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Duncan Sheehan

Professor

Duncan Sheehan is Professor of Business Law at the University of Leeds, and author of the second edition of The Principles of Personal Property Law published by Hart Bloomsbury. The views expressed are his own. Email: d.k.sheehan@leeds.ac.uk

Articles by author

Cryptoassets are choses in action

This article discusses three key recent cases from Singapore, England and Australia: ByBit FinTech Ltd v Ho Kai Xin [2023] SGHC 199; D’Aloia v Persons Unknown [2024] EWHC 2342; and Re Blockchain Tech Pty Ltd [2024] VSC 690 and argues that it is not merely possible to see cryptoassets as choses in action, but analytically preferable. It explores the analytical advantages of this view.

10 APR 2025

Taking security over certificated shares in private companies

The article discusses the correct characterisation of the transfer of the share certificate and a blank stock transfer form to the lender where the latter takes an equitable security interest over the shares. It discusses differences in practical treatment where the share certificate is electronic or digital in form.

1 NOV 2022

Identifying floating charges after Re Avanti Communications Ltd (in Administration)

This article discusses the decision in Re Avanti Communications Ltd (in Administration) and how the criteria laid down in the case affect the characterisation of charges over different types of assets as being either fixed or floating.

1 NOV 2023

Digital Assets: why the Law Commission are wrong about control

The article discusses the recent Law Commission report on Digital Assets and argues that the proposals for relativity of title to such assets are critically flawed.

1 JAN 2024