Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search
Profile image of Lorna Gillies

Dr Lorna Gillies

Post Nominals LLB (Hons) Dip LP PhD FHEA
Biography I am an Associate Professor of Law. Previously, I was Senior Lecturer in Law at both the Universities of Leicester and Essex and Lecturer in Law at the Universities of Leicester and Strathclyde. Currently, I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Advisory Member of the RSE Scottish Law Innovation and Technology Network (SCOTLIN), a Member of the European Association of Private International Law (EAPIL), an invited Associate Member of the Centre for Private International Law, School of Law, University of Aberdeen, a listed participant in UNCTAD's Working Group on E-Commerce and a Contributor to the RSE funded project "Digital Assets in Scots Private Law" (2024-2025): https://www.abdn.ac.uk/law/research/centre-for-commercial-law/digital-assets-in-scots-private-law-innovating-for-the-future-1850.php.

My research takes a pragmatic, normative, inter-disciplinary approach to the function, value and effect of global law. Specifically, I am interested in the function and application of international private law in recognising systemic inequality and vulnerability, regulating and resolving cross-border disputes and securing access to justice.

I have a particular interest in four areas. First, the creation and operation of rules of international jurisdiction to commercial and private disputes across borders. Second, the impact of these rules on the rights of vulnerable parties and their ability to enforce those rights across borders. Third, the interaction between jurisdiction, enforcement and technology. Fourth, the impact of fundamental rights in international private law.

I have written a monograph (Ashgate 2008) and published chapters on the recognition of vulnerability in private international law across a range of cross-border relationships such as: consumers’ access to justice in international private law (CUP 2003, Ant-Sakkoulas 2007, Elgar 2017), the legal challenges of social media to freedom of expression (Elgar, 2017), the protection of weaker parties in the protection of cultural objects (Journal of Private International Law, 2015), equity/benefit sharing through international commercial contracts and environmental law (Hart, 2018), and the impact of Brexit on cross-border dispute resolution and enforcement in UK private international law (Journal of Business Law, 2020). My most recent work focusses on developing a normative framework for vulnerability in private international law (forthcoming, Hart, 2023) and balancing substantive and conflicts of values in the relationship between the AI value chain and private international law.

More broadly, I am interested in commercial law; in particular domestic and international sale of goods, consumer rights and the digital agenda, and the emerging concept of digital fundamental rights. I was co-awarded a Modern Law Review Seminar Series funding in 2013 on the Legal Challenges of Social Media to Freedom of Expression which was published in 2017 (Elgar: Law, Technology and Society Series).

I am interested in supervising PhDs on any aspect of international private law (commercial or private, UK, EU, international, theoretical/comparative/pragmatism/ interaction with public international law and global governance) and the regulation of dispute resolution and information technology.

At Edinburgh Napier I have taught and teach Scots Commercial Law and Business Entities. I have introduced, lead and deliver on International Private Law and Law and Technology.
Research Interests My research takes a pragmatic, inter-disciplinary approach to the function, value and effect of private international law. I am interested in the function and application of private international law in protecting right of vulnerable parties, supporting cross-border relationships and enabling access to justice.

I am an Associate Professor in Law and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I am a member of the UNCTAD Working Party on E-Commerce and a Contributor to the RSE funded project Digital Assets in Scots Private Law (2024-2025). I am an external member of the University of Aberdeen's Centre for Private International Law. I am a founding member of the Law Society of Scotland's Working Party on Private International Law and a Member of the RSE funded network SCOTLIN. Previously, I was Senior Lecturer in Law at both the Universities of Leicester and Essex and Lecturer at the Universities of Leicester and Strathclyde.

