Professor Irene-Marie Esser

Professor of Corporate Law and Governance (School of Law)
Dean of Graduate Studies (Social Sciences College Senior Management)

telephone: 01413304553
email: Irene-Marie.Esser@glasgow.ac.uk

Biography

Professor Irene-marié Esser is a Professor of Corporate Law and Governance in the School of Law at the University of Glasgow and Dean of the Graduate School, College of Social Sciences. Since 2020 she is an Extraordinary Professor at Stellenbosch University, South Africa and also a Visiting Professor at the National Law University Jodhpur, India. She is a Senior Advisor at the Centre of Corporate Governance at the Institute of Directors.

Professor Esser acted as Director and Deputy-Director of Postgraduate Teaching and Co-Subject Head of Commercial Law at the School of Law, University of Glasgow from 2018 until 2022 as well as the Early-Career Co-Ordinator. She also served as a Professor Extraordinarius at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and was, until 2017, a Visiting Professor at the Open University, UK. She was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2005. In South Africa she was Professor and Co-Subject Head of Corporate Law at UNISA until March 2013, when she relocated, with her family, to Edinburgh, Scotland. Irene-marié obtained her LLB at Stellenbosch University (2001, first in her class), her LLM at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland (2003) and her LLD at UNISA (2008). She was the Company Law Convener for the UK Society of Legal Scholars for 3 years, until 2021. She currently teaches Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility and Company Law at the University of Glasgow and supervises postgraduate research students in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Her research spans doctrinal and empirical approaches, covering the UK, EU and South Africa in the field of corporate governance, company law and corporate social responsibility.

Professor Esser acted as an External Consultant to the King IV Committee on Corporate Governance in South Africa. Reference has been made to her work in the King IV Report on Corporate Governance following her inclusive stakeholder protection approach. They quoted directly from two articles that she co-authored with other academics. Prof. Esser received the prize (with the co-author) for the best article published during 2016 in the Journal of Contemporary Roman Dutch Law for ‘Shareholder Protection in Terms of the Companies Act 71 of 2008’. Prof Esser is part of the Corporate and Financial Law research group.

Professor Esser has presented a 3-5-day workshop at the University of Johannesburg on Board Governance since 2009, accredited by the IoDSA. She is an examiner at ACCA on their South African Business law module. She is also on the editorial board of the European Business Law Review.

Professor Esser is available to conduct bespoke training and consult on corporate governance issues, ESG, directors’ duties and board diversity.

Publication repositories:

https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/law/staff/irene-marieesser/

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=1801724

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0QXwH4QAAAAJ&hl=en

Research interests

Company Law
Corporate Governance
Corporate Social Responsibility

Publications

Selected publications

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296, MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 and Chalaczkiewicz-Ladna, Katarzyna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-3566 (2018) Engaging stakeholders in corporate decision-making through strategic reporting: an empirical study of FTSE 100 companies. European Business Law Review, 29(5), pp. 729-772.

Esser, I.-M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296, MacNeil, I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 and Chalaczkiewicz-Ladna, K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-3566 (2020) Engaging stakeholders in corporate decision-making through strategic reporting: an empirical study of FTSE 100 companies (Part 2). European Business Law Review, 31(2), pp. 209-242.

MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2022) The emergence of ‘comply or explain’ as a global model for corporate governance codes. European Business Law Review, 33(1), pp. 1-56.

Cabrelli, David and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2018) A rule-based comparison and analysis of the case studies. In: Siems, Mathias and Cabrelli, David (eds.) Comparative Company Law: a Case-Based Approach (2nd Edition). Hart Publishing. ISBN 9781509909360

MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2020) The Pandemic Response in the UK in the Context of Corporate and Financial Law – within and without Law. Documentation. SSRN.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Delport, P. A. (2016) Shareholder protection philosophy in terms of the Companies Act 71 of 2008. Tydskrif vir Hedensdaagse Romeins-Hollandse Reg, 79,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2019) Regulating ESG issues: a comparison of South Africa and the United Kingdom. In: Coetzee, Hermie and Fritz, Carika (eds.) De Serie Legenda: Developments in Commercial Law: Entrepreneurial Law. Volume III. LexisNexis South Africa: Durban. ISBN 9780639008882

All publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Number of items: 77.

