Shihao Xu

Profile

I am a PhD candidate at the School of Law, University of Leeds. My academic journey began with a dual degree in Audit and Law from Southwest University of Political Science & Law, China (2013), equipping me with a strong interdisciplinary foundation.

Following my graduation, I spent two years working in finance and auditing at a major state-owned enterprise in China. This experience provided me with valuable insights into corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and financial risk management, deepening my understanding of business operations from both legal and financial perspectives. Alongside this, I ventured into entrepreneurship, gaining hands-on experience in business development and strategic planning. These experiences have shaped my analytical approach and broadened my perspective on corporate decision-making.

In 2022, driven by a desire to refine my expertise, I pursued an LLM （International Corporate Law) at the University of Leeds before embarking on my PhD. My research explores New Institutional Economics, sports law, competition law, and corporate governance, with the aim of contributing meaningful scholarship to these dynamic fields.

Beyond academia and professional life, the most important part of my world is my wife. She is not only my greatest source of inspiration but also the unwavering centre of my life. Her love and support ground me, giving me the strength and motivation to pursue my ambitions. No matter where my journey takes me, she remains my constant.

In my spare time, I enjoy bartending, watching football, and scuba diving. It is a privilege to be part of the University of Leeds community, and I look forward to furthering my research and making meaningful contributions to my field.

Research interests

My research examines the interactions between private and public ordering in sports governing bodies, with a focus on FIFA. I explore how legal frameworks influence regulatory autonomy, dispute resolution, and compliance in global sports governance. Drawing on New Institutional Economics and Law & Economics, I analyse how institutional structures and economic incentives shape regulatory decisions in this sector.

I am also deeply interested in Competition Law and Sports Law, investigating market regulation, antitrust issues, and the interplay between private rule-making and public legal oversight. My work seeks to illuminate the balance between corporate self-regulation and state intervention, offering insights into good governance and legal accountability in sports governing bodies.