With over 30 years of academic experience based on ethnographic fieldwork in South Asia and Europe, I have played a foundational role in shaping anthro-socio-legal scholarship at the intersection of law, culture, and governance. I am internationally recognised for theorising the concept of cultural expertise, now widely used to understand and mobilise the role of local knowledge in judicial and policy settings across diverse jurisdictions.

My research also explores the gendered dynamics of legal professions in South Asia, and the interactions between so-called customary norms, state law, and governance—both within South Asia and its diasporas. In particular, I have explored governance in disputed areas and in context of legal pluralism. These contributions have advanced both theoretical frameworks and applied methodologies across anthropology, legal studies, and comparative public policy.

I have secured competitive funding from leading institutions including the European Research Council (ERC), Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), Independent Social Research Foundation (ISRF), COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC). Several of the projects I have led have also been recognised for their potential to generate non-profit academic innovation, including in the field of legal tech.

I have registered the trademark CULTEXP protecting the innovation that supports the offer of training and specialised services for cultural expertise and I have facilitated the establishment of TECNOSIA OÜ as social impact start-up.

Beyond academia, I have worked as an international consultant and independent expert for intergovernmental bodies and public institutions. I have extensive experience in:
• Designing and conducting socio-legal research in complex cultural and political environments
• Drafting and supervising high-impact reports and policy recommendations
• Presenting findings to diverse audiences, from academic peers to policy makers
• Leading stakeholder consultations and data validation workshops
• Designing training and dissemination strategies adapted to specialised and non-specialised publics

I am regularly appointed as an independent evaluator for fundamental and applied research and innovation programmes. Alongside academic publishing with leading journals and presses, I also engage in public-facing dissemination, contributing to textbooks and accessible writings for broader audiences.