Prof. Datuk Dr. Gurdial Singh Nijar is a distinguished Malaysian legal scholar, advocate, and human rights advocate, renowned for his contributions to environmental law, biodiversity governance, and constitutional rights.Prof. Nijar earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) with Honours from King's College London and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Malaya.
Legal Practice: He is qualified as an advocate and solicitor in the High Court of Malaya, as well as in the Supreme Courts of Victoria and New South Wales, Australia.
Academic Career: He served as a Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, for 16 years. During his tenure, he was instrumental in establishing the Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity Law (CEBLAW) in 2006, under a memorandum of understanding between the Malaysian government and the university .
International Contributions
United Nations Engagement: Prof. Nijar has held significant roles, including:
- Legal Expert for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome.
- Senior Research Fellow at the South Centre in Geneva.
- Member of the Compliance Committee under the UN Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

International Negotiations: He led Malaysia and other developing nations in negotiations resulting in key international treaties:
- The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (2010).
- The Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress (2010)
- The Paris Agreement on Climate Change (2015)

Advocacy and Legal Reform Human Rights: Prof. Nijar is the President of HAKAM, the National Human Rights Society of Malaysia, advocating for civil liberties and legal reforms .

Landmark Cases: He has represented clients in significant constitutional cases, including the successful challenge against the Malaysian government's attempt to suspend a court ruling on citizenship rights for children born overseas to Malaysian mothers . Publications
Prof. Nijar has authored numerous scholarly works focusing on environmental law, biosafety, and intellectual property rights.
Notable publications include:
- Patenting Life Forms: Law & Practice
- Civil Trial Advocacy
- Drafting for Lawyers
- The Nagoya ABS Protocol: A Record of the Negotiations
- User’s Guide to the Malaysian Biosafety Act 2007 and Regulations 2010

Prof. Datuk Dr. Gurdial Singh Nijar's career reflects a steadfast commitment to integrating legal scholarship with practical advocacy, significantly influencing both national and international legal landscapes.