Professor Bryan Horrigan

Louis Waller Chair of Law and Associate Dean (Research) (1/3/2009-31/12/2011)
DPhil, LLB(Hons), BA(Hons),

Professional Profile

Professor Bryan Horrigan is the Louis Waller Chair of Law and Associate Dean (Research) at Monash University’s Faculty of Law in Melbourne, Australia.  He coordinates the Faculty’s Commercial Law Group.  He is also a long-standing law firm consultant in business and governmental areas of law and practice, with broad academic expertise and professional experience in public and corporate law and governance.

Professor Horrigan completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Queensland and holds a doctorate in law from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He has held academic and research leadership positions previously at a number of Australian universities, including Director of the National Centre for Corporate Law and Policy Research, Deputy Director of the National Institute for Governance, and Foundation Co-Director of the Centre for Comparative Law, History, and Governance.

His most recent book in the area of corporate responsibility and governance, Corporate Social Responsibility in the 21st Century: Debates, Models, and Practices Across Government, Law, and Business was published internationally by UK-based Edward Elgar Publishing in late 2010.  The book was commenced during his time as a Visiting Scholar at the Wharton Business School, and launched at Mannix College by Professor Marilyn Pittard.

Bryan is an experienced presenter and consultant in work for leading universities, law firms, businesses, and governmental bodies.  He was recently appointed by the Australian Government to an expert panel asked to investigate and report on possible reforms to statutory unconscionable conduct and identified behaviours in the franchising industry, and the Government’s acceptance of the panel’s recommendations has resulted in changes to the Competition and Consumer Act, ASIC Act and Franchising Code of Conduct.

Bryan is on research leave (OSP) from January to June 2012.  During this time, Professor Graeme Hodge is acting as Associate Dean (Research) and Professor Marilyn Pittard is acting as Coordinator of the Commercial Law Group.

Areas of Expertise

Corporate, commercial and business law
Corporate governance and responsibility
Government liability, immunity and business activity
International and comparative ajudication
Business and human rights
Legal theory, reasoning and adjudication
Scrutiny of Legislation

Teaching Commitments

Comparative corporate governance (LAW7344)
Corporate social responsibility (LAW4643)