Mark Giancaspro

Research Interests

Commercial and Contract Law

Dr Mark Giancaspro

Senior Lecturer

School of Law

College of Business and Law

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Mark Giancaspro is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide Law School and Special Counsel with DW Fox Tucker Lawyers. He holds an honours degree in Laws and Legal Practice from Flinders University and a PhD from the University of Adelaide. His teaching and research expertise are in contract law, competition and consumer law, and sports law, and he has published widely on matters including issues with the formation and renegotiation of contracts, consumer protection, and smart contracts. He provides training and advice to domestic and international commercial law firms, industry bodies and governments, and is a member of the Law Council of Australia (Business Law Section, Digital Commerce Committee and Competition and Consumer Committee), the ACCC’s Small Business & Franchising Consultative Committee, the International Association of Consumer Law, and the Adelaide Law School’s Research Unit on the Regulation of Commerce, Corporations, Insolvency and Taxation (ROCCIT).

Date Position Institution name
2023 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
2015 - ongoing Lecturer University of Adelaide
2014 - 2014 Access to Information Legal Officer WorkCover SA
2013 - 2013 Associate Lecturer University of Adelaide

Date Institution name Country Title
Flinders University Australia Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (Hons.)
University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy (Law)

Date Title Institution Country
Contract Attorneys Course Judge Advocate General's School (US Army) United States

