- Forthcoming:Ìý(April 2025) Fejos, Vessio and Miglionico ‘The UK’s APP Fraud Reimbursement Scheme: The Vulnerability of the Consumer Standard of Caution’ theÌýResponsible Consumer in the Digital Age International Conference, Copenhagen
- (2024): ‘Relational Contract Theory as a Potential Theoretical Framework to Embed Circular Economy Principles: an Exploration to Achieve Sustainable Supply Chains’, The London Centre for Commercial and Financial Law (LCF): The Future of the Commercial Contract in Scholarship and Law Reform, Eighth Annual Conference, London
- (2024) Presenter in Webinar :Ìý‘Cryptoassets and the Law: Understanding Blockchain’ÌýLexisNexis SAÌý
- (2024) Presenter in Webinar :Ìý‘The Evolution of Contracts, What are Smart Contracts’ÌýLexisNexis SAÌý
- (2023) Speaker at Conference :Ìý‘Can Relational Contract Theory be Pragmatically Customised to Framework Long-term Commercially Circular Relationships’ÌýUniversity of Copenhagen, Denmark,Ìý
- (2023) Guest Speaker :Ìý‘Blockchain Smart Contracts, Circular Economy and Servitisation, Lessons Learnt’ÌýQueens University BelfastÌý
- (2023) Presenter in Webinar :Ìý‘Regulatory Aspects of Circular Economy’ÌýBusiness School, University of ExeterÌý
- (2023) Speaker at Conference :Ìý‘What is a Smart Contract Really’ÌýBlockchain and Law Conference, hosted by Exeter University Business SchoolÌý
- (2023) Speaker at Conference :Ìý‘When Smart Contracts meet Circular Economy: The Complexities of Drafting an on-chain Servitisation Agreements’ÌýBiennual Modern Studies in Commercial Law ConferenceÌý91µ¼º½Ìý
- (2023) Speaker at Conference :Ìý‘Comparing Mechanisms to Curb Interest for Over-indebted Consumers under English and South African law’ÌýInternational Association of Consumer Law International ConferenceÌýHamburg
- (2023) Guest Speaker :Ìý‘Do Smart Contracts Aid Circular Economy Models?’ÌýEnvironmental CaféÌýCornwall Campus University of Exeter
Dr Monica Vessio
Areas of interest
- Regulating the intersectionality of AI and Blockchain in the Financial Sector
- Banking law and Fintech
- Smart Contracts, Blockchain and AI
- Commercial Law (supply chains domestic and transnational)
- Circular Economy, servitisation and sustainable supply chain solutions
- Consumer law, specifically consumer credit and consumer rights
Postgraduate supervision
PhDÌýStudent: Alastair Marke, Intersection of AI & Green Digital Assets
I welcome applications from students who wish to research in my areas of interest
Teaching
- Banking Law
- Advanced International Commercial Law
- Commercial Law
- Contract Law
- English Legal System and Skills
- Research and Writing Skills
Background
Dr Monica Vessio lectures Banking and Commercial Law in the School of Law. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.Ìý
Prior to joining 91µ¼º½ she was Module Convenor for Commercial Law and Programme Director for the LLM Programme in Business and Law at the University of Exeter.Ìý
Her research and teaching focus on aspects of banking law (digital banking, central bank digital currencies, privacy considerations in this field and open banking); circular economy (CE) influences and the impact of disruptive technologies, such as smart contracts and AI, on supply chains. In her research, she explores both corporate and consumer perspectives.Ìý
As Co-Principal Investigator for aÌý, which incorporated the use of an on-chain smart contract to enhance a CE trading model, Monica led on the advisory document outlining the drafting requirements of partially automated agreements for both B2B and B2C components for the partner organization.
Prior to joining the University of Exeter, she held lecturing posts at the University of Pretoria, University of Johannesburg.ÌýÌýShe was visiting lecturer at CatÏŒlica University, Porto. In South Africa, she actively collaborated with the Black Lawyers Association, participating in an outreach program aimed at training and enhancing the skills of attorneys in rural areas, within the commercial legal sector.Ìý
She practised as a commercial attorney and legal commercial consultant (to financial institutions and banks).ÌýÌýShe holds a BA and LLB from Rhodes University, her LLM with distinction and honorary colours and LLD (PhD) from the University of Pretoria.ÌýÌý
Serving as a Senior Research Associate at theÌý, she has been repeatedly invited by the Faculty of Law at the University of Johannesburg to hold this position.
Monica is a prolific author, having published numerous peer-reviewed articles in esteemed academic journals. Additionally, she co-authors the annually updated
Her work has garnered frequent citations from the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal, and numerous High Court cases.
Awards and honours
- Academic Honorary ColoursÌý(LLM)Ìý(University of Pretoria, South Africa)
- Co-InvestigatorÌý:ÌýEuropean Regional Development Fund (WEFO/ESIF) Project onÌýSmart Contracts in a Circular Supply Chain
- Co-PrincipalÌýInvestigatorÌý:ÌýDigital Societies Grow House FundÌýData and Digital Governance for Key Strategic Infrastructure in the Context of a Transition to Net Zero 2050
- Principal InvestigatorÌý:Ìýfunded by MMI Holdings LimitedÌýInterest Charges and Caps on Legacy ProductsÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
- Recipient, University of Pretoria Postgraduate Research FundÌý
- Co-PrincipalÌýInvestigatorÌý:ÌýGauteng Department of HealthÌýFunded Project, South Africa onÌýRecommendations on the Benefits and Risks Involved in the Provincialization of Emergency Services,Ìý±Ê°ù±ð³Ù´Ç°ù¾±²¹
Professional bodies/affiliations
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Senior Research Associate,
- Member of the International Association of Consumer Law (IACL)
- Member of the Society of Legal Scholars (SLS)
- Member of the
- Qualified Attorney, Member of the Law Society of South Africa
Selected publications
Books
- (2024) Moorcroft, J andÌýVessio, MLÌýBanking Law and PracticeÌý(LexisNexis)
Forthcoming Book Chapters
- ForthcomingÌý(2025):ÌýVessio MLÌýand Saintier S The (Servitised) Subscription Economy: Are Consumers Truly Empowered?ÌýDisruption, Innovation and Re-alignment in UK Consumer Law, C Twigg-Fletchner and J Devenney (eds) Hart PublishersÌý
- ForthcomingÌý(February 2025)ÌýVessio ML, ‘LawÌýand Money’ inÌýElgar Encyclopedia of Law and Sociology,Law & Economy Section V Barnes and Y Zang (eds)