2025

Chalaczkiewicz-Ladna, Katarzyna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-3566, Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 (2025) The workforce engagement mechanisms in the UK: a way towards more sustainable companies? (Part 2). In: González Sánchez, Sara and Bethencourt Rodríguez, Geraldine (eds.) Gobierno corporativo sostenible: regulación vs. mercado. Thomson Reuters Aranzadi: Madrid. ISBN 9788410789531

Cannon, Catriona ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6813-7412, Esser, Irene-Marié ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 (2025) The legal dimension of ‘corporate purpose’: a study of companies with a religious influence. European Business Law Review, (Accepted for Publication)

2024

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Riley, Christopher A. (2024) Corporate liability within groups: human rights and tort law perspectives. Social Science Research Network (SSRN), (doi: 10.2139/ssrn.5064156)

Esser, Irene-marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 (2024) ESG regulation, CSR and corporate purpose: a UK perspective. In: Binder, Jens-Hinrich, Hopt, Klaus and Kuntz, Thilo (eds.) Corporate Purpose, CSR, and ESG: A Transatlantic Perspective. Oxford University Press, pp. 141-160. ISBN 9780198912576 (doi: 10.1093/oso/9780198912576.003.0007)

MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2024) Corporate purpose as a conduit for sustainability in corporate governance. In: Silva, Marta Santos, Nicolussi, Andrea, Wendehorst, Christiane, Salvador Coderch, Pablo, Clément, Marc and Zoll, Fryderyk (eds.) Routledge Handbook of Private Law and Sustainability. Routledge, pp. 529-547. ISBN 9781032662008 (doi: 10.4324/9781032662046-37)

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2024) Corporate governance in the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, India and Singapore: 11.6 South Africa. In: du Plessis, Jean Jacques, Hargovan, Anil and Nosworthy, Beth (eds.) Principles of Contemporary Corporate Governance [5th Ed.]. Cambridge University Press, pp. 323-331. ISBN 9781009287388

Singh, Snehita, Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 (2024) Board decision-making and stakeholder protection. NLS Business Law Review, (Early Online Publication)

2023

MacNeil, Iain G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292, Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Chalaczkiewicz-Ladna, Katarzyna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-3566 (2023) Comments on the FRC’s 2023 Corporate Governance Code Consultation. [Website]

MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 and Esser, Irene-Marié ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2023) Capital markets and corporate governance standards. In: Chiu, Iris H.-Y. and MacNeil, Iain G. (eds.) Research Handbook on Global Capital Markets Law. Series: Research handbooks in financial law. Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, pp. 371-385. ISBN 9781800379299 (doi: 10.4337/9781800379305.00034)

2022

MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2022) From a financial to an entity model of ESG. European Business Organization Law Review, 23(1), pp. 9-45. (doi: 10.1007/s40804-021-00234-y)

Chalaczkiewicz-Ladna, Katarzyna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-3566, Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 (2022) Workforce engagement and the UK corporate governance code. In: Martínez-Echevarría y García de Dueñas, Alfonso (ed.) Corporate Governance, Sustainability and Reputation = Gobierno Corporativo, Sostenibilidad Y Reputación. Thomson Reuters Aranzadi. ISBN 9788411254199

2020

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Loughrey, Joan (2020) Stock corporations: corporate governance and external and internal controls. In: Vicari, Andrea and Schall, Alexander (eds.) Company Laws of the EU: A Handbook. Hart Publishing, pp. 1495-1539. ISBN 9781509923991

2019

Delport, P.A. and Esser, I.-M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2019) Corporate law. Annual Survey of South African Law, 2017,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 (2019) Disclosure and engagement: stakeholder participation mechanisms. European Business Law Review, 30(2), pp. 201-221.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2019) Roger M Barker and Iris H-Y Chiu Corporate Governance and Investment Management: The Promises and Limitations of the New Financial Economy (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar 2017), ISBN: 978 1 78471 351 5, Price: £115 Hard cover, 519 pages. European Business Law Review, 30(2), pp. 335-336. [Book Review]

2018

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Delport, P.A. (2018) South African case studies. In: Siems, Mathias and Cabrelli, David (eds.) Comparative Company Law: a Case-Based Approach (2nd Edition). Hart Publishing. ISBN 9781509909360

