RESEARCH

Tom Mcinerney standing with hands in pockets

The focus of my work

Over 30 years of research and practice Thomas F. McInerney has sought to understand the chain of international law and regulation running from global, domestic, and enterprise levels and the weaknesses, dynamics, and means of reform at each level. A main theme is how legal and institutional change happens across global, national, and firm levels. These topics have only become more challenging and complex in the intervening years.

An overriding focus of his academic and professional work has involved approaches to improving law and governance to advance human rights, equitable development, and poverty reduction. He provides legal services and conducts research, writes, and teaches on these topics across a range of sectors. Much of his research has focused on understanding and comparing what has worked in different areas.

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Rule of Law and Human Rights

What is causing the global rule of law recession underway and how can it be reversed? What do we know about how rule of law can be developed? How can societies maintain rule of law over time? What approaches to “people-centered justice” have worked best and why?

Regulation

What kinds of regulation are best to address different types of problems? How do we design regulatory mechanisms and how do we ensure their effectiveness? How can firms and individuals be encouraged or forced to follow regulatory standards?

Treaties

How can we improve treaty functioning? Can we make treaties more compatible with development processes? What insights from business and public strategy and management contribute to improving treaty outcomes? How can treaty obligations be integrated into national development processes?

Global Governance and International Organizations

How have the Sustainable Development Goals contributed to global development since 2016? What can global governance institutions contribute to equitable development, environmental sustainability, and human rights today? How is growing authoritarianism affecting global institutions’ agendas and states commitments to them?

Compliance and Ethics

What is the efficacy of current models of organizational compliance? What are ESG standards contributing to organizational compliance practices? How have global normative frameworks influenced organizational compliance practices? What can technology contribute to raising organizational compliance standards?

Technology and International Law

Technology presents new regulatory challenges while enabling improvements in law and governance.