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Professor Mimi Zou

Professor Mimi Zou

Head of School

B Ec SocSci (Medal & Hons 1) USyd, LLB (Hons 1) USyd, BCL (Dist) Oxford, DPhil Oxford

Law & Justice
School of Private & Commercial Law

My research focuses on the impact of new technologies such as AI and blockchain on private and commercial law, and the regulation of new technologies from comparative and international perspectives. I have spent most of my academic career in the UK and Hong Kong, and have held senior positions at top universities including a Chair inCommercial Law at the University of Exeter and the first-ever Fellowship in Chinese Law at the University of Oxford.In 2019, I founded and led Oxford Law Faculty’s inaugural lawtech research and innovation lab.

I am a member of the LawtechUK Panel and a senior independent expert advising the UK Ministry ofJustice and the Judiciary on new and emergingtechnologies, data governance, and open justice.I have previously servedon the UK Government’s expert body on responsible AI and data innovation andon international taskforces and panels on digital law and governance topics, including the G7 and World Economic Forum Taskforce on Governance for a Digitalised Society, the World Bank Group Taskforce on Technology and Access to Justice, and UNIDROIT Working Group on Private Law and Digital Assets.

I am a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford Martin School. I have held honorary and visiting appointments at Columbia University (New York), University of Zurich, Peking University School of Transnational Law, China University of Political Science and Law, University of Sydney and Newcastle University, Australia.