Year Citation
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Coffin confessions and contract: Why agreements to divulge secrets post-mortem might be unenforceable. Alternative Law Journal, 49(2), 5 pages.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Lowering the Privity Bar: Explaining the Effect of Hobart International Airport Pty Ltd v Clarence City Council. InHouse Counsel, 27(7-8), 86-88.
2024 Loch, A., Croft, M., Giancaspro, M., & Adamson, D. (2024). Assessing effective deterrence of theft in transboundary water systems. nature water, 2(4), 380-389.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Interpreting Contracts in the Age of the Emoji. Journal of Contract Law, 39, 93.
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Pushing Equity’s Envelope: Probing the Arbitrary Distinction Between Immoral and Unconscionable Commercial Behaviour. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 47(4), 1187.
DOI
2024 Hess, N., Giancaspro, M., & Plater, D. (2024). Law beyond the glass skyscrapers: Encouraging law students to embrace regional life and practice. Alternative Law Journal, 49(1), 68-74.
DOI
2023 Golding, G., & Giancaspro, M. (2023). 'WHY CAN'T I BE PAID IN PIZZA?'-COMPARING S 323 OF THE FAIR WORK ACT 2009 (CTH) AND CONSIDERATION AT COMMON LAW. UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA LAW REVIEW, 50(2), 1-25.
2023 Golding, G., & Giancaspro, M. (2023). 'WHY CAN'T I BE PAID IN PIZZA?'-COMPARING S 323 OF THE FAIR WORK ACT 2009 (CTH) AND CONSIDERATION AT COMMON LAW. UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA LAW REVIEW, 50(2), 1-25.
2023 Giancaspro, M., & Babie, P. T. (2023). Cryptocurrency, Crypto-Tokens and Crypto-Assets as "Data Objects" A Novel Form of Property. U. of Adelaide Law Research Paper, (2022).
2023 Giancaspro, M. (2023). "Please Watch this Ad ... Or Else": Could Advertisements Requiring User Focus or Response be "Coercive" under the Australian Consumer Law?. Australian Business Law Review, 51(1), 36-51.
2023 Giancaspro, M. (2023). Pretty, Pricy, Perilous? Demystifying Non-Fungible Tokens and Highlighting Some Key Legal Concerns. Australian Law Journal, 97, 457-467.
2023 Hess, N., Neodorf, L., Giancaspro, M., & Plater, D. (2023). Expanding Law Student Horizons: Promoting Regional and Rural Legal Practice in South Australia. Canadian Legal Education Annual Review, 10, 139-155.
2023 Golding, G., & Giancaspro, M. (2023). ‘WHY CAN’T I BE PAID IN PIZZA?’—COMPARING S 323 OF THE FAIR WORK ACT 2009 (CTH) AND CONSIDERATION AT COMMON LAW. University of Western Australia Law Review, 50(2), 1-25.
Scopus1
2023 Giancaspro, M. (2023). Evaluating the Capacity for the Unconscionability Provisions in the Consumer Laws of Australia and New Zealand to Protect Indigenous Consumers. Competition and Consumer Law Journal, 30(1), 117-137.
DOI
2023 Golding, D. G., & Giancaspro, M. (2023). Why Can't I Be Paid in Pizza? Comparing s 323 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and Consideration at Common Law. U. of Adelaide Law Research Paper, (2022).
2023 Giancaspro, M. (2023). Transfer Requests in Football: Why the Repudiation Doctrine Should (But Never Does) Apply. Sports Law Bulletin, 2(1), 3.
2023 Giancaspro, M. (2023). Failing the Pub Test! COVID-19 and Contract Law Collide in Laundy Hotels (Quarry) Pty Ltd v Dyco Hotels Pty Ltd. InHouse Counsel, 27(3), 30.
2023 Giancaspro, M. (2023). Practising Law the 'Mike Ross' Way: A Short History of 'Reading the Law'. InHouse Counsel, 27(5&6), 72.
2022 Giancaspro, M. (2022). 'It’s Just Business'…Or Is It? When an Efficient Breach of Contract Becomes Unconscionable Conduct under the Australian Consumer Law. Monash Law Review, 48(2), 272.
2022 Villios, S., Giancaspro, M., & Graves, C. (2022). A Qualitative Study of the use of Discretionary Trusts in Small Business and Family Enterprise. Australian Tax Law Bulletin, 6(3).
2022 Villios, S., Price, L., Richards, E., & Giancaspro, M. (2022). Better Together: Microboards and Supported Decision-Making in South Australia. Adelaide Law Review, 43(1), 131-166.
Scopus1 WoS1
2022 Giancaspro, M. (2022). Cryptocurrency and the Consideration Conundrum: Does Crypto Have Legal Value under Contract Law?. Journal of Banking and Finance: Law and Practice, 33(1), 3-20.
WoS1
2022 Giancaspro, M. (2022). 'I, Contract': Evaluating the Mistake Doctrine's Application Where Autonomous Smart Contracts Make 'Bad' Decisions. Campbell Law Review, 45(1), 53-86.
2022 Giancaspro, M. (2022). Rubbing Salt Into the Wound: Could Unsolicited Emergency Ambulance Fees Fall Foul of the Australian Consumer Law?. Competition and Consumer Law Journal, 29(3), 253-271.
2021 Giancaspro, M. (2021). Perilous Fires, Pandemics and Price Gouging: The Need to Protect Consumers from Unfair Pricing Practices During Times of Crisis. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 44(4), 1458-1481.
DOI Scopus3
2021 Plater, D., Price, L., Richards, E., & Giancaspro, M. (2021). 'New Avenues of Providing Effective Care: the Role of Microboards'. The Bulletin: The Law Society of SA Journal, 43(6), 9-11.
2021 Golding, G., & Giancaspro, M. (2021). Steering Statutory Unconscionability Out of a Jam at Last: Stubbings v Jams 2 Pty Ltd. Law Society Bulletin (SA), 48(3), 42.
2021 Koch, C., Castles, M., Giancaspro, M., Stubbs, M., Nosworthy, B., & Olijnyk, A. (2021). Innovation in Education: Adelaide Law School. The Bulletin - Law Society of South Australia, 43(1), 10.
2020 Giancaspro, M. A. (2020). Picture-Perfect or Potentially Perilous? Assessing the Validity of ‘Comic Contracts'. The Comics Grid : Journal of Comics Scholarship, 10(1), 1-27.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2
