Ross Grantham

Ross Grantham’s research in corporate and private law aims to develop the most coherent account possible of the area of law under examination. Coherence is sought by analysing cases, statutes and commentary in light of policy objectives, the historical development of doctrine and the assumptions that shape legal reasoning. A coherent account is one that achieves a “best fit” between rules, principles and policies, so they form a principled structure rather than a patchwork of ad hoc decisions. This quest for doctrinal coherence is pursued mainly in two contexts. In corporate and commercial law (including unjust enrichment), his work addresses the nature of corporate personality, the rights and responsibilities of directors and creditors, and the allocation of gains and losses. In charity law and trusts, his research examines the relationship between private purposes and public benefit, and how governance and regulatory frameworks can be made coherent while remaining responsive to contemporary conditions.

Grantham’s method is doctrinal, interpretive and integrative. Starting from the positive law (cases, statutes and institutional practices) he asks what account gives the most coherent explanation. Coherence is assessed by how well an interpretation organises existing authorities, reflects the policies that shape the field, and aligns with the history and conceptual structure of the doctrines involved. His work combines close reading of legal sources with historically and theoretically informed analysis, drawing where useful on legal philosophy, economic and regulatory theory and institutional design. The aim is to clarify and refine doctrine, not to replace it with abstract theory. In corporate and commercial law (including unjust enrichment) and in charity and trusts law, this method exposes hidden assumptions, resolves tensions between lines of authority and generates principles that courts, practitioners and scholars can use to guide decision-making and law reform.

Across corporate and private law, Grantham’s work reorganises complex doctrine around the ideal of coherence. Treating “best fit” as his guiding criterion, his scholarship provides structured accounts of areas often experienced as fragmented or unstable and clarifies corporate personality, directors’ and creditors’ rights, the allocation of gains and losses, and the relationship between private purposes and public benefit. These contributions have had a profound impact on scholarly debates, reframing discussions about the structure, purpose and coherence of private law across the common law world. His frameworks are widely engaged with in leading journals and have been cited by courts at the highest level in several Commonwealth jurisdictions, shaping judicial reasoning on corporate and private law disputes. Collectively, his work equips courts and practitioners with more coherent frameworks, supports rigorous law reform and supports teaching in these fields.

The beneficiaries of Grantham’s research span multiple sectors. Legal practitioners and corporate counsel use his work to navigate governance questions and private law disputes. Company directors and officers rely on his explanations of fiduciary duties and governance obligations. Law students benefit from coherent accounts of corporate and private law that integrate doctrine, principle and policy. Policymakers and law reform agencies draw on his analyses to shape legislative development and review. The judiciary uses his doctrinal accounts when adjudicating corporate and private law claims, while international scholars engage with his frameworks in debates about corporate governance and the structure of private law. Ultimately, business and charitable sectors benefit from clearer standards that promote accountability and confidence in commercial and organisational relationships.