I have been called to the Bar in England and Wales and admitted as a Solicitor in New South Wales.
E-mail
mimi.zou@unsw.edu.au
  • Books | 2022
    Ebers M; Poncibò C; Zou M, 2022, PREFACE
    Books | 2020
    Zou M, 2020, Chinese Contract Law and the 2020 Civil Code
    Books | 2018
    Zou M, 2018, An Introduction to Chinese Contract Law
  • Book Chapters | 2024
    Jon W; Zou M, 2024, 'A Critical Assessment of South Korea's Digital Assets Regulatory Framework', in Hunn P (ed.), Oxford Handbook of Digital Assets and the Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Lefley E; Zou M, 2024, 'A right to a human judge? Generative AI and Article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights', in Zou M; Ebers M; Poncibo C; Calo R (ed.), Cambridge Handbook on Generative AI and the Law, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Lefley E; Zou M, 2024, 'AI in Judicial Decision-Making: Dehumanisation of Justice?', in Durante M; Pagallo U (ed.), Law and Digital Technologies, De Gruyter
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Zou M; Nwaugbala G, 2024, 'Corporate Social Responsibility and Decent Work in China: the Influence of EU and International Norms', in Burnay M; Timoteo M; Li B (ed.), Internationalisation of EU Law and EU-China Relations, Routledge
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Zou M; Zhang L, 2024, 'Navigating China's Approach to Regulating Generative AI', in Cambridge Handbook on Generative AI and the Law
    Book Chapters | 2023
    Zou M, 2023, 'Revisiting the Ethics of Temporary Labour Migration Programmes: The Role of Exit in Migrant Work Relations', in Ryan B; Zahn R (ed.), Migrant Labour and the Reshaping of Employment Law, Hart, pp. 279 - 279,
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Zou M, 2022, 'When AI meets Smart Contracts: Regulating Hyper-autonomous Contracting', in Ebers M; Poncibò C; Zou M (ed.), Contracting and Contract Law in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Hart,
    Book Chapters | 2021
    Zou M; Liu H, 2021, 'Penalty in the Contract of Employment', in Bant E; Courtney W; Goudkamp J; Paterson JM (ed.), Punishment and Private Law, Hart,
    Book Chapters | 2021
    Zou M; Liu H, 2021, 'Penalty in the Contract of Employment: The Good, the Bad (Leavers) and the Ugly', in Punishment and Private Law, pp. 375 - 394
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Zou M, 2020, 'Virtual Justice in the Time of COVID-19', in Eidenmüller H; Enriques L; Helleringer G; van Zwieten K (ed.), COVID-19 and Business Law, Bloomsbury Publishing,
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Zou M, 2019, 'Innovation without Authorisation? The Regulatory Black Box of Cryptocurrencies in China', in Aggarwal N; Eidenmüller H; Enriques L; Payne J; van Zwieten K (ed.), Autonomous Systems and the Law, Nomos/ C H Beck
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Zou M, 2018, 'Collective Bargaining and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions: A Game Changer in Governing Chinese Workplaces?', in Hendrickx F; De Stefano V (ed.), Game Changers in Labour Law: Shaping the Future of Work, Kluwer Law International,
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Zou M, 2018, 'Regulating child labour in China: A historical perspective of internal child migration', in Protecting Migrant Children: In Search of Best Practice, pp. 219 - 235
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Zou M; Pan X; Han S, 2017, 'Regulating collective labour disputes in China: A tale of two actors', in Mediation in Contemporary China Continuity and Change, Wildy, Simmonds and Hill,
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Zou M, 2017, 'Migrant precarity under China's new immigration law regime', in Studies in Critical Social Sciences, pp. 160 - 178,
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Zou M, 2017, 'Occupational Safety and Health Laws in China: Towards an Integrated Framework?', in Addabbo T; Ales E; Curzi Y; Senatori I (ed.), Well-being at and through Work, G. Giappichelli Editore, pp. 99 - 120,
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Zou M, 2017, 'Regulating the Fissured Workplace: The Notion of the Employer in Chinese Employment Law', in Nakakubo H; Araki T (ed.), The Notion of Employer in the Era of the Fissured Workplace, Kluwer Law International,
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Korff VP; Zou M; Zwart T; Wittek R, 2016, 'RATIONALITY AND SOCIETY', in Movements for Human Rights: Locally and Globally, pp. 62 - 71,
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Zou M, 2016, 'Employer Demand for 'Skilled' Migrant Workers: Regulating Admission Under the United Kingdom's Tier 2 (General) Visa', in Temporary Labour Migration in the Global Era The Regulatory Challenges, Bloomsbury Publishing, pp. 113 - 130,
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Zou M, 2016, 'Labour standards along the “One Belt One Road”', in Legal Dimensions of China's Belt and Road Initiative, Wolters Kluwer, pp. 357 - 392,
    Book Chapters | 2015
    Korff VP; Zou M; Zwart T; Wittek R, 2015, 'Rationality and society', in Handbook of Sociology and Human Rights, pp. 290 - 299,
    Book Chapters | 2015
    Zou M, 2015, 'Hyper-Dependence and Hyper-Precarity in Migrant Work Relations', in Labour And Social Rights. An Evolving Scenario Proceedings of the Twelfth International Conference in Commemoration of Marco Biagi, G Giappichelli Editore, pp. 451 - 481,
    Book Chapters | 2015
    Zou M, 2015, 'The Legal Construction of Precarious Migrant Work Relations: A Study of Australia’s 457-visa Scheme', in Pilati M; Sheikh H; Sperotti F; Tilly C (ed.), How Global Migration Changes the Workforce Diversity Equation, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, pp. 451 - 481,
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Zou M, 2014, 'The Evolution of Collective Labour Law with ‘Chinese Characteristics’? ‘Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones?’', in Blanpaint R; Liukkunen U; Chen Y (ed.), China and ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, Kluwer Law International,
    Book Chapters | 2013
    Zou M; Lansbury RD, 2013, 'Multinational corporations and employment relations in the People's Republic of China: the case of Beijing Hyundai Motor Company', in 'Making Sense' of Human Resource Management in China, Routledge, pp. 181 - 201,
    Book Chapters | 2012
    McGrath-Champ S; Zou M; Taylor L, 2012, 'Exploring new frontiers in an internationalised classroom: Team-based learning and reflective journals as innovative learning strategies', in Cross-Cultural Teaching and Learning for 91˰涶 and International Students: Internationalisation of Pedagogy and Curriculum in Higher Education, pp. 27 - 40,
    Book Chapters | 2011
    Zou M; Zwart T, 2011, 'Rethinking human rights in China: Towards a receptor framework', in Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region: Towards Institution Building, pp. 249 - 263,
