Dr James Brown

My profile

Biography

Prior to joining Manchester Law School in August 2022, I taught at the University of Sheffield. I hold a PhD in Law from the University of Sheffield, and an LLM in Sports Law (Distinction) from Nottingham Trent University. My doctoral thesis explored the appropriate scope of vicarious liability in the sports industry, and it was funded by the University of Sheffield’s Faculty of Social Sciences Postgraduate Research Committee Scholarship.

My research interests include areas such as sports law, tort law and private law theory. I have a track record of producing high-quality research, and I have published my work in a number of leading generalist and specialist law journals. These include: Legal Studies; International Sports Law Review; Tort Law Review; Entertainment and Sports Law Journal; Journal of Professional Negligence; and the International Sports Law Journal. My book, Vicarious Liability in the Sports Industry, was published by Routledge in June 2024.

I have presented my work at a number of national and international conferences. These include, for instance, the annual conferences organised by the Socio-Legal Studies Association, the Society of Legal Scholars and the Sport and Recreation Law Association.

I am currently a member of the Socio-Legal Studies Association. In June 2023, I helped to co-organise a one-day sports law conference titled “Socio-Legal Approaches to Protecting Athletes from Financial and Physical Harm: Challenges, Reflections and Solutions”. This conference was generously funded by the SLSA.

Teaching

Principles of Tort Law (Level 4)

Sports Law: Regulating Players, Spectators and Stadiums (Level 5) (Unit leader)

Criminal Law (Level 5)

UK Sports Law (Level 6)

I include a variety of tasks in my seminars, such as group discussions, interactive exercises and presentations. I also encourage students to normatively challenge the law by assessing the theoretical and social context within which the law operates.

Supervision

I would be happy to supervise students in the areas of sports law, tort law and private law theory.

Research outputs