Overview and Research Strategy

The Research Centre for Commercial Law, launched in 2018, brings together researchers across the broad groups of:

• Corporate and Commercial Law
• International Trade Law
• Intellectual Property and Technology Law
• Dispute Resolution

The Centre aims to promote multidisciplinary, sustainable and inclusive research and scholarship locally, nationally and internationally across its research pillars. The Centre’s work frequently crosses fields, and this is particularly so regarding Dispute Resolution which is an established research area in its own right but also forms a key part of the others.        

The Centre serves as a dynamic hub for law academics, legal practitioners, those working in related professions, industry representatives, activists and policymakers, to engage with and support each other’s research interests, ideas, and projects. The Centre, with its staff, PGR and associate members, provides opportunities for synergy and rich engagement, promotes impact generation and knowledge exchange, and contributes to the development of commercial law and practice locally, nationally and internationally through world-leading publications, collaborative research projects, high-profile research activities and events, and public policy and stakeholder engagement. The Centre has strong links with the School’s active PhD research community. Many colleagues within the Centre for Commercial Law are also affiliated with other Research Centres at the University of Aberdeen and beyond, within the UK and internationally, thereby further broadening horizons for collaboration. 

The Centre works as a coherent whole across its four groups, promoting

• High quality research and scholarship including support for obtaining internal and external research funding;
• High quality research-led teaching in the field of commercial law;
• Impact generation, knowledge transfer, and professional and public engagement;
• Support and challenge for PhD students;
• An inclusive, supportive and stimulating research culture and environment.   

To achieve these aims, the Centre

• Meets regularly to discuss research and funding opportunities and applications, organised in a variety of forms such as presentations, workshops, and research cafés;  
• Provides opportunities for its members (staff, PGRs and associates) to present their works-in-progress and to exchange views on these works;
• Provides early dissemination and feedback opportunities through its working paper series; 
• Establishes working groups to prepare and provide responses to public consultations and calls for evidence;
• Launches blog post series which present thought-provoking standpoints of its members (staff, PGRs and associates) on researching, teaching, or practising commercial law;
• Organises events such as conferences, lectures, and seminars that are open to the public and engaging to the public;
• Invites guest speakers whether prominent practitioners or academics to Centre events and also to the School research seminar series;
• Welcomes visiting scholars to exchange ideas on research and teaching and extends further opportunities for collaboration;
• Promotes research-led teaching, actively engages with School’s teaching strategies and develops core offerings in commercial law; 
• Contributes to the University of Aberdeen social media outputs and to the University of Aberdeen Law School blog;
• Welcomes Associate membership from the legal and related professions and from industry

The vision of the Centre is guided by Aberdeen 2040 and its overall research strategy is reviewed and updated in accordance with School’s research strategy.