    Book Chapters | 2011
    Zou M; Zwart T, 2011, 'Rethinking human rights in China: Towards a receptor framework', in Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region: Towards Institution Building, pp. 249 - 263,
  • Edited Books | 2024
    Zou M; Ebers M; Poncibò C; Calo R, (eds.), 2024, Cambridge Handbook on Generative AI and the Law, Cambridge University Press
    Edited Books | 2022
    Ebers M; Poncibò C; Zou M, (eds.), 2022, Contracting and Contract Law in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Hart / Bloomsbury Publishing,
  • Journal articles | 2023
    Zivkovic P; McCurdy D; Zou M; Raymond A, 2023, 'Mind the gap: Tech-based dispute resolution for disputes in global supply blockchains', Business Horizons, 66, pp. 13 - 26,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Zou M; Wang Y; Wu Z, 2022, 'Force majeure and Covid-19: A Critical Assessment of Key Issues under the Chinese Civil Code', Journal of Contract Law, 38, pp. 61 - 78,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Bogojević S; Zou M, 2021, 'Making Infrastructure 'Visible' in Environmental Law: The Belt and Road Initiative and Climate Change Friction', Transnational Environmental Law, 10, pp. 35 - 56,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Zou M, 2020, 'An Empirical Study of Reforming Commercial Arbitration in China', Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, 20, pp. 281 - 290,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Zou M, 2020, 'Code, and other laws of blockchain', Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 40, pp. 645 - 665,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Zou M, 2020, 'Smart Courts in China and the Future of Personal Injury Litigation', Journal of Personal Injury Law
    Journal articles | 2019
    Zou M; Leung K, 2019, 'Regulating Working Hours in Hong Kong: Towards Temporal Autonomy', Hong Kong Law Journal, 49, pp. 1 - 28,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Zou M, 2019, 'China and The Belt and Road Initiative: Transnational Labor Law Under State Capitalism 4.0', American Journal of International Law Unbound, pp. 418 - 423,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Zou M; An Y, 2018, 'An Assessment of Advance Directives in China: The Coming of Age for Legal Regulation', Marquette Benefits and Social Welfare Law Review, 20, pp. 1 - 24,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Zou M, 2018, 'Economic Development and the Social Rights Hypothesis: Regulating Labour Standards in China', Asian Journal of Law and Society, 5, pp. 315 - 331,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Zou M, 2018, 'International and Comparative Employment Relations: National Regulation, Global Challenges', Industrial Law Journal, 47, pp. 583 - 585,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Zou M, 2018, 'Pour une refonte des programmes pour les travailleurs migrants temporaires', Revue de droit comparé du travail et de la sécurité sociale, pp. 18 - 31,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Zou M, 2018, 'Social Media and Privacy in the Chinese Workplace: Why One Should Not “Friend” Their Employer on WeChat', Comparative Labor Law and Policy Journal, 39, pp. 389 - 420,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Zou M; Chan S, 2017, 'Understanding Employment Discrimination Litigation in China through the Notion of Rights Apathy', Marquette Benefit & Social Welfare Law Review, 18, pp. 141 - 164,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Zou M, 2017, 'The Regulatory Challenges of ‘Uberization’ in China: Classifying Ride-Hailing Drivers', International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations, 33, pp. 269 - 294,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Zou M, 2017, 'Towards exit and voice: Redesigning temporary migrant workers' programmes', Lavoro e Diritto, 31, pp. 91 - 109,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Zou M; Pan X; Han S, 2016, 'Regulating Collective Labour Disputes in China: A Tale of Two Actors', Journal of Comparative Law, 10, pp. 276 - 290
    Journal articles | 2016
    Zou M, 2016, 'China’s Fragmented Occupational Safety and Health Regime: An Analysis of The Work Safety Law and The Occupational Diseases Law', LAWASIA Journal, pp. 1 - 18,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Zou M, 2016, 'Migrants at Work: Immigration and Vulnerability in Labour Law', Industrial Law Journal, 45, pp. 565 - 569,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Goudkamp J; Zou M, 2015, 'THE DEFENCE OF ILLEGALITY IN TORT LAW: BEYOND JUDICIAL REDEMPTION?', Cambridge Law Journal, 74, pp. 13 - 16,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Woo J; Chan H; Chong A; Zou M; Chung R; Kwok T, 2015, 'Medical Ethical Principles May Drive Improvement of Quality of Dying in Hong Kong', Journal of Palliative Care and Medicine, 5, pp. 227 - 227,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Zou M; Goudkamp J, 2015, 'Hounga v Allen UKSC 47', Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law, pp. 56 - 58,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Zou M, 2015, 'Immigration Law as Labour Market Regulation: Temporary Migration Status and Migrant Work Relations', Mondi Migranti, 2015,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Zou M, 2015, 'Legal issues regarding confidentiality and consent in HIV testing in Hong Kong', Asian Bioethics Review, 7, pp. 402 - 409,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Zou M, 2015, 'The Legal Construction of Hyper-dependence and Hyper-Precarity in Migrant Work Relations', The International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations, 31, pp. 141 - 162,
    Journal articles | 2012
    Zou M, 2012, 'A Freestanding Right or a Means to an End? The Right to Strike in the ILO and EU Legal Frameworks', Trinity College Law Review, 15, pp. 101 - 118,
    Journal articles | 2012
    Zou M, 2012, 'Labour relations with "Chinese characteristics"? Chinese Labour Law at a historic crossroads', Lavoro e Diritto, 26, pp. 145 - 162,
    Journal articles | 2009
    Zou M; Lansbury RD, 2009, 'Multinational corporations and employment relations in the People's Republic of China: The case of Beijing Hyundai Motor Company', International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20, pp. 2349 - 2369,
    Journal articles |
    Zou M, 'China's Fragmented Occupational Safety and Health Regime: An Analysis of the Work Safety Law and the Occupational Diseases Law', SSRN Electronic Journal,
  • Conference Presentations | 2009
    Renshaw C, 2009, 'The Role of Networks in the Implementation of Human Rights in the Asia Pacific Region', presented at University of Sydney International Conference on Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region: Towards institution building, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 10 December 2009

