University of Leeds Law student selected to speak at prestigious UKELA Annual Conference
Third-year Law student Finn Moll will present his research on reforming directors’ duties for the climate crisis at the 2026 UKELA Annual Conference.
The School of Law is delighted to celebrate third-year LLB Law student Finn Moll, who has been selected to speak at the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA) Annual Conference this June. Finn’s participation places him among a distinguished group of legal professionals, academics and practitioners working at the forefront of environmental law.
Exploring Law’s role in the Climate Crisis
Finn’s conference talk builds directly on the research he has undertaken for his dissertation, which investigates how directors’ duties could evolve to better support meaningful corporate responses to the climate crisis. His interest in the topic was sparked by the ground‑breaking case ClientEarth v Shell, the UK’s first and only derivative action involving claims of climate inaction by company directors.
“I’ve always been really interested in the work of ClientEarth,” Finn explains. “Following the Shell case made me want to dig deeper: what role can, and should, directors’ duties play in driving corporate responses to the climate crisis?”
It felt like a topic that genuinely mattered, and where the law still has a lot of important work to do.
While his dissertation provides a detailed analysis of the current law, Finn says the conference talk will focus on what comes next, how directors’ duties could be reformed, and why such reforms matter.
“The Companies Act is nearly twenty years old, and the world has changed a lot since 2006. The climate crisis is one of the biggest regulatory challenges we face. Reform gives us a real opportunity to align corporate purpose with environmental and societal needs.”
A forward-looking conversation
Finn is particularly excited that the UKELA audience will be made up of legal professionals working directly on environmental issues.
I'm also genuinely excited to hear the other speakers and learn more about the range of ways the law is being used and can be used better to address environmental challenges.
“It feels like a really important conversation to be part of.”
Gratitude and future aspirations
Finn credits staff at the School of Law for supporting his work and helping him prepare for the conference.
“My dissertation supervisor, Dr Jo Hawkins, has guided me throughout this process and her support has been invaluable. I’d also like to thank Dr Carrie Bradshaw, who is helping me prepare for the talk itself.”
Looking ahead, Finn hopes to turn his passion into a career:
I’m really keen to pursue a career in environmental law. Being able to contribute, even in a small way, to addressing the climate crisis through legal work is something I care deeply about.
Want to explore environmental law opportunities at Leeds?
Visit our School of Law webpages to learn more about our research, programmes and student experiences, and discover how you can get involved in shaping the future of environmental justice.
