The Jurisprudence of Lord Hoffmann

Lord Leonard Hoffmann remains one of the most important and influential English jurists. Born in South Africa, he came to England as a Rhodes Scholar to study law at the University of Oxford. After graduating from the Bachelor of Civil Law as Vinerian Scholar, he was elected Stowell Civil Law Fellow of University College. There followed an extremely distinguished judicial career, including 14 years as a member of the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords (from 1995 to 2009).

In 2009, Lord Hoffmann returned to the Oxford Law Faculty as a Visiting Professor. In this volume, current and past colleagues of Lord Hoffmann from the University of Oxford examine different aspects of his jurisprudence in diverse areas of private and public law. The contributions are testament to the clarity and creativity of his judicial and extra-judicial writings, to his enduring influence and extraordinary intellectual breadth, and to the respect and affection in which he is held.

1. Introductory Remarks and the Law of Evidence
Colin Tapper
2. Responsibility for Harm to Others: A Brief Survey
Tony Honoré
3. But for Lord Hoffmann, How Would the Causal Inquiry in Negligence Look?
Sarah Green
4. A Long, Hard Look at Gray v Thames Trains Ltd
James Goudkamp
5. Lord Hoffmann and the Economic Torts
Roderick Bagshaw
6. Salvaging of the Law of Torts Robert Stevens
7. Are Human Rights Culturally Determined? A Riposte to Lord Hoffmann
Sandra Fredman
8. Lord Hoffmann and Public Law: TV Dinner or Dining at the Savoy?
Alison L Young
9. A Trump Card Which Sometimes Wins: Lord Hoffmann, Free Speech and the Media
Jacob Rowbottom
10. Lord Hoffmann and Purposive Interpretation in Intellectual Property Law
Justine Pila
11. Lord Hoffmann and the Law of Employment: The Notorious Episode of Johnson v Unisys Ltd
Alan Bogg and Hugh Collins
12. The Meaning of Commercial Contracts
Paul S Davies
13. Tangling in the Undergrowth
Francis Reynolds
14. Lord Hoffmann and Remoteness in Contract
Andrew Burrows
15. Lord Hoffmann, Tax Law and Principles
Judith Freedman
16. Retrospective Mistakes of Law
Frederick Wilmot-Smith
17. The Jurisprudence of Lord Hoffmann in Property Law
Roger Smith
18. Proprietary Estoppel: The Importance of Looking Back
Ben McFarlane
19. Corporate Attribution and the Lessons of Meridian
Jennifer Payne

“This is a very readable book...it is fascinating to read of the impact Lord Hoffman's decisions have [had on] such a wide area of the law.” –  Sheriff Frank R Crowe, Journal of Law Society of Scotland

“The Jurisprudence of Lord Hoffmann is therefore to be highly recommended, both as fascinating book and as a testament to the work of a very great lawyer” –  Margaret Fordham, Singapore Journal of Legal Studies

“With the debates lively, relevant and current, there is something here for every lawyer. What is more, the book gives a clear impression of the 'contextual', 'sensible', 'principled' approach Lord Hoffmann brought to these cases.” –  Sally Azami, Law Society Gazette

“There will be something of interest to legal academics working in any field and every reputable law library should stock a copy of this superb book.” –  Craig Purshouse, Journal of Professional Negligence