I have successfully obtained a wide range of individual research grants and external funding throughout my academic career. Two of the most significantly funded projects included:

  • 2019-2020: Principal Investigator of the Deep Tech Dispute Resolution Lab at the University of Oxford: I led a team of 12 researchers from law, computer science, ethics, economics, finance, psychology and sociology (approx. AU$500,000 in total external funding)
  • 2019-2021: Technical Lead, China Business Environment Programme (the key strand of a AU$30 million China Prosperity Fund Programme of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office).

Academic awards

  • British Academy Talent Development Award
  • Association for Asian Studies-Luce Foundation Law, Society, and Justice Workshop Award
  • Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics (SASE) Early Career Workshop Award
  • International Association of Labour Law Journals (IALLJ) Marco Biagi Award for Best Paper
  • Taylor and Francis Commonwealth Scholars Best Journal Article Prize (Runner-up)
  • Innovation in Teaching Award, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Union Internationale des Avocats International Jacques Leroy Prize (Runner-up)
  • University Medal, University of Sydney
  • Walter Reid Memorial Prize for Economics and Law, University of Sydney
  • Kingsley Laffer Memorial Award for Work & Organizational Studies, University of Sydney
  • Sydney Law School Negotiations Competition Winner
  • Cutler Hughes and Harris Prize for Labour Law
  • University of Sydney Outstanding Academic Achievement Award

Professional Achievement Awards

  • UK Women of the Year (Finalist)
  • Young Women to Watch in International Affairs Award
  • Inaugural 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians Award
  • Asian Women of Achievements Award UK (Finalist)
  • British Council’s Education UK Alumni Social Impact Award (Finalist)
  • Asia Society Asia 21 Young Leader
  • University of Sydney United Kingdom Alumni Association Award
  • Young Australian of the Year (Finalist)

My research has been published in leading international peer-reviewed journals and won/been shortlisted for various research prizes and awards. I received a British Academy Talent Development Award in 2021, as the only legal scholar to have received the Award to date. These Awards recognise influential researchers in the social sciences and humanities who are developing innovative interdisciplinary approaches in their fields and creating new opportunities for knowledge and skills exchange across disciplines. I am currently co-editing a statutory commentary of the EU's AI Act with Beck and Hart Publishing. I am also leading a book project on Generative AI and the Law involving 35 researchers from Asia, Europe, Americas and Africa, which will be published by Cambridge University Press later this year.