Professor Baris Soyer

• Untitled (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Georgios Leloudas

• Has a new era of commercial and marine insurance principles favorably enhanced the English Insurance Market or is this lawful opt-out regime a compromised revolution? (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Georgios Leloudas

• Blockchain - It's Application in Shipping and Insurance (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Georgios Leloudas

• The Efficacy of the Legal Framework for Combating Piracy, Sea Robbery and Maritime Terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria in Perspective (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Andrew Tettenborn

• The Implications of Artificial Intelligence and Related Emerging Technologies on Ship Operations: Civil Liability and Insurance Considerations (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Georgios Leloudas

• Disruptive Technologies: Legal and Insurance Implications In Shipping«br /»«br /»«br /»«br /»«br /»«br /»«br /»«br /»«br /»«br /» (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Georgios Leloudas

• Cyber Risks, Potential Liabilities and Insurance Responses in the Marine Sector (awarded 2022)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Georgios Leloudas

• The International Maritime Organization: Foundational Principles Create Opportunities and Challenges for the Future (current)

  MPhil

  Other supervisor: Prof Andrew Tettenborn

• LACM31 Employability Skills in the Commercial and Maritime Industry

  This module provides LLM students with the key skills that are required to succeed in degree level study in the discipline of maritime and commercial law. This module provides practical guidance in written and oral communication skills necessary to succeed in the careers following the completion of the LLM. Students are introduced to the skills needed in applying for jobs and/or moving forward in a career path, including how to recognise and make the most of experience, learning, and knowledge and how to promote themselves effectively, including ways of qualifying as a practicing lawyer in England & Wales. The module is supported by outside speakers who share their expertise with our LLM students, give them an insight of their commercial and maritime practice.

• LAD001 Chinese Legal History

  This course is one of the core courses for law majors in higher education. The content of this course includes the legislative activities of ancient dynasties, the administrative legal system, the criminal legal system, the civil legal system and the judicial system. Understanding the history of the development of China's legal system and the spirit of traditional law can help to deepen the understanding of the basic theory of law and provide the necessary historical knowledge for the study of other law courses. This course focuses on the overview of the legal system, the main legal ideas, the main legislation, and the judicial system in each period of Chinese history.

• LAD002 Constitution Law

  This module is one of the core law courses stipulated by the Ministry of Education. It is an important part of the law curriculum and required for students majoring in law. This course is the basis for students to study other related departments of public law. The teaching aim of this course requires students to master the knowledge related to national organizations and the basic rights of citizens. In terms of teaching content, this course focus on the explanations of the fundamentals and basic knowledge. In terms of cultivating practical ability, it focuses on the training of thinking and methods of using theory to analyse constitutional issues.

• LAD003 Civil Law I

  Civil Law I is a compulsory course in law at the undergraduate level. It is one of the important sub-courses in Civil Law, which is one of the 16 core courses in law at institutions of higher learning. The main purpose of this course is to enable students to understand and master the basic principles of civil law, master the concept of it, clarify the subjects for adjusting it, understand the nature and characteristics of it, and familiarize themselves with the basic legal system of civil law. The course covers general issues of civil law, civil legal relations, civil subjects, objects of civil rights, legal acts and representation, limitation of action, etc.

• LAD004 Criminal Law I

  General Theories of Criminal Law is one of the compulsory courses for law majors in colleges and universities, as determined by the Ministry of Education. Its content is divided into three parts: overview of criminal law, crime theories, and penalty theories. overview of criminal law is the general description of criminal law to introduce the contents in the connotation and extension of criminal law; the task of it, validity, and the basic principles of it. Crime theories mainly introduces crime and non-crime, criminal patterns, and conviction problems. Penalty theories mainly introduces the penal system and sentencing system including penalty power, principal punishment and additional punishment, sentencing and sentencing system, execution, penalty elimination, and so on. Prerequisite courses include Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, and Chinese Legal History.

• LAD206 Private International Law

  Private International Law is one of the core courses for law majors stipulated by the Ministry of Education, and is a critical part of international law and a compulsory course for law students. The course mainly cultivates students' ability to solve foreign-related legal disputes and legal problems, and enables students to understand and master various theoretical knowledge and practical skills for adjusting foreign-related civil and commercial legal relations.

• LAD207 Maritime Litigation Law and Practice

  Maritime Litigation and Arbitration is a limited optional course for students of Law (Maritime Law). The main purpose of this course is to train students to establish the correct learning objectives and to cultivate a solid and serious scientific attitude. Through this course, students shall understand the basic concepts, rules and systems of maritime litigation and arbitration; master the basic content of China's Maritime Litigation Law and be able to put the rules and systems into practice in the judicial and shipping practice; master the basic content of China's Arbitration Law, understand the nature and role of arbitration rules, and master the basic content of the arbitration rules of the China Maritime Arbitration Commission; and master the differences and links between maritime litigation and maritime arbitration.

• LAD208 International Trade Law

  International Trade Law is one of the main modules of law study in higher education, which integrates the basic theory of law and practical business knowledge, and is a compulsory course for undergraduate majors of Maritime Law and International Economic Law. This course focuses on the basic theoretical knowledge of International Trade Law and, at the same time, it introduces typical cases to guide students to interpret the cases correctly and master the ideas of case analysis.

