Nkeiru Scotcher, a qualified Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, is an international law scholar who has work experience with academia, international organisations, regional institutions and national bodies.

Her research interest focusses on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to addressing challenges in the ocean and leans towards the relation between law, politics and science. Nkeiru has specifically researched topics in the law of sea and maritime law such as dispute resolution, submarine cable regulations, maritime security, fisheries and marine biodiversity. Nkeiru has supervised, examined and lectured on public international law, the law of the sea, the law of international organisations and marine environmental law

An alumna of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the University of Law Bristol, the University of Kent at Brussels and London Metropolitan University, Nkeiru is widely regarded as a legal expert in the International Law of the Sea and a peer-reviewed author of the same.

Presentations

• Transboundary Marine Spatial Planning: The Value of Knowledge Integration in the WIO Region. Presented at the 12th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium from 10-15 October 2022, Broadwalk Convention Centre, Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa.

• “Title to Oil and Gas in Disputed Maritime Areas- West African Sub-Region.” Seminar hosted by Volterra Fietta LLP in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of UNCLOS. Paper presented on 25 February 2022.

• “Waving Cards: Promises and Perils of the EU’s External Policy in West Africa.” Conference hosted by The Centre for Maritime Research (MARE). 28 June – 2 July 2021. Paper presented on 30 June 2021. https://event.mare2021.exordo.com/presentation/367/waving-cards-promises- and-perils-of-the-eus-external-policy-in-west-africa

• “The Combined Exclusive Economic Zone: Issues and Next Steps.” Presented at the Conference hosted by the Institute for Security Studies South Africa entitled “Will Africa Benefit from a Combined Exclusive Economic Zone”. 20 April 2021

• “Tight Lines at Sea: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Fisheries, Marine Biodiversity and Institutions.” Paper presented at Bioprospecting, Biodiversity and Novel Uses of Marine Resources-New Approaches in International Law Conference. Sweden. 30 March 2021.

• “Submarine Cable Regulation in International Law." Paper presented at The Advanced Submarine Cable Network for the Telecom Industry Conference. London. 22- 23 November 2012. 

• "The International Law of the Sea and the Notion of Specific Content in Maritime Delimitation." Paper presented at the Rethinking International Law and Justice Conference in TC Istanbul Kültür University. 24-26 September 2012.

•  Rohstoff Krimi im Eismeer um Spitzbergen (Raw material thriller in the Arctic Ocean around Spitzbergen) interview given to Deutsche Welle and also published online here https://www.dw.com/de/rohstoff-krimi-im-eismeer-um-spitzbergen/a-15985722-2

• “Spitsbergen or Svalbard: Treaty Area or State Territory.” Paper presented at the 18th International Seminar on Sea Names. Asian and European Perspectives. 7- 9 March 2012.

• “The Freedom of Navigation in International Law and the Utility of International Society Discourse." Paper presented at the World Institute for Research and Publication (WIRP) Law Conference 4- 6 June 2010. 

• “Changing Africa's Connectivity: One Cable at a Time.” Presentation delivered at Africa Gathering Nairobi, Kenya, on 22 December 2009. 

• “Staying Connected to Africa: The Solutions Temptation and Undersea Cables.” Presentation delivered at Africa Gathering London on 25 April 2009. 

• “Widening the Debate: The Maritime Dimension in International Security.” Paper Presented at the Brussels School of International Studies Guest Lecture Conference in Brussels. 7-8 May 2008. 

Publications

• Svalbard in “Elgar Concise Encyclopaedia of Polar Law.” 2025. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN 978 1035300105.

• Eastern Greenland Case in “Elgar Concise Encyclopaedia of Polar Law.” 2025. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN 9781035300105.

• Tight Lines at Sea: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Fisheries, Marine Biodiversity and Institutions in “Bioprospecting, Biodiversity and Novel Uses of Marine Resources-New Approaches in International Law.” 2024. Hart Publishing. ISBN 9781509968275.

• UK Offshore Wind Report: Mapping Devolved Nations Offshore Wind Regulatory Landscape. July 2022. Havs-och vattenmyndigheten (The Swedish Maritime Administration). Regulating Offshore Wind Internal Report 2022.

• The International Hydrographic Organisation and Africa. Review finalised and in print as an edited chapter for the book entitled, Africa and The Law of the Sea Vol II- Contemporary Norms and Practice. Juta Publishers.

• The Exclusive Economic Zone. Review finalised and in print as an edited chapter for the book entitled, Africa and the Law of the Sea Vol IV. Juta Publishers.

• Contributing Author to Commentary. ANNEX IX. Participation by International Organizations. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) A Commentary (Edited by Alexander Proelss). Feb 2017. Beck/Hart Publishing.

• Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) Report for MARSAFENET. An Analysis of the EU Fishery Strategy in the Pacific region adopted on 8 October 2013 by the European Parliament. 2014. COST Action IS1105 Reports. 

• The Sovereignty Dilemma in "The Spitsbergen Treaty: Multilateral Governance in the Arctic", Arctic Paper Series, Volume: 1, pp: 21 – 33. Published by: Conexio Public Relations, ISBN-ISSN: 978-952-67622-0- 3. 2011.

• The Naming of Maritime Features Viewed from an International Law Perspective, China Oceans Law Review, Issue: 1, Volume: 11, pp: 1 - 40, ISBN-ISSN: 1813- 7350, 2011. 

• The Freedom of Navigation in International Law and the Utility of International Society Discourse, US-China Law Review, Issue: 8, Volume: 7, pp: 54 - 64, ISBN-ISSN: 1548-6605, 2010.
  

This site is not intended to provide legal advice. Nkeiru posts in her individual capacity and her views and/or the views of any contributing author do not reflect the official position of any organisation or individual with which they are affiliated.