New Harold Ford Professor of Commercial Law appointed

Professor Rosemary Langford has been appointed as the new Harold Ford Professor of Commercial Law at Melbourne Law School.

The appointment acknowledges Professor Langford’s outstanding scholarship and leadership in corporate and trusts law, and was announced at the 2023 Harold Ford Memorial Lecture by MLS Dean Professor Matthew Harding.

Professor Langford is a renowned scholar and teacher in the areas of corporate and commercial law, and has published and presented widely in these areas, both nationally and internationally. She is the Director of Studies for Commercial Law at MLS and Associate Director, Corporate Law and Financial Regulation at the Melbourne Centre for Commercial Law. She is also a member of committees of the Law Council of Australia and Australian Institute of Company Directors and editor of the directors’ duties section of the Company and Securities Law Journal.

“It is a great honour to accept the role of Harold Ford Professor of Commercial Law in view of Harold Ford’s enduring legacy and in light of the tremendous achievements of my predecessor, Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor Emeritus Ian Ramsay AO, whose advice and support have been invaluable to me” said Professor Langford.

“It is also an exciting time to be taking up the Chair in light of the explosion of complex issues confronting the corporate sphere. These include cybersecurity, sustainability and other ESG issues – such as climate reporting and greenwashing - as well as challenges arising from technological innovation and increasing recognition of the role of corporate purpose. I look forward to addressing these issues and to furthering my scholarship, teaching and engagement in commercial law.”

MLS Dean Professor Matthew Harding said “Professor Langford is undoubtedly one of Australia’s leading academic experts in the fields in which Professor Ford was such an important pioneer. She is richly deserving of this prestigious chair, and a worthy successor to Emeritus Professor Ian Ramsay. I look forward to seeing all that she achieves in the years to come.”

From 1994 until 2021 the Harold Ford Professor of Commercial Law was held by Professor Ian Ramsay, and was vacated when Professor Ramsay retired. The Professorship is named in honour of former Melbourne Law School Dean and eminent scholar, Professor Harold Ford, who was a leading light in the fields of corporate and trusts law.