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296, MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 and Chalaczkiewicz-Ladna, Katarzyna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-3566 (2018) Proposed revisions to the UK Corporate Governance Code: a step forward in recognising a company’s responsibilities towards wider stakeholders? Company Lawyer, 39(8), pp. 254-256.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2018) South Africa. In: du Plessis, Jean Jacques, Hargovan, Anil and Harris, Jason (eds.) Principles of Contemporary Corporate Governance [4th ed.]. Cambridge University Press: Port Melbourne, Vic., pp. 291-297. ISBN 9781108413022

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2018) Disclosure vs Participation: Models of Stakeholder Representation in Corporate Decision-Making. International Corporate Governance and Law Forum, Leeds, UK, 15-16 Jan 2018.

Esser, I.-M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Delport, P.A. (2018) The South African King IV Report on corporate governance: is the crown shiny enough? Company Lawyer, 39(11), pp. 378-384.

2017

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2017) Corporate governance: soft law regulation and disclosure - the cases of the United Kingdom and South Africa. In: du Plessis, Jean J. and Low, Chow Keong (eds.) Corporate Governance Codes for the 21st Century: International Perspectives and Critical Analyses. Springer. ISBN 9783319518671

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Delport, P.A. (2017) The protection of stakeholders: the South African social and ethics committee and the United Kingdom’s enlightened shareholder value approach: part 1. De Jure, 50(1), pp. 97-110. (doi: 10.17159/2225-7160/2017/v50n1a6)

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Delport, Piet (2017) The protection of stakeholders: the South African social and ethics committee and the United Kingdom’s enlightened shareholder value approach: part 2. De Jure, 50(2), pp. 221-240. (doi: 10.17159/2225-7160/2017/v50n2a2)

2016

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2016) International Corporate Governance and Law. International Corporate Governance and Law Forum, Hong Kong, China, 25-26 Apr 2016.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2016) Part B: Director and Board accountability. In: Havenga, Michele and Mahony, Daniel Patrick (eds.) Company Secretarial Practice. Juta: Cape Town. ISBN 9781485109648

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Delport, P.A. (2016) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law,

2015

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2015) Legislative Response: The South African Social and Ethics Committee and the United Kingdom’s Enlightened Shareholder Value Approach. In: 19th Commonwealth Law Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, 12-16 Apr 2015,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2015) South Africa. In: Du Plessis, J.J., Hargovan, A., Bagaric, M. and Harris, J.R. (eds.) Principles of contemporary corporate governance. Cambridge University Press: Melbourne, pp. 392-403. ISBN 9781107432420

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Delport, P.A. (2015) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law,

2014

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2014) Shareholder interests and good corporate governance in South Africa. Journal of Contemporary Roman Dutch Law, 77, pp. 38-52.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Cabrelli, David (2014) Share Ownership Structure and Corporate Law: The Cases of South Africa and the UK. In: 19th Ius Commune Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, 27-28 Nov 2014,

Locke, Natania and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2014) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law,

2013

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2013) European Capital Markets Law Rüdiger Veil (ed). Law and Financial Markets Review, 7(5), pp. 267-268. (doi: 10.5235/17521440.7.5.267)[Book Review]

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2013) Iwa Salami, Financial Regulation in Africa: An Assessment of Financial Regulation in Africa: An Assessment of Financial Integration Arrangements in African Emerging and Frontier Markets 2012. Law and Financial Markets Review, 7(6), p. 322. (doi: 10.5235/17521440.7.6.322)[Book Review]

Locke, Natania and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2013) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law,

2012

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2012) German Corporate Governance in International and European Context, Jean J. du Plessis, Bernhard Großfeld, Claus Luttermann, Ingo Saenger, Otto Sandrock, and Matthias Casper. South African Mercantile Law Journal, 24(2), pp. 252-253. [Book Review]

Havenga, Michele Kyra and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (Eds.) (2012) Corporate Governance Review 2012. LexisNexis: Durban. ISBN 9780409053746

Delport, P.A., Vorster, Q., Esser, I.-M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296, Lombard, S. and Burdette, D. (2012) Henochsberg on the Companies Act. LexisNexis South.

Locke, Natania and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2012) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law, pp. 200-242.

