Queering Private Law - Bentham House Conference 2026

Queering Private Law 

We invite submissions for the Queering Private Law Conference at UCL Faculty of Laws on 3-4 September, 2026. This will be the 2026 Bentham House Conference – the flagship conference for the UCL Faculty of Laws.   

Queer theory and private law rarely interact. While queer theory has been applied to other fields, private law remains largely an unexplored territory. Yet queer analysis offers a particularly valuable lens to explore, expose, and reimagine the heteronormative and cisnormative assumptions embedded within private law's foundational doctrines and concepts. 

We aim to publish the conference outputs in an edited collection in a leading international university press. The edited collection will provide a shared vocabulary, conceptual frameworks, and methodological tools that will define this emerging field.  

Scope and Themes 

We welcome submissions addressing any area of private law, broadly defined, including contracts, company law, corporate law, equity and trusts, family law, intellectual property, property, torts, and unjust enrichment.  

Some illustrations for topics, questions, and methods include: 

• Foundational concepts: How do concepts, such as consent, capacity, vulnerability, reasonableness, good faith, unconscionability, and the public/private distinction, embed and perpetuate heteronormative assumptions in private law?
• Comparative and transnational perspectives: Do different legal systems approach LGBTQI+ rights and lived experiences differently within the doctrinal confines of a particular private law field, or across private law fields?
• Intersectional approaches: How does queer theory intersect with and other critical perspectives including race, disability, postcolonial critique, and economic justice, to illuminate private law doctrine and theory?
• Pedagogical dimensions: How can we teach private law in ways that expose and challenge its normative assumptions? 

Submission Details 

Please submit a 500-word abstract by February 6, 2026 via this MS Forms. 

Note that, if accepted, a full draft of 5,000-8,000 words inclusive of footnotes must be submitted by June 30, 2026. 

The committee reviewing abstract submissions will generally prioritise authors who express their interest in contributing their paper to the edited volume. However, in the interest of broadening the range of topics, methods, and scholars, we accept submissions from those interested in presenting their papers without contributing them to the edited volume. 

Funding 

To further the conference’s goals and our underlying commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, promoting under-represented and emerging voices, some funding is available to cover speakers costs in a manner that is attentive to needs, with preference given to early career scholars, under-represented voices, as well as proportionately of travel costs. Our funding is limited, so if you do require assistance, please let us know for which element (travel to/from, accommodation, or both) and estimated costs when submitting your abstract via the MS Form. 

About the Organisers 

This conference is co-led by Haim Abraham (UCL), Niamh Connolly (UCL) Philip Gavin (UCL), Andrew Gilden (Southwestern Law School), Michael Goodyear (New York Law School), and Eden Sarid (KCL) with funding from BA/Leverhulme Trust and UCL Faculty of Laws. 

For more information on the Queering Private Law Project, please visit: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/queering-private-law 

For enquiries about abstract submissions and selections, please contact queering.law@kcl.ac.uk. 

UCL200

UCL200 marks the bicentenary of University College London — 200 years since our founding in 1826 and our legacy of pioneering education, research, and community.

Throughout 2026, UCL will host a vibrant programme of events and activities celebrating our founding values, our global impact, our communities, and our vision for the future. Visit the UCL200 website to explore the full programme and learn how you can get involved.

To see how UCL Laws is contributing to this landmark year — with events, stories, and initiatives highlighting two centuries of legal scholarship and impact — visit the UCL Laws UCL200 page.