Call for Papers: Anti-SLAPP Law in Canada and Beyond Conference at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton (17-18 June 2027)
SLAPPs Research Group and Faculty of Law, University of New Brunswick.About the conference
The SLAPPs Research Group and the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law are hosting a conference at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, Canada on 17-18 June 2027. The conference will be academic in focus, while also incorporating law reform and public engagement activities and offering opportunities for networking and peer discussion.
The event is held in person at the Faculty of Law, University of New Brunswick.
About the organisers
The SLAPPs Research Group is an independent international network of researchers and practitioners working on strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), anti-SLAPP reform, and the protection of public interest speech. The group brings together scholars and experts from multiple jurisdictions to support comparative research, develop collaborative projects, and convene events on legal and policy responses to abusive litigation. Its previous events include 'The Future of SLAPPs Research' at the London School of Economics and 'Abusive lawsuits and Public Participation: From SLAPPs to Solutions' at the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, University of Oxford.
The Faculty of Law at the University of New Brunswick, in Fredericton, is the host institution for the 2027 conference.
Theme and scope
The theme of the conference is to assess the effectiveness of Canada's anti-SLAPP laws and to draw lessons from the Canadian experience for other jurisdictions. As one of the earlier jurisdictions to adopt anti-SLAPP legislation, the strengths and weaknesses of Canada's laws are becoming apparent, providing lessons for jurisdictions that have recently adopted anti-SLAPP legislation or are considering whether to do so.
- Submissions that engage Canadian anti-SLAPP law directly are particularly welcome.
- Submissions bringing a comparative perspective from other jurisdictions are equally welcome.
- Any scholarship on a topic engaging with anti-SLAPP law is welcome.
Who can submit
The call is open to researchers working on anti-SLAPP law, without restriction by jurisdiction. Abstracts from graduate students, postgraduate researchers and early career researchers are particularly welcomed by the organisers.
Abstract submission guidelines
- Submit an abstract of no more than 300 words.
- Send it by email to slapps@unb.ca.
- The deadline is 15 October 2026, though earlier submissions are encouraged.
- Decisions will be communicated by 31 October 2026.
Support for students and early career researchers
The organisers hope to have funding to bring a small number of students or early career researchers to Fredericton to participate in the conference and assist with knowledge dissemination. If you are a student or early career researcher with an interest in anti-SLAPP law but are not in a position to present your own research at the conference, send a CV and cover letter to slapps@unb.ca expressing your interest and indicating any relevant background. The deadline for this route is also 15 October 2026, and earlier submissions are encouraged.
Publication
The organisers anticipate publishing a selection of papers from the conference in a special issue of the Journal of Media Law, subject to the journal's usual peer-review process. Publication is not guaranteed for every accepted paper.
Fee and costs
The call for papers states no fee for submitting an abstract. It does not announce a conference registration fee or say anything about travel and accommodation costs for presenters generally, beyond the limited funding the organisers hope to secure for a small number of students and early career researchers. Prospective applicants should confirm the position with the organisers at slapps@unb.ca before making travel plans.
Contact
All abstracts, expressions of interest and questions about the conference should go to the organising team at slapps@unb.ca.