Professor Jonathan Harris KC (Hon) joined The Dickson Poon School of Law as Professor of International Commercial Law in September 2011. Prior to that, he was Professor of International Commercial Law at the University of Birmingham (2002-2011), where he also acted as Deputy Head of School (2006-9) and Director of Research (2003-2009). He was previously a Reader in Law at the University of Nottingham (2000-2001); and Lecturer at the University of Birmingham (1995-2000).

He is the joint general editor (with Lord Collins of Mapesbury) of the leading work in the field of private international law, Dicey, Morris and Collins, The Conflict of Laws. He is also the co-editor (and co-founder in 2005) of the Journal of Private International Law; and an editorial board member of the journal Trusts and Trustees. He is joint series editor of the Studies in Private International Law Series (Hart Publishing). He serves on the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law; and the  British Institute of International and Comparative Law’s’ Private International Law Advisory Panel. He acted as legal advisor to the Ministry of Justice on the EU Succession Regulation. He has also written trusts legislation for a number of overseas jurisdictions.

He is also a practising barrister and holds a tenancy at Serle Court Chambers, London, specialising in cross-border disputes. In this capacity, he has appeared in the Supreme Court and in the Privy Council. Today, he combines legal practice with his academic position at King’s.

In 2016, Professor Harris was appointed Queen's Counsel Honoris Causa. The award is made to lawyers who have made a major contribution to the law of England & Wales outside practice in the courts.

Research interests

Professor Harris’ principal research interests are in the fields of private international law and trusts. In addition to the publications described above, he is the co-author of International Sale of Goods in the Conflict of Laws (OUP) and author of numerous articles and book chapters on private international law. He is also the author of the book The Hague Trusts Convention and of numerous publications on international and offshore trusts.

Teaching

Graduate

•  International Business Litigation

PURE profile 

For more information on Professor Harris's research, visit his research portal.