The Beijing Convention on the Judicial Sales of Ships

D. Rhidian Thomas is Professor Emeritus of Maritime Law and Founder Director of the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law at Swansea University, Wales, UK. He previously held academic positions at the University of Wales, Cardiff, and the University of East Anglia; and visiting positions at universities in Europe, Scandinavia, Far East and North America. He held the Francqui Chair at the University of Leuven in 2010⁄2011 and is the recipient of an honorary doctorate of law from the University of Gothenburg.

He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Maritime Law and member of the editorial boards of Shipping and Trade Law and Comparative Maritime Law. He is a member of the Comite Maritime International (and the International Standing Committee on Marine Insurance Law), the British Maritime Law Association, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an honorary member of the Croatian Maritime Law Association.

His principal teaching and research interests are in the fields of admiralty jurisdiction and practice, maritime and shipping law, marine insurance law, international trade law and commercial dispute resolution. He has written, edited and contributed to many books on a range of maritime and admiralty topics and commercial arbitration, and published widely in academic and professional journals.

He is a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars and also acts as an expert witness and consultant.