2011

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2011) Principles of Contemporary Corporate Governance, Jean Jacques du Plessis, Anil Hargovan & Mirko Bagaric. South African Mercantile Law Journal, 23(1), p. 146. [Book Review]

Delport, Piet and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2011) The duty of care, skill and diligence: the King Report and the 2008 Companies Act. Journal of Contemporary Roman Dutch Law, 74, p. 449.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2011) Corporate social responsibility: a company law perspectives. South African Mercantile Law Journal, 23(3), pp. 317-335.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2011) The Enhancement of Shareholder and Stakeholder Interests in the New South African Companies Act. In: The Function of the Law Before Crises: A Comparative Corporate Governance Exploration, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 8-10 Dec 2011,

Havenga, M.K., Esser, I.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296, Geach, W.D., Locke, N., Vermaas, M.R. and Mahony, D.P. (2011) Board committees and board evaluations. In: Van der Merwe, J.G. (ed.) South African Corporate Business Administration. Juta: Cape Town. ISBN 9780702133268

Locke, Natania and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2011) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law, pp. 293-335.

2010

Locke, Natania and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2010) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law, pp. 295-324.

2009

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2009) The Protection of Stakeholder Interests in terms of the South African King III Report on Corporate Governance. In: 8th International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility, Cape Town, South Africa, 8-10 Sep 2009,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2009) The protection of stakeholder interests in terms of the South African King III report on corporate governance. South African Mercantile Law Journal, 21(2), pp. 188-201.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2009) Recognition of Various Stakeholder Interests in Company Management: Corporate Social Responsibility and Directors' Duties. Vdm Verlag Dr Müller: Saarbrücken. ISBN 9783639164121

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2009) Stakeholder protection and the position of consumers. Journal of Contemporary Roman Dutch Law, 72(3), pp. 407-429.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Locke, Natania (2009) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law, pp. 259-283.

Havenga, M. and Esser, I.-M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2009) Directors’ Environmental Responsibilities in South African Law. In: 1st International Conference on Governance, Fraud, Ethics, Social Responsibility, Edirne, Turkey, 11-13 Jun 2009, pp. 177-206. ISBN 9789753741019

Havenga, M.K., Esser, I.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296, Geach, W.D., Locke, N., Vermaas, M.R. and Mahony, D.P. (2009) The directors; their duties, obligations and powers. In: Van der Merwe, J.G. (ed.) South African Corporate Business Administration. Juta: Cape Town. ISBN 9780702133268

2008

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2008) Company law and the spoliated director: Greaves v Barnard: case comments. South African Mercantile Law Journal, 20(1), pp. 135-145.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2008) The Dynamics in Corporate Governance in South Africa: Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment and the Enhancement of Good Corporate Governance Principles. In: 2nd International Conference on Business, Law and Technology (IBLT), New York, NY, USA, 17-19 Jun 2008,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2008) Shareholder Participation in Corporate Governance. In: Corporate Law Teachers Conference, Sydney, Australia, 3-5 Feb 2008,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Dekker, Adriette (2008) The dynamics of corporate governance in South Africa: broad based black economic empowerment and the enhancement of good corporate governance principles. Journal of International Commercial Law and Technology, 3(3), pp. 157-169.

Havenga, M.K., Esser, I.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296, Geach, W.D., Locke, N., Vermaas, M.R. and Mahony, D.P. (2008) Company law, corporate governance, and the company secretary. In: Van der Merwe, J.G. (ed.) South African Corporate Business Administration. Juta: Cape Town. ISBN 9780702133268

Havenga, Michele and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2008) Shareholder participation in corporate governance. Speculum Juris, 2008(1), pp. 74-94.

2007

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2007) A Global African Perspective on Corporate Governance: The Protection of Stakeholders’ Interests. In: Good Governance and Non-State Actors in International Law: An African Perspective, Pretoria, South Africa, 27-29 Aug 2007,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2007) A global perspective on African corporate governance: the protection of stakeholders' interests. South African Yearbook of International Law, 32, pp. 406-429.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2007) Stakeholder protection: the position of employees. Journal of Contemporary Roman Dutch Law, 70(3), p. 407.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Du Plessis, Jean (2007) The stakeholder debate and directors' fiduciary duties. South African Mercantile Law Journal, 19, pp. 346-363.

