Virginie Barral
Staff details
Virginie’s expertise is in international law focusing on sustainability, climate justice and culture & the environment
Virginie specialises in international law with a focus on environmental and global challenges. She is interested in issues of sustainability, environmental and climate justice, equity, biodiversity loss and natural resources, theories of sovereignty, and cultural identity.
Virginie holds a Ph.D from the European University Institute (Florence), and postgraduate degrees from University College London and Université Paris 2 Panthéon Assas.
Before joining Goldsmiths she was an Associate Professor and Associate Dean Research at Hertfordshire Law School. She has previously taught at Université Paris 5. Prior to this she has worked for the French Commission for Sustainable Development and as a legal expert in the Paris office of Eversheds LLP.
She is a member of the European Society of International Law, the Société Française pour le droit international and the Society of Legal Scholars, and is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Teaching and supervision
Virginie has extensive experience teaching international law, human rights, EU Law, public law and international environmental law.
Postgraduate supervision
Virginie welcomes proposals for MPhil/PhD supervision on most aspects of public international law especially international environmental law, climate change law, natural resources, and the nexus between human rights and the environment.
- LLB Law
- LLB Law with Criminal Justice and Human Rights
- LLB Law with Politics and Human Rights
- MPhil/PhD Law
Professional projects
In 2020 Virginie was appointed General Rapporteur for Distributive Justice and Sustainable Development by the International Academy of Comparative Law with Professor Okowa (QMUL).
Virginie is also a member of the International Group of Experts for the Global Pact Coalition, an accredited NGO with UNEP which feeds into the United Nations' work on a Global Pact for the Environment.