• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Business and Human Rights
• Commercial Determinants of Health
• Algorithmic Marketing
• Corporate Governance

Dr Clare Patton's research interests sit at the intersection of Corporate Social Responsibility and Business and Human rights. Her expertise lies in the commercial determinants of female and child health and draws particular attention to the development of algorithmic marketing by corporations to directly target consumers. Clare was awarded funding (with partners based at Technological University Dublin) from the Higher Education Authority (Ireland) North-South Research Programme in March 2022. This project (beginning Sept 2022), ‘Developing an Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Preparedness Plan for the island of Ireland’ is a two-year multidisciplinary project that will produce several key outputs including a policy report and academic articles. As an emerging legal expert in the field of inappropriate marketing as a determinant of health, Clare has been invited to take part in various initiatives seeking to provide meaningful solutions.  Clare was invited by the WHO to take part in a WHO-led project developing a harmonised international approach to the advancement and protection of infant and young child food rights. Previously, Clare was awarded funding from the ESRC and produced a high-impact policy report outlining the necessary changes that breast cancer cause-related marketing campaigns ought to make to ensure campaigns do not negatively impact the lived experience of breast cancer.

Clare is an award-winning educator who uses a research-led teaching approach in the design and delivery of her lectures. She is module convener/lecturer for Business and Human Rights (PGT and UG) and Governing the Firm (previously 'Corporate Governance') (PGT). Clare also lecturers Company Law, Tort, and Legal Methods & Skills (UG and PGT). Clare has experience lecturing across public and private law, small and large groups, and to postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Director: Global Skills

In 2018, Clare recognised a gap in the skills development of law students and designed and developed Global Skills (GS). The core focus of GS is the enhancement of the soft skills of QUB law students. GS has been redesigned to accommodate the increasing number of students who wish to participate. There are now three streams from which students can choose to join. Academian, Arts, and Law & Tech. Each stream offers general skills training such as communication skills, understanding body language, and public speaking skills. Bespoke workshops are then held for each of the three streams with a focus on that field of interest. Students can find out more about registering for GS by contacting Clare via email.

Supervision

Clare is currently supervising two doctoral projects in the fields of corporate governance and competition law. 

Administrative

• QUB Academic Council – Elected QUB School Law Representative
• QUB Law Athena SWAN committee member

Memberships

• Member Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Forum
• Member of the UK Business and Human Rights Scholars Association
• Member of the Global Business and Human Rights Scholars Association
• Member of the Global Teaching Business and Human Rights Forum