2020 Giancaspro, M. A., Richard, A., Alberto, D. F., Geraint, H., Lete, J., Lei, C., . . . Wilhelmsson, T. (2020). Consumer Law and Policy Relating to Change of Circumstances Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Consumer Policy, 43(3), 437.
DOI Scopus18
2020 Brown, D., & Giancaspro, M. (2020). Can Tenants Turn Frustration to Their Advantage During COVID-19?. SSRN Electronic Journal.
DOI
2020 Alderman, R. M., De Francesci, A., Giancaspro, M., Howells, G., Chen, L., Lete, J., . . . Wilhelmsson, T. (2020). Consumer Law and Policy Relating to Change of Circumstances Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, COVID-19 - Consumer Law Research Group. Journal of Consumer Policy: consumer issues in law, economics and behavioral sciences, 43, 437-450.
DOI
2020 Grieger, J., Giancaspro, M., & Richards, B. (2020). Consumer Law, Technology and Health Care: A Shift in Focus, a Panacea or a Confounder?. Journal of Law and Medicine, 28(1), 54-67.
Scopus2 WoS2
2020 Giancaspro, M. (2020). Alexa, Call My Lawyer! Determining Liability for Unauthorised Purchase Made on Voice-Based Virtual Assistants’. West Virginia law review, 123(1), 117-145.
2020 Giancaspro, M. A. (2020). The Consideration Myth About Smart Contracts. Australian National University Journal of Law and Technology, 1(1), 35-44.
2020 Golding, G., & Giancaspro, M. (2020). To Moral Obloquy or Not to Moral Obloquy? That is the Judicial Confusion Surrounding Statutory Unconscionable Conduct. Commercial Law Quarterly, 34(1), 3-17.
2020 Giancaspro, M. A. (2020). Testing the boundaries of the consideration doctrine: can you contract to buy and sell a ghost?. Alternative Law Journal, 45(4), 107-113.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2020 Babie, P. T., Brown, D., Giancaspro, M. A., & Catterwell, R. (2020). Cryptocurrency and the property question. Oxford Property Law Blog.
2020 Babie, P., Brown, D., Catterwell, R., & Giancaspro, M. A. (2020). Cryptocurrency as property: Ruscoe v Cryptopia Ltd (in liq) [2020] NZHC 728. Australian Property Law Journal, 28, 106-122.
2020 Babie, P. T., Brown, D., Catterwell, R., & Giancaspro, M. (2020). Cryptocurrencies as Property: Ruscoe and Moore v Cryptopia Limited (In Liquidation) [2020] NZHC 728. U. of Adelaide Law Research Paper, (2020).
2019 Giancaspro, M. A. (2019). Quantifying Damages in Cases of Advantageous Breach: The Curious Case of McDonald’s Milkshakes. Stetson Law Review, 48, 69-106.
DOI
2019 Giancaspro, M. (2019). Termination for Convenience, the Doctrine of Executive Necessity and Government Contracting: Implications for Commonwealth Agencies such as Defence. University of Tasmania Law Review, 37(1), 1-25.
2018 Giancaspro, M. A. (2018). Unfair Contract Terms and Small Business Contracts: Insights from ACCC v JJ Richards & Sons Pty Ltd, and the Case for Small Business Protection. Competition and Consumer Law Journal.
2017 Giancaspro, M. A. (2017). ‘I Now Pronounce You…In a State of Uncertainty’: Contemporary Treatment of the Wives’ Special Equity and a Plan for the Future. Journal of Equity, 11(1), 80-211.
2017 Giancaspro, M. A. (2017). Is a ‘Smart Contract’ Really a Smart Idea? Insights from a Legal Perspective. Computer Law and Security Review, 33(6), 825-835.
DOI Scopus213
2017 Langos, C., & Giancaspro, M. (2017). Empowering Workers: Avenues of Legal Redress for Victims of Workplace Cyberbullying. Australian Business Law Review, 45(6), 448-466.
WoS2
2017 Toews, M., Giancaspro, M., Richards, B., & Ferrari, P. (2017). Kidney paired donation and the "valuable consideration" problem: The experiences of Australia, Canada, and the United States. Transplantation, 101(9), 1996-2002.
DOI Scopus10 WoS5 Europe PMC5
2016 Giancaspro, M. (2016). Do lockout laws curb alcohol related violence?. Law Society of South Australia Bulletin 2016.
2016 Giancaspro, M. A. (2016). Do Workplace Policies Form Part of Employment Contracts? A Working Guide and Advice for Employers. Australian Business Law, 44, 1-16.
2016 Giancaspro, M. (2016). Buy-out clauses in professional football player contracts: questions of legality and integrity. International Sports Law Journal, 16(1-2), 22-36.
DOI
2015 Langos, C., & Giancaspro, M. (2015). Does cloud computing lend itself to cyberbullying?. IEEE Cloud Computing, 2(5), 70-74.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2015 Giancaspro, M. (2015). Late Night Lockout Laws: evaluating responses to alcohol-fuelled violence. Alternative Law Journal, 40(2), 118-122.
DOI Scopus3
2014 Giancaspro, M. (2014). Reproductive tissue and contract. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 11(2), 131-134.
DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC1
2014 Giancaspro, M. (2014). Should the practical benefit principle extend to contract formation?. Australian Business Law Review, 42, 389-398.
2014 Giancaspro, M. (2014). The rules for contractual renegotiation: a call for change. The University of Western Australia Law Review, 37(2), 1-30.
2013 Toole, K. L., Giancaspro, M., & Walding, C. (2013). Students open up about mental health and well-being. Law Society Bulletin.
2013 Giancaspro, M. (2013). Practical benefit: an English anomaly or a growing force in contract law?. Journal of Contract Law, 30(1), 12-32.
2009 Giancaspro, M. A. (2009). Facing the Unseen Truth: The Legal Implications of Using Social Networking Site Facebook. Law Society Bulletin, 31(4), 26.
- Giancaspro, M. (2023). Still Jammed! Lingering Questions About the Statutory Unconscionability Doctrine Post Stubbings v Jams 2 Pty Ltd (2022) 399 ALR 409. Bond Law Review, 35(1).
DOI
- Giancaspro, M. (2022). Renegotiation in the Real World: A Study of Australian Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises, Contract Variation, and the Law. The University of Queensland Law Journal.
DOI

