The client: Queen Mary University of London
The project: Chair in Commercial Law and Chair in Energy & Climate Law, Centre for Commercial Law Studies, QMUL School of Law
The brief
The School of Law at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) sought to appoint two Chairs in strategically important areas: Commercial Law and Energy & Climate Law. These positions were part of a larger initiative to strengthen the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS), which offers over 200 courses in commercial law and is housed at the Lincoln’s Inn Fields campus. These two posts were launched alongside a third Chair position as part of the School’s broader expansion strategy under the leadership of Ioannis Kokkoris, the recently appointed Head of School.
The appointments were critical to enhancing the School’s research output, expanding its academic team, and raising its profile within the global academic community. Veredus was retained to conduct a global search to identify and attract exceptional talent, ensuring that the new professors would contribute to the School’s long-term strategy and growth.
The School of Law at QMUL, home to over 130 academic staff and 2,000 students, has a strong global reputation. The CCLS is a postgraduate law centre with specialisations in all aspects of commercial law. However, after internal reviews, Ioannis Kokkoris, Director of CCLS identified gaps in core areas of Commercial Law and the need to develop the emerging field of Energy & Climate Law.
1. Professor of Commercial Law. The objective was to rebuild a team around core areas such as Contracts, International Trade, and Procurement Law, where expertise had diminished in recent years. The role required a leader who could expand research, attract funding, and develop a first-class commercial law capability.
2. Professor of Energy & Climate Law. This position focused on strengthening the School’s Energy Law Institute, with a particular emphasis on climate change law. The new Professor would develop partnerships, secure research funding, and enhance the School’s standing in the energy law field, particularly in contracts related to the oil and gas sectors.
Role Requirements
Key requirements for both roles included:
• A strong research trajectory with the ability to significantly increase high-quality research output and attract funding through grants or commercial sponsorships.
• Experience in team leadership and a proven ability to build and manage academic teams, fostering a collegial environment.
• Expertise across multiple legal jurisdictions, ensuring a global perspective and the ability to attract international collaborations.
• The ability to contribute to teaching and curriculum development, especially in core commercial law and energy law.
• A commitment to expanding the School’s reputation and impact, contributing to the School’s ambition to develop its international profile.
The process
Veredus designed a global search strategy, combining targeted headhunting and a multi-channel advertising campaign across digital platforms and social media to attract both active and passive candidates. The strategy highlighted the School’s outstanding and highly regarded international law programs, research excellence, inclusive approach, and the opportunity to shape the future of legal studies in these key areas.
We worked closely with the School’s leadership team to design and produce a compelling candidate briefing pack. We managed the advertising campaign and handled responses and enquiries. We added particular value with our detailed analysis of the relevant legal academic markets globally across the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Western Europe, to identify and engage world-leading senior academics within the relevant fields.
The campaign attracted 56 applications for the roles both from the executive search and advertising. Veredus assessed applications against the criteria laid out by QMUL and provided detailed Longlist Reports, including our ABC rankings and individual candidate assessments. The shortlisted candidates were selected based on their research credentials, strategic track record, leadership potential, and ability to contribute to both teaching and the wider goals of the School.
The results
For the Energy and Climate Law role, five candidates were shortlisted, while six candidates were shortlisted for the Commercial Law position. The final selection process involved psychometric assessments which were conducted by a Veredus Business Psychologist, followed by panel interviews. Our psychometric assessments provided the interview panel with a detailed overview of their strengths and areas for consideration, including candidate rankings based on the agreed criteria.
Following the panel interviews, two appointable candidates were identified for each role. After internal discussions, offers were extended to the preferred candidates. Veredus supported the offer negotiations, and both candidates successfully accepted their positions.
The recruitment of Professors in Commercial Law and Energy & Climate Law was a strategic success for QMUL, allowing the School to strengthen its research capabilities and global reputation in these areas. Veredus conducted a thorough and inclusive search, securing high-calibre candidates aligned with the School’s vision for future growth.
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