2006

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2006) The position of street children and South African legislation. De Jure, 2006(2), pp. 385-404.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2006) The Position of Street Children and South African Legislation. In: Law Teachers Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, Jul 2006,

Roodt, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1825-5250 and Esser, I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2006) Venue in transnational litigation: party autonomy adds new impetus to the judgment project. South African Mercantile Law Journal, 18, pp. 13-30.

Roodt, Christa and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2006) Venue in transnational litigation: party autonomy adds new impetus to the 'judgment project'. South African Mercantile Law Journal, 18(1), pp. 13-30.

2005

Du Preez, Monique L. and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2005) Public places and the owners' duty of care towards visitors: regspraak. Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg: Journal for South African Law, 2005(1), pp. 208-214.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2005) The enlightened shareholder value approach versus plurism in the management of companies. Obiter, 26, pp. 719-725.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2005) Venue in Transnational Litigation: Party Autonomy adds New Impetus to the 'Judgment Project'. In: International Conference on Private International Law, UNISA University, South Africa, Sep 2005,

This list was generated on Sun Jun 15 09:59:18 2025 BST.

Number of items: 77.

Articles

Delport, P.A. and Esser, I.-M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2019) Corporate law. Annual Survey of South African Law, 2017,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296, MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 and Chalaczkiewicz-Ladna, Katarzyna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-3566 (2018) Proposed revisions to the UK Corporate Governance Code: a step forward in recognising a company’s responsibilities towards wider stakeholders? Company Lawyer, 39(8), pp. 254-256.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Delport, P.A. (2016) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Delport, P.A. (2015) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2014) Shareholder interests and good corporate governance in South Africa. Journal of Contemporary Roman Dutch Law, 77, pp. 38-52.

Locke, Natania and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2014) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law,

Locke, Natania and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2013) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law,

Locke, Natania and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2012) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law, pp. 200-242.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2011) Corporate social responsibility: a company law perspectives. South African Mercantile Law Journal, 23(3), pp. 317-335.

Locke, Natania and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2011) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law, pp. 293-335.

Locke, Natania and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2010) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law, pp. 295-324.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2009) Stakeholder protection and the position of consumers. Journal of Contemporary Roman Dutch Law, 72(3), pp. 407-429.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and Locke, Natania (2009) Corporate law (including stock exchanges). Annual Survey of South African Law, pp. 259-283.

Havenga, Michele and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2008) Shareholder participation in corporate governance. Speculum Juris, 2008(1), pp. 74-94.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2007) Stakeholder protection: the position of employees. Journal of Contemporary Roman Dutch Law, 70(3), p. 407.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2006) The position of street children and South African legislation. De Jure, 2006(2), pp. 385-404.

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2005) The enlightened shareholder value approach versus plurism in the management of companies. Obiter, 26, pp. 719-725.

Books

Delport, P.A., Vorster, Q., Esser, I.-M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296, Lombard, S. and Burdette, D. (2012) Henochsberg on the Companies Act. LexisNexis South.

Book Sections

Chalaczkiewicz-Ladna, Katarzyna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-3566, Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 and MacNeil, Iain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-4292 (2022) Workforce engagement and the UK corporate governance code. In: Martínez-Echevarría y García de Dueñas, Alfonso (ed.) Corporate Governance, Sustainability and Reputation = Gobierno Corporativo, Sostenibilidad Y Reputación. Thomson Reuters Aranzadi. ISBN 9788411254199

Book Reviews

Edited Books

Havenga, Michele Kyra and Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (Eds.) (2012) Corporate Governance Review 2012. LexisNexis: Durban. ISBN 9780409053746

Research Reports or Papers

Conference or Workshop Item

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2016) International Corporate Governance and Law. International Corporate Governance and Law Forum, Hong Kong, China, 25-26 Apr 2016.

Conference Proceedings

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2008) Shareholder Participation in Corporate Governance. In: Corporate Law Teachers Conference, Sydney, Australia, 3-5 Feb 2008,

Esser, Irene-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-3296 (2006) The Position of Street Children and South African Legislation. In: Law Teachers Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, Jul 2006,

Website

This list was generated on Sun Jun 15 09:59:18 2025 BST.

Grants

Women in Research Award: Youngest staff member with a doctorate degree at Unisa (2009).