Year Citation
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Consideration in Contract Law. Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2023 Giancaspro, M., Golding, G., Nosworthy, B., Brown, D., Viven-Wilksch, J., Wawryk, A., . . . Zito, P. (2023). Contemporary Australian Business Law. Cambridge University Press.
DOI
2021 Giancaspro, M., & Langos, C. (2021). Contract Law: Principles and Practice. LexisNexis.
2020 Thampapillai, D., Bozzi, C., Giancaspro, M., & Tian, G. Y. (2020). Australian Commercial Law. Cambridge University Press.
2016 Giancaspro, M., & Langos, C. (2016). Understanding Contract Law a Practical Guide.

Year Citation
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Novel cases. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. 114-142). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). The functions of consideration. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. 31-49). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). A history of consideration at common law. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. 1-14). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Contents. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. v). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). The measure of consideration. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. 50-76). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Acknowledgements and dedication. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. vi). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Existing legal duties. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. 77-113). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Global treatment of practical benefit. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. 221-249). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Consideration and the variation doctrines. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. 143-180). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Contract renegotiations and consideration. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. 181-220). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Copyright. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. iv). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2024 Giancaspro, M. (2024). Causa promissionis. In Consideration in Contract Law (pp. 15-30). Edward Elgar Publishing.
DOI
2023 Viven-Wilksch, J. (2023). The Australian legal system. In M. Giancaspro, G. Golding, B. Nosworthy, D. Brown, A. Wawryk, S. Villios, . . . J. Viven-Wilksch (Eds.), Contemporary Australian Business Law (Vol. 56, 1 ed., pp. 1-20). Cambridge University Press.
DOI Europe PMC2
2023 Viven-Wilksch, J., Golding, G., & Giancaspro, M. (2023). Contracts: parties and terms. In M. Giancaspro, G. Golding, B. Nosworthy, D. Brown, J. Viven-Wilksch, A. Wawryk, . . . P. Zito (Eds.), Contemporary Australian Business Law (1 ed., pp. 104-125). Cambridge University Press.
2023 Viven-Wilksch, J., Golding, G., & Giancaspro, M. (2023). Contracts: parties and terms. In M. Giancaspro, G. Golding, B. Nosworthy, D. Brown, J. Viven-Wilksch, A. Wawryk, . . . P. Zito (Eds.), Contemporary Australian Business Law (1 ed., pp. 104-125). Cambridge University Press.
2022 Golding, G., & Giancaspro, M. (2022). Not Up to the Job: Why Smart Contracts are Unsuitable for Employment. In J. G. Allen, & P. Hunn (Eds.), Smart Legal Contracts: Computable Law in Theory and Practice (pp. 383-396). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
DOI
2021 Giancaspro, M. A. (2021). Testing Stewart Macaulay’s Theory Down Under: A Study of Australian Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises’ Understandings of, and Experiences with, Contract Law. In T. Pilkington, & J. Eldridge (Eds.), Australian Contract Law in the 21st Century. Australia: Federation Press.
2019 Langos, C., & Giancaspro, M. (2019). Cyberbullying in the Australian University Context: The Shades of Harm and Implications for Law and Policy. In W. Cassidy, C. Faucher, & M. Jackson (Eds.), Cyberbullying at University: A Cross-Jurisdictional, Multi-Disciplinary Perspective (pp. 181-197). New York, NY; USA: Routledge.
DOI Scopus7

