have worked as a compliance consultant and trainer for an international bank with offices worldwide. In this role, I have provided advice on the regulation and law applicable to the bank in particular and the banking sector generally in relation to the fight against financial crime.
Also in this capacity, I have delivered anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing training at the Bank’s headquarters in Canary Wharf and Hong Kong, as well as their offices in Canada, Quebec, Europe, and Asia.
Past work
Adviser, European Union Outreach Centre (Info-Europe), France (2005-2006)
Government Solicitor, Lancashire County Council, England (2003-2004)
Solicitor, Berrymans Lace Mawer, England (1999-2001)
Legal Aid Lawyer Manchester County Court/ Citizens’ Advice Bureau, England (1994-1998)
Additional interests and activities
Past responsibilities
Programme coordinator for law courses, International Relations Department, Université Jean Moulin, France (2007-2016)
Academic Director (LL.M. and Graduate Diploma), Law School, Université Jean Moulin (2007-2011)
Attaché for International Relations, Law School, Université Jean Moulin (2007-2011)
Associate professor of law, Law School, Université Jean Moulin, France (2007-Sept 2016)
Recent publications
Books
International Licensing Agreements: IP, Technology Transfer and Competition Law co-authored with Hugo Wharton (Kluwer Law International, 2018)
International Commercial Agreements (Edinburgh University Press, 2013)
Contributed chapters
'Civil Law Consequences of Corruption and Bribery in France', in The Civil Law Consequences of Corruption, Olaf Meyer (ed) (Nomos, 2009). Co-written with Professor Beatrice Jaluzot
Publications
Academic
‘The Societas Europaea (SE) – Time to Start Over?’ Co-written with Marta Graute (European Business Law Review Vol.28 issue 5, 2017)
‘The European Economic Interest Grouping – A Chance for Multinationals?’ (European Business Law Review, Vol.26, Issue 3, 2015)
Professional
'Highlights from ESMA's (European Securities and Markets Authority) Annual Report' (Lexis®PSL In-house, publication due in 2017)
‘Referrals to the Court of Justice of the European Union’ (Lexis®PSL In-house, Fall 2014)
‘Personal liability of employees for money laundering offences – A comparative perspective’ (Lexis®PSL In-house, 16 September 2014)
‘Paralegal enquiry – The first step to a regulatory framework?’ (Lexis®PSL In-house, 13 August 2014)