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Professor Philippa Webb, Professor of Public International Law
Professor Philippa Webb, Professor of Public International Law

Professor Philippa Webb

Co-Director of CIGAD

  • Professor of Public International Law

Research interests

  • Law

Biography

Philippa Webb is Co-Director of the Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution (CIGAD), and Professor of Public International Law. She joined The Dickson Poon School of Law in 2012 after a decade in international legal practice.

Professor Webb holds a doctorate (JSD) and an LLM from Yale Law School. She obtained the University Medal in her LLB and the University Medal and First Class Honours in her BA (Asian Studies), both of which were awarded by the University of New South Wales in Australia.

Professor Webb is active in the field of public international law. She is on the Public International Law Advisory Panel of the British Institute of International & Comparative Law and the Board of the Clooney Foundation for Justice. She previously served on the Board of the European Society of International Law and the International Advisory Panel for the American Law Institute’s Restatement Fourth, Foreign Relations Law of the United States.

She has held visiting professorships at Université Paris X Nanterre, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Leiden University, ESADE Law School, the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore, and Pepperdine University’s London programme. She is on editorial boards of the International & Comparative Law Quarterly, the Leiden Journal of International Law, the Journal of International Criminal Justice, Oxford International Organizations, and the Oxford University Undergraduate Law Journal.

She has extensive experience in international courts and tribunals. She served as the Special Assistant and Legal Officer to Judge Rosalyn Higgins GBE QC during her Presidency of the International Court of Justice (2006-2009) and, prior to that, as the Judicial Clerk to Judges Higgins and Owada (2004-2005). She was the Associate Legal Adviser to the Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (2005-2006) and an Associate Officer at United Nations Headquarters (2001-2003).

Within the Law School, Professor Webb has served as Director of Undergraduate Studies, Director of Postgraduate Studies, and Director of Mooting. From January 2022, she is the Senior Tutor for the Law School.

Research interests

Professor Webb’s research interests are in Public International Law, in particular international courts, all aspects of the law of immunity, United Nations law, human rights, international humanitarian law and international criminal law. She is the author or co-author of 5 books, 25 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 30 chapters in edited collections, and the co-editor of 2 books.

Her publications include: The Right to a Fair Trial in International Law (OUP 2020, with Amal Clooney) with the accompanying travaux préparatoires to Article 14 of the ICCPR (OUP 2021), Oppenheim's International Law: United Nations (2017, with Rosalyn Higgins, Dapo Akande, Sandy Sivakumaran, and James Sloan), and International Judicial Integration and Fragmentation (2015).

Her treatise, The Law of State Immunity (2015, with Lady Hazel Fox QC) has been cited by the leading national courts in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and South Africa. Professor Webb is currently working on projects related to developing principles of the law of state immunity for the current era, state responsibility for modern slavery, and the law and policy of disintegration.

 

    Research

    CIGAD_hero_1800px x 500px
    Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution (CIGAD)

    Bringing together academics, policymakers and practitioners working in the areas of international law and dispute resolution to help tackle global challenges.

    News

    CIGAD hosts launch of 'Freedom of Speech in International Law'

    A new book titled ‘Freedom of Speech in International Law’, launched at King’s in January, seeks to examine the extent of threats to freedom of speech and to...

    Three women and one man are each holding the same book in front of a banner.

    The Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution officially opens

    The Dickson Poon School of Law announces the official opening of the Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution (CIGAD).

    Lots of people in an amphitheater with blurred out faces, for a conference.

    King's holds its own in the Jessup Moot

    A team representing King’s College London and the United Kingdom reached the knock-out rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court...

     A group of people facing forwards smiling for the camera. They are stood in front of wooden walls.

    Law School launches first ever Law Impact Prize

    The Law impact prize held on 14 March 2023, is the first ever Faculty event to celebrate projects that shape understanding, build capacity, influence policy,...