• LAMM02 Charterparties: Law and Practice

  This is a module designed to give an insight into both the legal and commercial relevance of charterparties. The lectures will consider the legal principles which are relevant in relation to charterparties generally and also in relation to specific types of charter and will consider how such principles are evolving in response to market pressures. The module will also look at the relationship between charterparties and the other common contracts relating to the use of a ship and the carriage of goods.

• LAMM03 The Law of Marine Insurance

  This module introduces the foundations and basic concepts of the law of marine property insurance, i.e. the insurance of ships, cargoes and freight. The law considered is predominantly English law, although it is of international relevance for two reasons. First, principles of English marine insurance law are to be found in many Commonwealth jurisdictions and is recognised as authority in the United States. Secondly, forms used in London Insurance market are to be found in 2/3 of the world¿s markets (according to the UNCTAD) and the US forms show marked similarities. English marine insurance law is based upon the Marine Insurance Act 1906 as modified by the Insurance Act 2015. Most provisions of the Act, however, are frequently subject to contrary agreement between the parties and the Act does not address the perils against which cover is provided. Accordingly, considerable emphasis is placed on the standard clauses of the International Underwriting Association of London where much of the substance of modern marine insurance contracts is to be found. Throughout the module, the respective positions, rights and duties of assureds and insurers are analysed, as also are the concepts of indemnity, subrogation and co-insurance.

• LAS002 Legal Reasoning and Jurisprudence 2

  This second Legal Reasoning module steps away from the theory and moves into a more practical framework and moves the learning objective away from `What the rules are¿ to `How can the rules be used¿. Looks at case law (as the primary source of academic and professional research), explores which parts of a judgment can create precedent and bind other courts. Key cases are exemplified and worked through which allow the student to build upon the legalese and academic language used in Legal Reasoning 1. Further, students break down the reason for the judge¿s decision (ratio decidendi) to see what points of law caused the judge to rule in that particular way, and whether any analogies can be useful (obiter dicta). Practice exam sessions and revision classes towards the end of the course will prepare student for the final assessment of preparing a case brief for a partner at a law firm.

• LAS004 Academic English 2

  This second module builds on Academic English 1 by stepping from vocabulary focus, more towards grammar and clauses at a sentence level. It will span across all skills areas thereby developing writing, reading, speaking and listening proficiency. The theme remains in the general field of company law, but there is a concerted effort in role-playing between client and lawyer in the spoken and written output which follow from the lecture and workshop input on the topic. The spoken and written work will reaffirm the vocabulary and grammar that the students have been learning for the duration of Academic English 1 and 2. Practice exam sessions and revision classes towards the end of the course will prepare student for the final assessment.

• Remote Controlled and Autonomous Shipping: UK Based Case Study, Assuring Autonomy International Programme 2021 - 2022

• Cyber Risk Insurance: Building Resilience in Wales, Research Wales Innovation Fund 2020

• Insurance Aspects of Illegal Fishing, Waterloo Foundation 2016 - 2018

• Reforming Utmost Good Faith Duty in Insurance Law, Nuffield 2007 - 2009

• Director of Taught Masters Degrees, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law

  2004 - Present

• Director, The Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law

  2010 - Present

• Director of International Partnerships, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law

  2012 - Present

• Head of Postgraduate Legal Studies Department, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law

  2013 - 2015

• Director, Shipping and Trade Law Unit

  2015 - Present

• Member, Law School Research and Projects Committee and REF Working Group

  2010 - Present

• Visiting Professor, Jimmei University (PRC) (2016-)
• Visiting Professor, Lorraine University (France) (2014-)
• Visiting Professor, Dalian Maritime University (PRC) (2013-)
• Visiting Professor, Shanghai Maritime University (PRC) (2012-)
• Visiting Professor, Exeter University (UK) (2008-2010)
• Visiting Fellow, University of Queensland (Australia) (2008)

A book chapter written by late Dr Nikaki and Professor Soyer, “Enhancing Standardisation and Legal Certainty through Standard Charterparty Contracts” which was published as Chapter 5 of B. Soyer and A Tettenborn (ed), Charterparties: Law and Practice and Emerging Legal Issues  has been cited by the Commercial Court, Queen’s Bench, in SK Shipping Europe Plc v. Capital Maritime and Trading Company [2020] EWHC 3448 (Comm) (Foxton, J, at [129]).

An article written by Professor Soyer and Associate Professor Leloudas “Carriage of Passengers by Sea: A Critical Analysis of the International Regime”, published in Michigan State International Law Review in 2018, cited with approval by the District Court of Columbia in Erwin-Simpson v. Berhard (DC DC, 2019).

A monograph written by Professor Soyer, Marine Insurance Fraud (2015), was cited with approval on the elements of the insured peril of piracy by the Commercial Court (QB) in The Brillante Virtuoso (No 2) [2019] EWHC 2599 (Comm).

An article written by Professor Soyer, Potential Legal Implications of the ISM Code for Marine Insurance (1998) International Journal of Insurance Law was cited in The Nancy [2013] EWHC 2116 (Comm) by the Commercial Court (QB) as a good illustration of the issues at stake. 

Professor Soyer’s award winning monograph, Warranties in Marine Insurance 1^st edn (2001) was cited by the High Court of Australia in Gibbs v. Mercantile Mutual Insurance (Australia) Ltd [2003] HCA 39.