Hossein Esmaeili’s research targets both specific CALD communities and explores the wider international sphere. His research is interdisciplinary and possesses social impact in areas of international law and comparative law (particularly Islamic and Middle Eastern law). A third dimension of his research is property law.

The global impact of his scholarly work can be seen in its use by international and Australian institutions including universities, Australian Courts and Tribunals, United Nations agencies and the United States Congress, as well as national and international media. The recognition of his academic standing as a leading authority in these areas is demonstrated by his involvement with international organisations and institutions (such as the International Law Association), invitations to various editorial positions in Australia, Asia and Europe, invitations to review books and journal articles and deliver keynotes, supervision of PhD students and by his significant (and collaborative) publications in his areas of expertise and involvement in research projects relating to CALD communities and Australia's relationship with MENA countries. Dr Esmaeili's research aims to promote interdisciplinary collaboration, social impact, and social justice, particularly within migrant communities in Australia.

Hossein is the author and co-author of three scholarly books and co-editor of two other books. He has published articles in leading national and international law journals in Australia, Europe, and the United States. He has led two interdisciplinary research, externally funded projects focusing on both local and international community engagement. Currently, he is involved with two other research projects which are built on the successful of previous grants.

• International law and Comparative law
• Law of the sea and offshore energy
• Middle Eastern law and trade and commerce with Australia
• Law and CALD communities in Australia
• Property law
• Family violence and forced marriage

• February 2024 Jenny Richards- PhD: An Integrated Faith-Law Response for Christian Women Experiencing Domestic and Family Violence in Australia
• March 2023 Patricia Rushton- PhD: Sovereignty, Globalisation and the Making of the Amendments to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) 2000-2020: Justifying the Exclusion of Non-citizens
• 2018 Susan Kennedy (University of Adelaide)-PhD: The Stateless Bedoun in Kuwaiti Society: A Study of Bedouin Identity, Culture and the Growth of an Intellectual Ideal
• Sep 2017 Taufan Muhammad - PhD: Regulating Oil and Gas Operation in Indonesian Waters: International and Domestic Legal Perspective on Offshore Installations and Tankers’
• 2024 Osameh Gnaei - PhD: Temporary Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia: Kafala System and Protection of Migrant Workers

• 2024 Abdullah al Shamrani - PhD: State Responsibility and the Breach of International Law by Non-State Armed Actors: Case of the Syrian Conflict. 

• 2025 Judi Storer - PhD: Diffusion of the International Environmental Law Principles of Sustainable Development into Australian Climate Change Legislation and Case Law
• 2026 Hamid Azizi - PhD: The Nature and the Extent of the Taliban's Involvement in and Profit from the Drug Trade in Afghanistan pre-and post-regime change

Honours:

• Holly Horshman (2008) Honours in Law; Surface Water Regulation Under Scrutiny: Are we Truly Damned by Tenuous Access Rights and Inflamed Insecurity?
• Sean Collet (2009) Honours in Law; International Maritime Boundary Disputes and Natural Resources; Maritime Boundary Delimitations under Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); East Timor and Australia
• Tom Gerriits (2016) Honours in Law; Giving regulatory perspective to South Australia's international nuclear waste facility proposal: selected issues in international and domestic nuclear waste regulatory architecture
• Patricia Rushton (2016) Honours in Law; The Migration Act 1958 (Cth) The Character Test and the Rule of Law
• Cassandra Alvey (2023) Honours in Law; Remote Piracy and International Law: Pushing the understanding of modern piracy
• Pheobe Curyer (2024) Honours in Law; Proportionality in Self-Defence under International law: the Use of Force Against Non-State Actors