Law and Circular Economy

Examining the Circular Economy from legal, commercial, business and management perspectives

Who We Are

Photo of Dr Sean Thomas.

Dr Sean Thomas is a Reader at The York Law School, University of York.

He published the first academic legal analysis of English and Welsh law and circular economy in 2018. Since then he has examined a number of different aspects of commercial law and circular economy, such as sales, smart technologies, financing, IP, and waste.

His wider research concerns issues of commercial and contract law, property law (covering personal property, land, and intellectual property), and legal history.

For further details, see https://www.york.ac.uk/law/people/thomas/

Photo of Dr Reza Beheshti

Dr Reza Beheshti is an Assistant Professor in International Commercial Law at the School of Law, University of Nottingham.

He has published analyses of the law of sales in the context of circular economy, with particular reference to remedies for circular economic sales transactions.

His work on law and circular economy has developed out his broader expertise in domestic and international sales law, particularly concerning remedies. He also has expertise in alternative dispute resolution methods, and since 2017 has been an arbitrator at the Arbitration Centre of Iran Chamber.

For further details, see https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/law/people/reza.beheshti

Photo of Dr Monica Vessio

Dr Monica Vessio is a Lecturer in Commercial and Contract Law at the Law School, University of Exeter.

She researches circular economy principles and disruptive technologies in the commercial arena (with consumer considerations) and how they can be regulated in sustainable and ethical ways. 

In addition to her work on law and circular economy, she has extensive academic and practical experience in wide range of commercial and consumer law matters.

For further details, see https://law.exeter.ac.uk/staff/vessio/

Photo of Professor Melanie Kreye

Professor Melanie Kreye is Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at the School of Business and Society, University of York.

She has researched into the impact of servitisation contracts in a wide range of manufacturing sectors, and how such framework relate to transitions towards circular economic practices.

Her wider research concerns the impact of globalisation of supply chains, the nature, development and implementation of servitisation contracts, and risk management.

For further details, see https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/people/melanie-kreye/

Photo of Professor Severine Saintier

Professor Severine Saintier is Professor of Law at the School of Law and Politics, Cardiff University.

She has been involved in examining the impact of circular economy in the context of legal protections for vulnerable commercial and consumer parties. With Dr Vessio, she has recently undertaken research funded by the Welsh Government and the EU concerning the development of circular economic business-to-business and business-to-consumer contracts.

Her broader research expertise concerns the law of commercial agency, general commercial and contract law, and relational contracts and good faith.

For further details, see https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/saintiers