    A group of people smiling towards a camera on a wooden floor

    King's Jessup Moot teams reunite to celebrate legacy

    On 13 May, The Dickson Poon School of Law hosted a dinner to celebrate the School’s long involvement with the Jessup Moot.

    A crowd of thirty people in dinner attire, in the open air.

    Supreme Court rules diplomatic immunity cannot be used to protect perpetrators of modern slavery

    The UK Supreme Court has ruled that diplomatic immunity cannot be used to protect diplomats from civil claims of modern slavery, in a case built on research...

    Modern Slavery 780 x 440 pexels-brett-sayles-1846271

    King's celebrate record successes at 2022 moot competitions

    Throughout the 2022 Moot Competition season, students from The Dickson Poon School of Law have continued their excellent record of accomplishment in...

    The King's Day of Crisis Moot team gathered together holding a trophy

    Professor Philippa Webb wins top prize for The Right to a Fair Trial in International Law

    Professor Philippa Webb, from The Dickson Poon School of Law, has been awarded the top prize in international law publishing for her book 'The Right to a Fair...

    Four people stand on a stage while one receives an award

    King's academics and Plus Alliance lead discussion on public procurement and modern slavery

    The Dickson Poon School of Law hosted a workshop on November 29, 2019 to discuss the relevance and challenges of assessing modern slavery risks in public...

    Production Line 780 x 440 remy-gieling-KP6XQIEjjPA-unsplash

    Law students enjoy record success at Jessup Moot

    A team of students from The Dickson Poon School of Law will represent the UK at the International Rounds of the prestigious Jessup Moot – marking a record...

    A smiling group of students with their coaches following a moot competition

    Events

    05Mar_ FIFA World Cups Promises, Risks and Remedies under International Law thumbnail

    FIFA World Cups: Promises, Risks and Remedies under International Law

    The Dickson Poon School of Law’s Future Impact Prize Event

    Please note: this event has passed.

    04SepImage The ICJ and multi-forum litigation

    The ICJ and multi-forum litigation

    CIGAD Seminar

    Please note: this event has passed.

    23MayLegal Design and the strive for innovation in the legal system a CIGAD event taking place on the 23 May 2023 from 18:00

    Legal Design and the strive for innovation in the legal system

    In this seminar we will explore the innovation and changes that are transforming the legal system as we know it.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    13MarInternational Court of Justice 780x440

    The Changing Structure of the International Court of Justice: Dispute Settlement Embracing International Control

    The ICJ has evolved from the dispute settlement procedure dealing with the bilateral rights-obligations relationship between two States (for realising...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    13OctUnited Nations New York crop the-blowup-K6fYXynxZYY-unsplash

    Book launch: The UN Security Council and International Law

    Join us for the launch of Sir Michael Wood and Eran Sthoeger's new book.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    16NovCIGAD THE LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY OF TRANSNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS conference (3)

    The Legal Accountability of Transnational Organisations: Past, Present andFuture

    A conference is to bring together academics, practitioners, and international organisation officials to discuss key developments around the legal...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    27JunGeopolitical Narratives

    Geopolitical Narratives in the Process of Global (Dis)Ordering

    This conference explores the role that geopolitical narratives play in the process of global ordering and disordering.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Spotlight

    Developing greater protections for victims of modern slavery in the UK, India, and internationally

    Modern slavery is a major global problem, but it remains largely hidden. King’s research has helped policymakers to interpret and develop legislation that...

    globe

      Research

      CIGAD_hero_1800px x 500px
      Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution (CIGAD)

      Bringing together academics, policymakers and practitioners working in the areas of international law and dispute resolution to help tackle global challenges.

      News

      CIGAD hosts launch of 'Freedom of Speech in International Law'

      A new book titled ‘Freedom of Speech in International Law’, launched at King’s in January, seeks to examine the extent of threats to freedom of speech and to...

      Three women and one man are each holding the same book in front of a banner.

      The Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution officially opens

      The Dickson Poon School of Law announces the official opening of the Centre for International Governance and Dispute Resolution (CIGAD).

