Tribute to Robin Morse

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our friend, colleague and former Head of School, Professor Robin Morse.

Robin was one of the foremost private international academic lawyers in the UK in the area of obligations, and enjoyed a long and distinguished career at King’s College London.

Robin joined the college in 1971, having read Law at Oxford. In 1979/80, Robin took a year out from King’s as Visiting Professor at the John Marshall Law School, Chicago and was a Visiting Professor at the University of Leuven in the early 1980s. In 1986, Robin became Deputy Head of School working closely with the Head at the time, Ian Kennedy (now Sir Ian Kennedy QC), to ensure that the Law School prospered as a pre-eminent centre of legal scholarship and a source of talented professional lawyers. As well as undertaking heavy administrative responsibilities, Robin's research thrived. In particular he became one of the editors of the leading text, Dicey and Morris (now Dicey, Morris and Collins) on the Conflict of Laws, a position he held for the over 25 years, and also published widely. Robin became a Reader in 1988 and Professor in 1992. Between 1997-2001, Robin was Head of School, and became a Fellow of King’s College (FKC) in 2000. 

Robin’s contributions to King’s were numerous, including recruiting established scholars and bright young stars, as well as setting up the annual Graveson Memorial Lecture series and the Jeffrey Price Memorial Scholarships to help talented law students with limited means. In 2012, he was presented with the King’s Award for Lifetime Achievement at the university.

Following his retirement in 2013, Robin continued his association with the School as Emeritus Professor, teaching the popular Conflict of Laws module on the LLB programme.

'I knew Robin for about 40 years. When I was asked to put together a team for the 1987 edition of Dicey and Morris, he was an obvious choice for a major role, and he was a constant source not only of fine and balanced work but of support and wisdom for almost 30 years. He was funny and a great source of interesting gossip. We will all miss him.' – Lord Collins of Mapesbury.

Former Head of School, Tim Macklem previously said of Robin's career, that it 'has been a sterling example of the finest kind of public service: utterly selfless, and profoundly, unequivocally, and unhesitatingly dedicated to the good of the institution and all those who serve it'.

Professor Jürgen Basedow, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law, also expressed a tribute to Robin on behalf of the European Group on Private International Law. Professor Basedow said that, 'Robin Morse was a member of the European Group on Private International Law for many years. At the annual meetings he enriched the Group’s discussions with his expertise, experience and advice. His contributions were crucial to the Group’s recommendations to the EU legislature in an era which witnessed the rapid growth of EU instruments in the field of conflict of laws. The Group deeply regrets the loss of an outstanding scholar, a reliable colleague and a humble friend.'

Professor Emeritus of Law at the London School of Economics, Trevor Hartley, also expressed his respect for Robin, whom he described as, 'Reliable, dependable and honest. I always knew he would help if there was a problem,' Professor Hartley said, 'Academia is the poorer now he is gone.'

Robin leaves an enduring legacy at King’s. He was an invaluable source of wisdom for his colleagues and throughout his career, he was a devoted and very popular teacher, able to engage and enthuse his students. He touched many lives during his time at King’s and will be sadly missed.

Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with Robin’s family and friends.