Dr. Sinead Agnew

Biography

Sinéad Agnew holds the position of Catherine Seville Professor of Private Law at the Faculty of Law, Cambridge University, and is also a Fellow of Newnham College. Her teaching responsibilities encompass Equity Law Tripos and Advanced Property Trusts as well as supervising doctoral candidates. Prior to her academic career, Sinéad practiced as a barrister in London and later worked as a litigation lawyer in Jersey. She is actively engaged in various professional bodies, including as an Associate Member of Serle Court and a member of the Executive Committee for the Trusts Law Committee. Sinéad's research interests are centered on private law, equity law, trusts, modern legal history, and the moral justifications for the historical developments in equitable doctrines and institutions. She has published extensively on these topics, contributing to significant legal texts and books and having her work cited in courts across England and Wales. Sinéad is currently working on a monograph explaining the role of conscience in private law and has co-edited several notable collections. Her commitment to education was recognized when she received a student-led award for Research Supervisor of the Year from the Cambridge University Students Union in 2024.

Research Interests

Experience