      Lots of people in an amphitheater with blurred out faces, for a conference.

      King's holds its own in the Jessup Moot

      A team representing King’s College London and the United Kingdom reached the knock-out rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court...

       A group of people facing forwards smiling for the camera. They are stood in front of wooden walls.

      Law School launches first ever Law Impact Prize

      The Law impact prize held on 14 March 2023, is the first ever Faculty event to celebrate projects that shape understanding, build capacity, influence policy,...

      A group of people smiling towards a camera on a wooden floor

      King's Jessup Moot teams reunite to celebrate legacy

      On 13 May, The Dickson Poon School of Law hosted a dinner to celebrate the School’s long involvement with the Jessup Moot.

      A crowd of thirty people in dinner attire, in the open air.

      Supreme Court rules diplomatic immunity cannot be used to protect perpetrators of modern slavery

      The UK Supreme Court has ruled that diplomatic immunity cannot be used to protect diplomats from civil claims of modern slavery, in a case built on research...

      Modern Slavery 780 x 440 pexels-brett-sayles-1846271

      King's celebrate record successes at 2022 moot competitions

      Throughout the 2022 Moot Competition season, students from The Dickson Poon School of Law have continued their excellent record of accomplishment in...

      The King's Day of Crisis Moot team gathered together holding a trophy

      Professor Philippa Webb wins top prize for The Right to a Fair Trial in International Law

      Professor Philippa Webb, from The Dickson Poon School of Law, has been awarded the top prize in international law publishing for her book 'The Right to a Fair...

      Four people stand on a stage while one receives an award

      King's academics and Plus Alliance lead discussion on public procurement and modern slavery

      The Dickson Poon School of Law hosted a workshop on November 29, 2019 to discuss the relevance and challenges of assessing modern slavery risks in public...

      Production Line 780 x 440 remy-gieling-KP6XQIEjjPA-unsplash

      Law students enjoy record success at Jessup Moot

      A team of students from The Dickson Poon School of Law will represent the UK at the International Rounds of the prestigious Jessup Moot – marking a record...

      A smiling group of students with their coaches following a moot competition

      Events

      05Mar_ FIFA World Cups Promises, Risks and Remedies under International Law thumbnail

      FIFA World Cups: Promises, Risks and Remedies under International Law

      The Dickson Poon School of Law’s Future Impact Prize Event

      Please note: this event has passed.

      04SepImage The ICJ and multi-forum litigation

      The ICJ and multi-forum litigation

      CIGAD Seminar

      Please note: this event has passed.

      23MayLegal Design and the strive for innovation in the legal system a CIGAD event taking place on the 23 May 2023 from 18:00

      Legal Design and the strive for innovation in the legal system

      In this seminar we will explore the innovation and changes that are transforming the legal system as we know it.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      13MarInternational Court of Justice 780x440

      The Changing Structure of the International Court of Justice: Dispute Settlement Embracing International Control

      The ICJ has evolved from the dispute settlement procedure dealing with the bilateral rights-obligations relationship between two States (for realising...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      13OctUnited Nations New York crop the-blowup-K6fYXynxZYY-unsplash

      Book launch: The UN Security Council and International Law

      Join us for the launch of Sir Michael Wood and Eran Sthoeger's new book.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      16NovCIGAD THE LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY OF TRANSNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS conference (3)

      The Legal Accountability of Transnational Organisations: Past, Present andFuture

      A conference is to bring together academics, practitioners, and international organisation officials to discuss key developments around the legal...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      27JunGeopolitical Narratives

      Geopolitical Narratives in the Process of Global (Dis)Ordering

      This conference explores the role that geopolitical narratives play in the process of global ordering and disordering.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Spotlight

      Developing greater protections for victims of modern slavery in the UK, India, and internationally

      Modern slavery is a major global problem, but it remains largely hidden. King’s research has helped policymakers to interpret and develop legislation that...

      globe