British Legal History Conference
by History of Law and Governance Centre, University of Nottingham
The British Legal History Conference is a prestigious biennial event that brings together scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts to explore the evolution and impact of legal systems. The 27th edition, themed "Law and Governance," will be hosted by the University of Nottingham from July 1 to 4, 2026. This conference is organized by the History of Law and Governance Centre at the University of Nottingham, a leading interdisciplinary research hub dedicated to the historical study of law and governance.
The 2026 conference will delve into the intricate relationship between law and governance, examining how legal frameworks both reflect and shape political order, societal values, and modes of authority. Attendees can expect a diverse range of sessions covering topics such as the role of law in structuring power dynamics, the governance of legal institutions, and comparative analyses of different models of legal and political authority across various historical periods and geographic contexts.
In addition to the academic sessions, the conference will offer ample opportunities for networking and collaboration among participants. The event will feature a conference dinner, providing a relaxed environment for attendees to engage with peers and discuss shared interests. Accommodation options, including the Jubilee Conference Centre and University Halls of Residence, are available to facilitate a comfortable stay for delegates.
This conference is ideal for legal historians, scholars from related disciplines, postgraduate students, and early career researchers interested in the intersections of law and governance. It offers a platform to present research, engage in interdisciplinary discussions, and gain insights into the historical development of legal systems and their governing structures.
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Speakers(9)
Andrew Cecchinato
Lecturer at University of Nottingham
Andrew Cecchinato is a Lecturer at the University of Nottingham, with expertise in Selden's Platonising Ius Commune.
Christian Zendri
Professor at University of Trento
Christian Zendri is a Professor at the University of Trento, specializing in sovereignty between Scotland, England, and France, with reflections on the thought of Thomas Craig of Riccarton (1538?–1608).
Declan Noble
Researcher at University of Cambridge
Declan Noble is a researcher at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the authority of the majority and the 'Common Wealth' in bye-law litigation during the reigns of Elizabeth and James.
Femke Gordijn
Researcher at Tilburg University
Femke Gordijn is a researcher at Tilburg University, studying mercantile networks, urban government, and commercial law in Southampton circa 1440–1510.
Jonathan McGovern
Lecturer at Xiamen University
Jonathan McGovern is a Lecturer at Xiamen University, specializing in the legislation of the Devon Stannary Parliament between 1474 and 1600.
Matthew Cleary
Researcher at Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
Matthew Cleary is a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, focusing on Hugo Grotius’s De Iure Belli ac Pacis in Britain.
Rebecca Probert
Professor at University of Exeter
Rebecca Probert is a Professor at the University of Exeter, focusing on excuses for bigamy in nineteenth-century England and Wales.
Saskia Lettmaier
Professor at University of Hamburg
Saskia Lettmaier is a Professor at the University of Hamburg, researching the Lunatic’s Marriage Act (1742) and its implications on madness, marriage, and governance.
Udita Ghosh
Researcher at University of Hamburg
Udita Ghosh is a researcher at the University of Hamburg, studying the transplantation of English marriage norms to India and New South Wales.
Event Details
- Date
- July 1-4, 2026
- 4 days
- Location
- 🇬🇧 Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Trent Building, University of Nottingham
- Pricing
- £200 - £290
- Audience
- Legal historians, scholars, postgraduate students, early career researchers
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