Year Citation
2022 Giancaspro, M. (2022). Safeguarding Vulnerable Market Participants: Unconscionability and Indigenous Consumers. In N/A. Victoria University of Wellington.
2020 Giancaspro, M. (2020). On whose terms? Contracting issues in the gig economy. In N/A. Online.
2020 Giancaspro, M., & Henderson, S. (2020). Law Focussed Research Projects. In N/A. Prince Alfred College, Adelaide.
2019 Giancaspro, M. (2019). Smart Contracts and the Rise of AI in Insurance. In N/A. Auckland.
2018 Giancaspro, M., Castles, M., Nosworthy, B., Olijnyk, A., & Viven-Wilksch, J. (2018). A Collegiate Approach to Best Practice Group Work in Law. In N/A. University of Adelaide.
2017 Giancaspro, M. A. (2017). Teaching Sport in the Law: Why it’s Worth a Punt. In N/A. University of Adelaide Law School.
2017 Giancaspro, M. A., & Walding, C. (2017). From Co-Curricular Activities to Curriculum Review: Lex Salus’ Evolution. In N/A. University of Adelaide.
2016 Giancaspro, M. A., Toole, K., & Walding, C. (2016). Key Stressors and Possible Solutions: The Adelaide Law Student Experience. In N/A. College of Law, Sydney.
2016 Giancaspro, M. A. (2016). Social Media: A Malaise for Youth?. In N/A. University of South Australia.
2015 Giancaspro, M. A. (2015). The Weird and Wonderful World of Torts: Using the Unorthodox to Invigorate the Student Learning Experience. In N/A. Parliament House SA.
2014 Toole, K., Walding, C., & Giancaspro, M. A. (2014). Lex Salus – Reconciling Law and Wellbeing. In N/A. Queensland University of Technology.
2013 Giancaspro, M. (2013). Practical Benefit: An English Anomaly or a Growing Force in Contract Law?. In Journal of Contract Law. Adelaide.

Year Citation
2015 Giancaspro, M. (2015). Disney and Contract: The Law’s Unspoken Complicity in Fantasy Film Narratives. Poster session presented at the meeting of N/A. University of Technology, Sydney.

Year Citation
2021 Graves, C., Steffens, P., Villios, S., Giancaspro, M., & Gordon, S. (2021). An Investigation into the Performance of the MSME Sector in South Australia and the Utility of Government Programs Aimed at Supporting the Sector. Adelaide.

Year Citation
- Giancaspro, M. (n.d.). Survey Questions.pdf.
DOI
Year Institution Project Title/Description Amount
2023 Law Foundation SA Establishing a Legal Framework for Supported Decision-Making to Empower Individuals with Impaired Decision-Making’ $71,000
2023 SA Attorney-General’s Department Qualitative Research for the South Australian Legal Needs Assessment $36,083
2021 Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman An Investigation into How Crisis Events Affect Small Business and Family Enterprises and which Factors (Internal and External) Stem Decline, Help Recovery, and Promote the Development of Resilience $17,690 
2021 SA Department of Premier and Cabinet An Investigation into the Performance of the MSME Sector in South Australia and the Utility of Government Programs Aimed at Supporting the Sector $35,510
2019 Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman The Use of Family Trusts in Small Business and Family Enterprise $19,862 
2016 University of Adelaide Learning Law: Improving the Learning Experience for Chinese Students $4,932
2015 Law Foundation SA Cyberbullying: Associated Harm and Awareness of Applicable Laws and University Policies $3,176
2015 University of Adelaide Lex Salus – Improving the Adelaide Law Student Experience: A Focussed Approach for a Unique Discipline $2,400

 

 

Active teaching areas

Commercial Transactions

Contract Law

Company and Business Law

Sports Law

Previous teaching areas

Tort Law

Introduction to Law

Introduction to Business Law

Introduction to Australian Law

Moot Court (Advocacy)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2023 Co-Supervisor Property Law Aspects of Digital Assets Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Federico M Pucci
2023 Co-Supervisor Property Law Aspects of Digital Assets Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Federico M Pucci

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2020 - 2024 Co-Supervisor A Proposal to Reduce the Complexity of the Australian Law of Contract Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Ansar Rana

Date Role Board name Institution name Country
2019 - ongoing Director Executive Board Sport SA Australia

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2019 - 2022 Representative Outreach Coordinator Adelaide Law School Australia
2017 - ongoing Member Faculty Work Health and Safety Committee The University of Adelaide, School of Law Australia
2013 - ongoing Member Lex Salus (Health and Wellbeing) Committee Adelaide Law School Australia

Date Role Membership Country
2019 - ongoing Member International Association of Consumer Law Australia
2019 - ongoing Member Commercial Law Association of Australia Australia
2016 - ongoing Member Research Unit for Military Law and Intelligence (RUMLAE) Australia

Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
2015 - ongoing Editor Alternative Law Journal University of Adelaide Australia

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