Unisa’s Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Research (2009).

National Research Foundation of South Africa, Thuthuka Grant (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).

Various grants to conduct research received from the Research and Higher Degrees Committee of Unisa (2006 - current).

REF Contingency Fund (University of Glasgow, College of Social Sciences) (~£2600) (2017)

The International Partnership Development Fund: Successful funding for India and Thailand Workshops to present 3 days on Corporate Governance

Supervision

Research students under supervision

Rungthongkhamkul, Sathien - 'Crafting Access to Civil Justice in Thailand : Strengthening Civil Remedy Framework in Responding to Business-Related Human Rights Abuse by Transnational Corporations'
Wilson, Mark Can activism using private ordering strategies promote long-term shareholder support of publicly traded companies (“Issuers”) in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia (collectively, the “Jurisdictions”)?

Almutairi, Khaled Mohammed D
Strengthening the board: The Case for Directorship Certifications in Mitigating Directors’ Liabilities.
Chen, Yanlu
Legal Regulation of the Sustainability of Low-Tier Suppliers: A Study of the 'Cascading' Effect of Contract and Supplier Code
Jakuczun, Sylwia
“Unfair prejudice petitions in context: empirical research of unfair prejudice petitions as the most important statutory means of protecting minority shareholders in the jurisdictions of Scotland, England and Wales”
Li, Mingyi
Comparative Study on ESG Disclosure Rules

Professor Esser supervises PG students working mainly on company law, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility matters.

Completed PhDs

Abdulaziz Bin hagshah - 'The New Corporate Governance Regulatory Frameworks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Reality and Aspirations'
Sarah Deng - 'Legal Transplant as a Device of Legal Change in Transitional Economies: The Case of Importing Common Law-Style Corporate Fiduciary Duties into Contemporary China'
Ansie Oost (co-supervisor: Prof MK Havenga, UNISA) - ‘The new "Safe Harbour" for directors in South Africa: A comparative study of the Business Judgement Rule’
Jonathan Hardman - 'Default Rules in Scottish Companies: An Empirical Study'
NJ Moyo completed her PhD under Dr Esser's supervision at the University of South Africa during 2016 (Prof MK Havenga was the co-supervisor). The title of the thesis is 'Corporate governance - A critical analysis of the effectiveness of boards of directors in public entities in Zimbabwe'.
Snehita Singh - 'Corporate Social Responsibility, corporate governance, company law'

Teaching

Company Law
Commercial Law
Corporate Governance
Corporate Social Responsibility

Additional information

Impact

Cited during a roundtable discussion at the Australian Treasury (2007).

Submitted comments to a sub-committee of the South African King III Report on Corporate Governance (2008).

Provided comments on the sections on directors’ fiduciary duties of the South African 2008 Companies Bill to the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and Parliament.

Approach and suggestions on stakeholder protection followed in the King IV Corporate Governance Report (followed by a Company Lawyer publication).

Comments provided to/on:

The Green Paper Corporate Governance Consultation in the UK (2016)

The FRC on the updated UK Corporate Governance Code (2018) followed by a Company Lawyer publication.

EU public consultation on the revision to non-financial reporting directive, the FCA CP20/3: Proposals to enhance climate-related disclosures by listed issuers and clarification of existing disclosure obligations (2020);

EU public consultation on the renewal of the sustainable finance strategy (2020);

EU public consultation on sustainable corporate governance (2020);

FRC public consultation on the future of non-financial reporting (2020).

Editorial role:

Member of the editorial board of the European Business Law Review.

External examiner roles:

University College London, Edinburgh University, Glasgow International College, University of Pretoria and at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

External examiner to 8 PhD candidates in the UK, South Africa and Australia.

Funding council moderator:

Moderator to the Irish Research Council (2017-).

Acted as a reviewer at the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Academic Network Conference 2018, on invitation.

