Ethan Holden holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Human Rights Law from the University of Warwick, with specialised training in Islamic law and the regulation of artificial intelligence. He has conducted field research in South Asia, focusing on cases involving family law, international law, Islamic law, and conflict of laws within legally plural contexts. He also holds the Expert Witness Certificate awarded by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, providing specialist training in the preparation of expert evidence for judicial proceedings.
Ethan Holden has expertise on South Asia, with particular knowledge of Pakistan and India. His work focuses on the interaction between state law, Islamic law, customary norms, and international legal frameworks in legally plural societies. He has undertaken field research in the region and has experience analysing legal and socio-cultural issues arising in the context of family law, human rights, migration, conflict of laws, and international protection claims. His research combines legal analysis with an understanding of the social, cultural, and institutional contexts in which legal disputes arise, enabling him to provide informed assessments of country conditions and the operation of legal systems in South Asia.
His research also examines the intersection of Islamic law, artificial intelligence, and business regulation. He is particularly interested in the legal and regulatory challenges arising from the deployment of AI by companies operating in Muslim-majority and legally plural jurisdictions, including issues of regulatory compliance, data governance, digital rights, ethical AI, and the interaction between emerging technologies, Islamic legal principles, and domestic regulatory frameworks. His work explores how businesses can navigate diverse legal systems while ensuring compliance with international human rights standards and evolving AI governance requirements.
Ethan Holden has experience preparing expert reports and legal opinions for judicial and administrative proceedings involving South Asia, with a particular focus on Pakistan and India. His work encompasses matters relating to family law, Islamic law, international human rights law, conflict of laws, asylum and immigration, and country of origin information. He combines legal research with field-based knowledge and socio-legal analysis to provide independent, impartial, and evidence-based assessments tailored to the issues before the court or tribunal.
He has also contributed to research on the legal and regulatory implications of artificial intelligence, particularly in relation to AI governance, Islamic law, and international human rights. His expertise extends to advising on the interaction between emerging technologies, regulatory compliance, and legally plural jurisdictions, including the challenges faced by companies operating across different legal and cultural environments. He holds the Expert Witness Certificate from the School of Advanced Study, University of London, providing specialist training in the preparation of expert evidence for judicial proceedings.
Ethan Holden, ‘Why Migration Definitions Still Matter for Refugee Protection’ (Refugee Law Initiative Blog, 24 February 2026) https://rli.blogs.sas.ac.uk/2026/02/24/why-migration-definitions-still-matter-for-refugee-protection/
Ethan Holden, ‘Guardianship Without Erasure: Understanding Kafala in Islamic Law’ (Electronic Immigration Network, 19 January 2026) https://www.ein.org.uk/blog/guardianship-without-erasure-understanding-kafala-islamic-law