My research takes a pragmatic, inter-disciplinary approach to the function, value and effect of private law. Specifically, I am interested in the function and application of private international law in regulating and resolving cross-border disputes. I have a particular interest in four areas. First, the creation and operation of rules of international jurisdiction to commercial and private disputes across borders. Second, the impact of these rules on the rights of vulnerable parties and their ability to enforce those rights across borders (protection of consumers online; protection of cultural objects; indigenous equity/benefit sharing in environmental law). Third, the interaction between jurisdiction, enforcement and technology, and fourth the impact of fundamental rights in international private law. I have written a monograph (Ashgate 2008) and published chapters on consumers’ access to justice in international private law (CUP 2003, Ant-Sakkoulas 2007, Elgar 2017), the legal challenges of social media to freedom of expression (Elgar, 2017), the protection of weaker parties in the protection of cultural objects (Journal of Private International Law, 2015), equity/benefit sharing in international environmental law (Hart, 2018) and most recently the impact of Brexit on cross-border dispute resolution and enforcement in UK private international law and the response of private international law in protecting vulnerable parties.

More broadly, I am interested in private and commercial law; in particular domestic and international sale of goods, consumer rights and the digital agenda, and the emerging concept of digital fundamental rights. I was co-awarded a Modern Law Review Seminar Series funding in 2013 on the Legal Challenges of Social Media to Freedom of Expression which was published in 2017 (Elgar: Law, Technology and Society).

These interests are a continuation from (a) my early work on international jurisdiction rules for cross-border consumer contracts, referenced by then Advocate General Trstenjak in C585/08 and C-144/09 Pammer and Alpenholf (at 4 and 33) and (b) engagement with policy developments such as (i) invited participation in the UK Ministry of Justice's Review of the Balance of Competences in Civil Judicial Cooperation (February 2014) and (ii) contribution to consultations on topics such as the Ministry of Justice's consultation on the EU Proposal for a Common European Sales Law and the Scottish Law Commission's consultation which lead to the Defamation and Malicious Publications (Scotland) Act 2021.

Examples of external engagement and knowledge exchange include an invitation to present to MSPs at the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood on the impact of Brexit on cross-border judicial cooperation; a Roundtable event on Protecting Consumer's Rights in a Post-Brexit Scotland with the Scottish Government and representatives of civil society; securing two, five year Framework Agreements between the Scottish Parliament (SPICe) and Strathclyde Law School for research services vis-a-vis Brexit and between Strathclyde Law School, ERPC and the Scottish Government. I contributed to the formation of a new Conflict of Laws Subject Section at the Society of Legal Scholars (Dublin, September, 2017). I have experience as reviewer of the International and Comparative Law Quarterly, the Journal of European Consumer and Markets Law, the Journal of Private International Law, the International Review of Law, Computers and Technology, International Journal of Law and Information Technology and the Journal of Consumer Policy.

I am interested in supervising PhDs on any aspect of international private law (commercial or private, UK, EU, international, theoretical/comparative/pragmatism and interaction with public international law and global governance) and the cross-border challenges of regulating information technology.
Teaching and Learning I am devoted to supporting and enhancing teaching and learning. I have taught across all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate legal studies in Scotland and England including BA and LLB, Diploma in Legal Practice and LLMs campus and by distance learning. I have supervised LLM dissertations and PhD thesis to both part time and full time students. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2007), prior to which I was a full Member of the ILTHE (2003-2007). My teaching philosophy is based on my approach to research, namely pragmatism. In essence, how should the legal theory and doctrine be shaped, respond to and be applied in practical, real-life situations. I am also very keen to make good use of comparative methods as an effective teaching tool in the subjects I teach.

Over the years I have been invited and contributed to Continuing Professional Development events for non-lawyers including for interpreters from the Court of Justice (University of Leicester) and contract law for engineers (University of Bristol) as well as for the Academy of European Law (ERA, Trier).

As part of the team in the Law Division at The Business School at Edinburgh Napier University, I am Module Coordinator for compulsory LLB Modules Law 08121 Commercial Law, Law 09130 Business Entities. I am also a supervisor to MBA students for their Capstone Dissertation projects.

In academic year 2021-22 I will be teaching International Private Law in the LLB Honours year. This is a required subject for admission to the Faculty of Advocates.
Scopus Author ID 26326265000