Research Grants and Collaborations:

National Research Foundation of South Africa, Thuthuka Grant:

Researchers in Training and Women in Research (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)

Various grants to conduct research received from the Research and Higher Degrees Committee of Unisa (2006-2010)

REF Contingency Fund (University of Glasgow, College of Social Sciences) (~£2600) (2017)

The International Partnership Development Fund: Successful funding for India and Thailand Workshops to present 3 days on Corporate Governance

Collaborator: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation project on Corporate Governance: Sustainability, ESG Factors and reputation

Collaborator: AHRC grant on the interactions between extractive industries and how the security forces of foreign states adversely affect human rights. (University of Durham)

Professional Activities

Academic Panel Member: ESG Investing, UK launched Greenlight, an ESG and sustainable fund and product accreditation service (2021-)

Member of the Institute of Directors of Southern Africa’s Examination Committee (2022-)

External Advisor, King IV Committee on Corporate governance, South Africa (2016)

UK REF specialist reviewer (2021)

External Adviser: South African King IV Corporate Governance Report Committee (2016)

Expert panel member of the EU/African Chamber of Commerce (2015-2018)

External consultant at Pascal Observatories (http://pascalobservatory.org/) (2015-)

Member of the PRI (Principles of Responsible Investing) Academic Forum

Member of the Sustainable Market Actors Network & Daughters of Themis: International Network of Female Business Scholars

Member of the United Nations’ Global Compact Task Team (Stakeholder Engagement and Human Rights) (Provide feedback on policy documents and attend round table discussions) (2006).

Review articles for, e.g.:

South African Mercantile Law Journal, Fundamina, Botswana Law Review, Stellenbosch Law Review, Obiter, De Jure, CILSA, European Business Law Review.

Training Provision

Presented an annual weeklong workshop at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa on Board Governance (2009-).

Presented capacity building at various universities in India with Prof Iain MacNeil (2017), in Bangkok, Thailand (2018) and Indonesia (2019) as part of a post-graduate growth initiative.

Latest Research Events Organised

‘The Pandemic Response in the UK in the Context of Corporate and Financial Law – within and without Law’- June 2020 (co-organised and presented a paper)

Workshop ‘Legal issues and perspectives on Fintech’ - 6th February 2020 (Co-organised)

‘AI & the future of law’ – December 2020 (co-chaired a session)

Panel, University of Stellenbosch: Board decision-making and the position of stakeholders (August 2021)

Invited Talks (since 2013)

Invited to attend the International Corporate Governance and Law Forum in Muenster, Germany as a delegate (2013)

Invited talk: ‘Share Ownership Structure and Corporate Law: The Cases of South Africa and the UK’ at the Ius Commune Conference in Edinburgh (with David Cabrelli, University of Edinburgh) (2014)

Invited talk: ‘Legislative Response: The South African Social and Ethics Committee and the United Kingdom’s Enlightened Shareholder Value Approach’ at the 19th Commonwealth Law Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, 12-16 Apr 2015

Invited to attend the Company Law Round Table with UK Company law academics at Southampton University (June 2016)

Invited talk: ‘International Corporate Governance and Law’ conference in Hong Kong during April 2016. I was one of 15 invited speakers from more than 8 countries.

Invited talk: ‘Disclosure vs Participation: Models of Stakeholder Representation in Corporate Decision-Making’ at the International Corporate Governance and Law Forum in Leeds, January 2018

Invited to attend a 1-day conference (invitation only) at Oxford University, Manchester College on ‘Corporate Groups – Facilitation and Control’, 11 January 2018

Dr K C-Ladna presented research findings from a joint report co-written with Professor MacNeil and Prof Esser at an event at the University of Edinburgh entitled ‘Engaging Stakeholders in the UK in Corporate Decision-Making Through Strategic Reporting: An Empirical Study’, hosted by the Edinburgh Centre for Commercial Law (2018)

Invited talk: Co-presented 3 papers (with Prof MacNeil) at ‘II International Conference on Corporate Governance’ (Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid) (2020)

Invited panel member: University of Durham: ‘UK litigation on Extractive Industries and Foreign Security Forces’ (Feb 2021)

Invited Talk: UCL interdisciplinary seminar series in Law and Finance (with Prof MacNeil) (May 2021)

Invited Talk: III International Conference on Corporate Governance “Sustainable corporate governance: regulation vs. market" (with Prof MacNeil) (Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid) (May 2022) Invited Discussant: UCL Centre for Ethics and Law (July 2022)

Invited Discussant: UCL interdisciplinary seminar series in Law and Finance (with Prof MacNeil) (May 2022)

Invited Discussant: UCL / Notre Dame London Law and Finance Symposium (September 2022)

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