Profile
Biography
Dr Sean Thomas
LLB (Durham), PhD (Manchester)
Reader
I joined York as a Reader in September 2019, having previously held positions at the University of Durham (2015-19, Associate Professor), University of Leicester (2010-13, Lecturer in Commercial Law; 2013-15, Senior Lecturer in Commercial Law) and Anglia Ruskin University (2008-10, Senior Lecturer in Law).
I hold a PhD from the University of Manchester (where I was a Graduate Teaching Assistant). I also hold a PG Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
I am currently the Deputy Chair of the Board of Studies, Chair of the Staff-Student Forum, and the Research Seminar coordinator.
Research
Overview
My research concerns, broadly, the transfer of ownership of personal property. I approach this fundamental issue by examining the interconnections of forms and methods of ownership and control of personal, real and intellectual property drawing on multiple disciplinary and methodological foundations. I have expertise in title conflicts (particularly comparative analysis with United States law), the historical development of commercial law, and the interface between goods, intellectual property, and land. I also have a longstanding interest in radical property practices, and my work on freeganism and waste has been cited widely across disciplinary boundaries and has attracted media and other interest.
Recently my work has concentrated on two areas of growing importance: circular economy, and smart technology. My analyses of law and circular economics was amongst the first in the field (and was the first considering English and Welsh law and circular economy); I have a rather sceptical view of the legal implications of circular economics on the ownership and use of goods. I have also published work examining the interface between sales law and smart technologies; again, I am critical of the possible implications for ownership of goods.
My most recent publication is the fourth edition of Bradgate’s Commercial Law (OUP 2024) (co-authored with Dr Reza Beheshti and Professor Severine Saintier).
My work has been cited judicially, by the Law Commission, and the Scottish Law Commission. I am a member of the advisory board to the Everyday Cyborgs project (Professor Muireanne Quigley), and of the advisory board to the Commercial Code project (Professor Gerard McMeel KC). I have also been a member of the Secured Transactions Law Reform Project (LINK).
My current projects include chapters and articles concerning new asset types in Scotland following the Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Act 2023, the relationship between the nemo dat exceptions and the law of theft, developing a commercial contract law for circular economy transactions, and a very brief piece about Lord Denning’s jurisprudence. I also have worked with management scholars in the School for Business and Society on projects concerning servitisation in circular economy, and waste supply chains.
I am also (slowly, but surely) working on two monographs. One looks to the past, and examines the development of English law on middlemen in sales transactions c1700-1800. The other looks to the future, and examines the possible death of ownership.
I am happy to discuss potential research projects in the following fields:
Circular Economy
Smart Technology and Artificial Intelligence
Contract Law
Commercial Law
Land Law
Personal Property Law
Legal History
Teaching
Undergraduate
I have taught a wide range of QLD and optional modules at all levels of UG and PGT study. I have extensive experience in small (tutorial), medium (seminar), and large (lecture) group teaching, and a strong understanding of Problem Based Learning. I utilise a broad variety of traditional and non-traditional means of assessment in all aspects of my teaching. I have been lucky to have been nominated for the York University Students Union Teaching Excellence Award 2021-22.
My current teaching (2023-24) at York Law School:
- Property (as part of the Foundations in Law modules across years 1 and 2). I am also the subject lead for Property.
- I am the module leader for Personal Property Law (Y3 optional module)
- Dissertation supervision (LLB and LLM)
I also teach a seminar on circular economy and law on the MSc Green Chemistry.
At York Law School, I have also taught Legal Concepts, Legal Skills, and Advanced Legal Skills.
I will be running an LLM module on Law and Circular Economy in 2024-25.
External activities
Memberships
Memberships
Society of Legal Scholars
Socio-Legal Studies Association
Law & Society Association (USA)
External Examiner
University of Bristol (LLM)
University of Manchester (LLM and LLB)
