The Department’s rich tradition in the law of obligations ranges from doctrinal  and comparative analysis in the fields of contract, tort and restitution to research into the history and the theory of private law. One distinguishing feature of that tradition is its emphasis on the continuity between classical common law concepts and categories and the more specialized regimes of commercial, labour and consumer law. Another is its strong interest in the social and political context of the legal principles governing private obligations and the real-world impact of those principles on vulnerable or weaker parties. Eminent LSE staff who have taught and researched on these and other aspects of the law of obligations in the past include Lord Wright, Theo Chorley, Harold Gutteridge, Sir Otto Kahn-Freund, L.C.B. (Jim) Gower, Aubrey Diamond, Bill Cornish, Baron (Bill) Wedderburn, Sir Ross Cranston, and Hugh Collins. Current members of staff with teaching and research interests in the field include Professors Michael Bridge, Michael Lobban and Linda Mulcahy, Dr Jacco Bomhoff, Dr Jan Kleinheisterkamp, Ms Helen Reece, Dr Solène Rowan, Dr Joseph Spooner, Dr Igor Stramignioni, Dr Charlie Webb and Dr Emmanuel Voyiakis.
 
The Department also hosts a Private Law Discussion Group, which invites leading experts from all fields of private law to present and discuss their work.