David Watson

David Watson is a doctoral candidate at the Peter A. Allard School of Law. He researches in the field of international trade and intellectual property law. He is a recipient of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship and the University of British Columbia Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF).

David’s thesis examines the contrasting approaches of the European Union and the United States to the protection of geographical indications in trade agreements. His research explores how countries navigate the tension between these approaches in regulating the names of food and drink products, and the legal risks that arise.

Alongisde his doctoral studies, David maintains a consulting practice in the area of international trade. Before beginning his Ph.D., he served as an international trade lawyer for the United Kingdom Government in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum. He advised on agricultural trade regulation and participated in trade agreement negotiations.

Supervisor:  Ljiljana Biuković

• David J. Watson, “The Prosecco/Prošek War: Is the EU Geographical Indication System Falling Flat?” (2025) 15:3 Queen Mary Journal of Intellectual Property 264.
• David J. Watson, “Lost in Transliteration: The Role of Interpretation in Resolving Regional Trade Agreement Conflicts Relating to Geographical Indications” (2024) 58:5 Journal of World Trade 847.
• David J. Watson, “The Future of Geographical Indication Protection in Developing Countries: Is it the Answer to Rural Development, Food Security and More?” in Graham J. Reynolds, Alexandra Mogyoros & Teshager Dagne, eds, Intellectual Property Futures: Exploring the Global Landscape of IP Law and Policy (University of Ottawa Press, forthcoming 2025).