David Hodgkinson

Biography

I have experience in advising clients (airlines, corporations and governments) around the world on all aspects of aviation and aerospace law, including both commercial and regulatory matters. Amongst other books, I coauthored the book 'Essential Documents on Air Carrier Liability.'

I was formerly Director of Legal Services at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the organisation of the world’s airlines, in Montreal and Geneva and Special Counsel (Aviation) at a national Australian law firm. I am currently an associate professor (part-time) in the law school at the University of Western Australia where I teach aviation law and climate change law.

I am also a partner at aviation and aerospace law firm HodgkinsonJohnston.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Laws and Master of Philosophy degrees. I was also a postgraduate fellow at Columbia University in New York City.  Earlier in my career I was Senior Legal Research Officer at the High Court of Australia where I worked mostly for Justice Sir William Deane.

I am the co-author of the book 'Global Climate Change: Australian Law and Policy' (2008), the standard Australian text on climate change law. I have also written numerous refereed journal articles, book chapters, monographs and opinion pieces on climate change law and policy, and spoken at (and convened) conferences on aviation and on climate change around the world.

I was the principal draftsperson of the Peninsula Principles on Climate Displacement, and the general editor of the loose-leaf service 'Australian Climate Change Law and Policy.'

Education

Columbia University (New York)
The University of Western Australia

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

Aviation and aerospace law
Climate change law
Climate change displacement

Personal Interests

Running
Ocean swimming
American literature
Extolling the virtues of a carbon tax rather than an ETS

Websites

• Convention for Persons Displaced by Climate Change

• Ecocarbon incorporated

• Hodgkinson Group

• HodgkinsonJohnston

• The University of Western Australia

Books