Ben Batros & Philippa Webb

About/Bio

Ben Batros serves as legal officer at the Open Society Justice Initiative. Previously, he spent five years as appeals counsel at the International Criminal Court where he conducted appellate litigation and supported the work of prosecution trial teams, in particular on complex legal issues. Prior to that he worked at the Australian Attorney-General’s Department, focused on the development of regional criminal justice systems as part of Australia’s partnerships in Asia and the Pacific as well as domestic criminal justice reform, and also practiced as a litigator in Australia at Jackson McDonald. Dr Philippa Webb is a Lecturer in International Law at the Dickson Poon School of Law, Kings College London, which she joined in September 2012 after a decade in international legal practice. She served as the Special Assistant and Legal Officer to Judge Rosalyn Higgins 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 Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo at the International Criminal Court (2005-2006). Her publications include: International Judicial Integration and Fragmentation (OUP 2013), The Law of State Immunity (3rd edn, OUP 2013) (with Lady Hazel Fox CMG QC) and, The Genocide Convention: The Travaux Préparatoires (Martinus Nijhoff 2008) (with Hirad Abtahi).

Recently Published

Domesticating the Law of Immunity: The Supreme Court of Canada in Kazemi v Iran

International lawyers typically think that when a case deals with a matter of international law, once you know the position under international law, then this will give you the answer. Unfortunately, before domestic courts, that is not always the case. Late last month, the Canadian Supreme Court issued its judgment in Kazemi Estate v. Islamic Republic of…

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Australian Government Settles Habib Claim arising out of Rendition and Torture and Orders Inquiry

Ben Batros is Legal Officer at the Open Society Justice Initiative and a former Senior Legal Officer, International Crime Branch, Australian Attorney-General’s Department. Philippa Webb is Visiting Assistant Professor at Leiden University and former Special Assistant to President of the International Court of Justice. It was reported late last week that the Australian government has…

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Habib v Commonwealth of Australia: A Twist on Actions Against State Officials for Torture

 Ben Batros is Appeals Counsel at the International Criminal Court and a former Senior Legal Officer, International Crime Branch, Australian Attorney-General’s Department. Philippa Webb, is Visiting Assistant Professor at Leiden University and former Special Assistant to President of the International Court of Justice Last week (on 25 February), the Australian Federal Court handed down its…

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