Mohammad Kh Gh H A A Lari

Mohammad Lari is a PhD candidate at the SOAS School of Law, where his research focuses on how civil law systems respond to national crises, with particular attention to contractual obligations in Kuwait. His doctoral work critically examines the interplay between legal doctrine, cultural values, and constitutional norms, using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study to explore how Kuwait’s legal system can respond to emergencies in ways that uphold social justice and ethical responsibility. 

Drawing on comparative and socio-legal methods, his research seeks to identify how legal frameworks in Kuwaiti civil law can be adapted to address the lived needs of society during periods of instability. Mohammad holds an LLM in General Law with Distinction from the University of Aberdeen. His LLM dissertation offered a comparative study of the acquisition of land ownership through positive prescription in Scottish, Kuwaiti, and Sharīʿa law. This research examined how diverse legal systems conceptualise justice and legal certainty, and how property rights are shaped by historical, cultural, and religious traditions. His work at the master’s level reflected a consistent interest in bridging doctrinal analysis with normative questions of fairness and legal development. 

He obtained his LLB from Kuwait University with First Class Honours and was consistently ranked among the top five students during his undergraduate studies. His legal education provided a strong foundation in the Kuwaiti legal system, particularly in the areas of constitutional values, contract law, and property regulation. 

Mohammad’s broader academic interests include comparative law, Islamic jurisprudence, and socio-legal studies, as well as the interdisciplinary relationship between law and society. He is especially interested in how law operates as a social institution, how legal norms are shaped by historical legacies and societal structures, and in offering critical reflections on modernity and colonialism in legal thought. His current work draws on critical legal theory to explore the limitations of legal formalism in times of crisis and to advocate for more responsive and justice-oriented approaches to legal reform.

 Committed to both academic inquiry and practical relevance, Mohammad’s research aims to contribute to scholarship that enhances legal resilience and promotes ethically grounded legal solutions in Kuwait and comparable jurisdictions.

Contract law in civil law jurisdictions, particularly in crisis contexts Legal responses to emergencies and their alignment with constitutional and cultural values.

The role of law in promoting social justice and fairness within the Kuwaiti legal system Socio-legal analysis of Kuwaiti law, with emphasis on justice and ethical responsibility.

Comparative legal analysis across Kuwaiti, Islamic, and Western legal systems Islamic jurisprudence and its role in shaping contemporary legal frameworks.

Critical legal theory and the limitations of legal formalism in addressing societal crises.

The impact of political economy, modernity, and colonial legacies on legal development Law as a social institution and its interaction with culture, society, and historical legacies Socio-legal studies with a focus on law as a tool for justice-oriented reform