Impact

For its REF 2021 submission, the Law Research Centre submitted two Impact Case Studies, relating to the law and practice of Insolvency Litigation and Pre-Pack Administration. Both have had strong policy and practice impact and changes to Pre-Pack Administration are ongoing, both in the UK and overseas, where Australian law has also been influenced as a result. Work in this area is vital and forms a living component of the life of the Law Research Centre with evidence of succession for Early Career Researchers. The funded research carried out by Dr Lezelle Jacobs on behalf of INSOL International, has led to her being invited to present her research and recommendations on insolvency ethics to a combined audience of the Insolvency Bankruptcy Board of India, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and the three Indian Insolvency Professional Agencies.

The Impact Case Studies were selected as the strongest examples of our research engendering impact and they possess synergies with each other. Strong ongoing policy and practice impact with regard to the Pre-Pack Administration Case Study and a commercially funded 2020 Report on insolvency litigation funding underlines the sustainability of the Law Research Centre’s impact going forward. Funded research on Company Voluntary Arrangements conducted by Walton and Jacobs in 2018 will have fully evidenced impact in the next REF cycle as well as the effect of further Government funded research on corporate rescue.

In addition to our long-established expertise in insolvency law, we continue to target other areas of impactful research.  We have identified and continue to identify areas of longstanding specialism and are ensuring they remain sustainable while encouraging new areas of expertise.  Our collaborative work on protracted police disciplinary procedures is informing changes in the approach to such proceedings by West Midlands Police. We have a burgeoning expertise in legal pedagogy and many colleagues write research-informed textbooks used both by students and practitioners alike. Our research is designed to inform and to have educational impact, as well as to have direct impact outside academia.  Walton’s findings on insolvency law have also impacted on law and practice nationally and attracted international attention, leading to his being commissioned to re-draft Kenya’s insolvency legislation.

Our expertise in intellectual property law is the basis for forging collaborations with the creative industries, nationally and internationally. Researchers in the Law Research Centre work closely with industry professionals from under-represented groups, to create inclusive and diverse spaces for artists of all genders, race, ages, disabilities and nationalities.  This is indicative of the ability of our vibrant research community to have really strong impact globally.