University of Reading cookie policy

We use cookies on reading.ac.uk to improve your experience, monitor site performance and tailor content to you

Read our cookie policy to find out how to manage your cookie settings

Choosing a supervisor is one of the most important steps towards completing a successful PhD. Our academic experts specialise in a range of different areas, including global law, financial and commercial law and EU and human rights law.

Find a supervisor who you feel has the expertise to support you and whose specialisms are most closely aligned with your own chosen area of interest.

Areas of supervision

Name Research interests Email
Dr Bolanle Adebola

Corporate Law, including corporate insolvency law, governance and finance, and comparative corporate law

Alternative Dispute Resolution

b.adebola@reading.ac.uk
Professor David Bilchitz

Comparative Constitutional Law,

Business and Human Rights,

Socio-Economic Rights,

Animal Rights, LGBTQ+ Rights

d.bilchitz@reading.ac.uk
Dr Alison Bisset

Transitional Justice,

International Human Rights Law,

International Children's Rights

a.j.bisset@reading.ac.uk
Professor Thérèse Callus

Biomedical Law and Ethics,

Regulation of assisted conception, parenthood,

Family Law and Policy

m.c.callus@reading.ac.uk
Professor James Devenney

Commercial Law, particularly International/Transnational Commercial Law and Sale of Goods Law,

Contract Law, including Comparative Contract Law,

Equity and Trusts,

Restitution,

Consumer Law, particularly Consumer Credit Law,

Europeanisation of Private Law

j.devenney@reading.ac.uk
Professor Rosa Freedman

United Nations, particularly human rights bodies and accountability for human rights abuses committed by UN actors

International Human Rights Law

International Law and International Relations

r.a.freedman@reading.ac.uk
Dr Jorge Guira

Law and Finance

Oil and Gas Law

Energy Law

Securities Law and Regulation

International Mergers and Acquisitions

International Banking Law

International Arbitration

j.m.guira@reading.ac.uk
Dr Frances Hamilton

Gender Sexuality and the Law

European Union Free Movement Law and LGBTQ+ rights

European Court of Human Rights Law and LGBTQ+ rights

LGBTQ+ rights

Evolving concepts of marriage

f.r.hamilton@reading.ac.uk
Professor Chris Hilson

Environmental Law and Policy

Law and Climate Change

Energy Law

Law and Social Movements

EU Law

c.j.hilson@reading.ac.uk
Dr Nora Honkala

Gender and Law

Feminist theory

International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law and Public International Law

n.a.honkala@reading.ac.uk
Ms Rachel Horton

Equality Law

Employment Law

Medical Law, particularly discrimination in access to health care

Disability Rights

r.e.horton@reading.ac.uk
Professor Grace James

Employment and Labour Law

EU Gender Equality Law

Discrimination Law

c.g.james@reading.ac.uk
Dr Beatrice Krebs

Criminal Law, particularly complicity, homicide and offences against the person

Comparative Criminal Law

International Criminal Law

b.krebs@reading.ac.uk
Dr Stuart Lakin

UK Constitutional and Administrative Law

Human Rights Law

Constitutional Theory

Legal Theory


s.j.lakin@reading.ac.uk
Professor Gerard McMeel KC

Commercial Law

Contract Law

Banking Law and Financial Law and Regulation

Unjust Enrichment and Restitution

g.mcmeel@reading.ac.uk
Professor Robert Merkin KC

Insurance, Reinsurance, Arbitration

r.merkin@reading.ac.uk
Dr Andrea Miglionico

Banking regulation (NPLs, loan finance)

Financial Law

Financial Markets

Regulatory technology (AI, Open Banking and Financial Inclusion)

a.miglionico@reading.ac.uk
Dr Annika Newnham

Family Law and Child Law

Law and Feminism

a.newnham@reading.ac.uk
Dr Kyriaki Noussia

Insurance law, maritime law (carriage of goods by sea; marine insurance); law of the seas; environmental law; alternative Dispute Resolution (international commercial arbitration, investment arbitration); oil and gas law; investment law; AI and the law (ethical data regulation and usage; autonomous systems regulation)

k.p.noussia@reading.ac.uk
Professor Christine Riefa

European Private Law

Commercial Law in particular relating to Consumer Law and Policy (UK, EU, International/ Transnational)

Dispute resolution, consumer protection

c.j.a.riefa@reading.ac.uk
Professor Michael Schmitt

International humanitarian law

Use of force

International cyber law

Professor Schmitt also specialises in potential postgraduate research projects led by members of the UK and US Armed Forces

m.schmitt@reading.ac.uk
Dr Charlotte Smith

Legal History, particularly 19th-century legal history and the ecclesiastical law of the Church of England

Constitutional Law

Law and Religion

c.l.smith@reading.ac.uk
Dr David Wilde

UK Tax Law

Equity and Trusts

d.c.wilde@reading.ac.uk
Professor Aleardo Zanghellini

Law, Gender and Sexuality, particularly LGBTQ+ rights

Jurisprudence

Law & Philosophy, particularly moral and political philosophy

Law & Literature

Queer Legal Theory

a.zanghellini@reading.ac.uk
Dr Reuven (Ruvi) Ziegler

International Refugee Law

Electoral Rights and Citizenship

Human Rights Law

Comparative Constitutional Law

International Humanitarian Law

r.ziegler@reading.ac.uk